Pegasus, Mythical Realms by Safari Ltd.

Review and images by Animal Lover, edited by MonsterToyBlog.

Horses have been around since the dawn of humanity. Ever since horses were domesticated, they have been used for many purposes, such as for farming, transportation, sports, and many others. In the past, their agility, speed and strength were put to use on battlefields. They capture our imagination with their elegance, grace and majesty, and they are symbols of power and freedom as well. Horses have captured our imagination so much that they are prominent in mythology, and one of the best known examples is the white, winged horse, Pegasus.

In Greek mythology, Pegasus is the son of Poseidon. There are many versions of the story how Pegasus and his brother, Chrysaor, were born. The most popular version is that they were both born from Medusa’s blood when she was decapitated by one of the greatest Greek heroes and slayers of monsters, Perseus. It is said that Pegasus was captured and tamed by another great Greek hero and slayer of monsters, Bellerophon, and Pegasus aided Bellerophon to kill the Chimera. Pegasus was also instructed by Zeus to bring lightning and thunder from Olympus. Furthermore, it is also said that Pegasus had magical powers. For example, in mythology, the spring Hippocrene on Mount Helicon was formed when Pegasus struck his hoof into the ground and those who drank the spring’s water would get poetic inspiration.

The winged horse has been represented in ancient Greek pottery, in Renaissance paintings and sculptures, as well as used as a symbol, corporate logo, and emblem of inspiration. To honor his years of faithful service to Zeus, Pegasus was transformed into a star constellation; hence, there is even a constellation in the northern sky named after the mythological winged horse.

Today, let’s ascend into the sky with Safari Ltd’s Pegasus. This figure is from 2007, and is still in production as part of the Mythical Realms line. In addition to this white variant, there is also a black variant of the same sculpt, called the “Twilight Pegasus”. The horse is a already a beautiful, majestic and graceful animal, but the addition of wings accentuate these aspects, and this beautiful representation of Pegasus from Safari Ltd really captures that image.

It is depicted in a dynamic, lively pose, commanding physical presence and attention. It is sculpted in a trotting position, with its bird-like wings spread, and its mane, feathered legs and tail flowing in the air, with its head bowed down. The trot is a diagonal two-beat gait, whereby the sequence of hoof beats follows this pattern: right front and left hind and left front and right hind. I am not an expert in horse gaits, but it seems to be more specifically in an extended trot gait, whereby the horse, or in our case, the Pegasus is stretching its frame and lengthening its stride so as to cover more ground. The left front leg is raised/ lifted and the right hind leg is stretched back. The right front leg is reaching farther forward and the left hind leg is firmly on the ground.

Taking a closer look at the figure, you can appreciate the attention to detail and paint work. The result is as if you are looking at a living, breathing creature. Not taking the wings into consideration briefly, this is an accurate representation of a horse in action. As part of the horse’s physical build, the powerful, strong muscles are sculpted, which highlight the horse’s physical exertion and momentum. Hair is sculpted all over the body. Veins are sculpted over the face. The mane, leg feathers and the tail are beautifully sculpted, flowing in the air.

Back to the wings, each and every feather of the wing is meticulously sculpted. Regarding the paint work, the muzzle and hooves are dark grey, the eyes have a dark red iris with a black pupil. The eyes have a glossy look to them, making them life-like. Although promotional pictures online show it as white, the color for the whole body and wings are a very light, subtle silver. The very light silver color makes the body have a kind of shiny appearance to it. And the color for the mane, leg feathers and the tail are of a creamy beige. It measures about 5.5 inches (14 cm) from nose to tail, 8.31 inches (21 cm) wide (from wing tip to wing tip), and about 3.51 inches (9 cm) high.

Overall, this is a fantastic, breath-taking piece from Safari Ltd. The creature is represented in all its might and glory and shown as elegant, graceful and majestic. Not only does the lively, dynamic pose help to add to the appeal of this figure, but also the sculpt and paint work as well. The Safari Ltd Mythical Realms Pegasus figure should be available wherever Safari Ltd’s offerings are sold or through online sources.