The Winged Pig, Flying Pig, or Pterosus (pteron + sus), also called the Pterorcus (pteron + porcus), Chrysaor, Khrysaor or Pigasus is a mythologic suid creature with origins in Greek mythology, legend and folklore. The original flying pig was a winged board named Chrysaor, the offspring of the Gorgon Medusa, and the Greek sea god Poseidon, and the brother of the winged horse Pegasus. The word Pigasus is a portmanteau word combining pig with Pegasus, the famed pterippus, and used to refer to a pig with wings; it has been used by several different authors.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 9:
"Thinking again?" the Duchess asked, with another dig of her sharp little chin.
"I've a right to think," said Alice sharply, for she was beginning to feel a little worried.
"Just about as much right," said the Duchess, "as pigs have to fly ..."
Through the Looking Glass : and what Alice found there. pp. 75–76.
"The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things: Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax— Of cabbages—and kings— And why the sea is boiling hot— And whether pigs have wings."
"When pigs fly" or “Pigs might fly” is an adynaton phrase, a way of saying that something will never happen. The phrase is often used for humorous effect, to scoff at over-ambition. There are numerous variations on the theme; when an individual with a reputation for failure finally succeeds, onlookers may sarcastically claim to see a flying pig. ("Hey look! A flying pig!") Other variations on the phrase include "And pigs will fly", this one in retort to an outlandish statement.
Below is Elaine Steinbeck's explanation of the origins of Steinbeck's trademark symbol:
The Pigasus symbol came from my husband’s fertile, joyful, and often wild imagination. After his signature on letters or inside his books, he would draw a fat little pig with wings, and lettered his name, “Pigasus.” John would never have been so vain or presumptuous as to use the winged horse as his symbol; the little pig said that man must try to attain the heavens even though his equipment be meager. Man must aspire though he be earth-bound. At some point, he began to write “Pigasus” in Greek letters, and he added the motto, “Ad Astra Per Alia Porci,” “to the stars on the wings of a pig.” Once in the ‘50s when we were living in Florence, we became friends with a Florentine nobleman and his family. Count Fossi was a delightful old gentleman, a student of the Arts, and his avocation was drawing. He proposed to John that he should draw a proper Pigasus, and he asked, “Should I draw it in the style of Michaelangelo or Rafaello?” John chose the latter. And here is the result.
Physical appearance[]
The flying pigs are pigs with wings. These vary in species; some have wings like a bird, while others have wings like a bat. Some might even possess wings like various species of insect (if they are of a faerie breed).
