CHIMERAOrigin: Greek Mythology. Features: Monstrous fire-breathing female creature of Lycia i
CHIMERA Origin: Greek Mythology. Features: Monstrous fire-breathing female creature of Lycia in Asia Minor, composed of 3 animals: a lion, a serpent and a goat. Usually depicted as a lion, with a goat protruding from its back, and a tail that ended in a snake’s head. The term Chimera also came to describe any mythical or fictional creature with various animals parts. Also said to breathe fire according to Homer’s brief description in the Iliad. Born Of: Typhon and Echidna. The Story: The king of Caria, Amisodarus, raised her to terrorize the surrounding region. Chimera’s main activity was to spit flames and devour all the living. She made great havoc in Lycia, so that the king, Iobates, sought for some hero to destroy it. A gallant young warrior arrived at that time, his name being Bellerophon. He came to the king with a letter from the king’s son-in-law, in which the son-in-law called him an unconquerable hero but added at the end of the letter to put him to his death. Reason being that Proetus was jealous of him, suspecting of his wife looking upon him with too much admiration. Iobates was puzzled what to do, not willing to violate the claims of hospitality, yet wishing to oblige his son-in-law. A lucky thought occurred to him, to send Bellerophon to combat with the Chimera. The young warrior accepted the proposal, but before proceeding to the combat consulted the soothsayer Polyidus, who advised him to procure if possible the horse Pegasus for the battle. For this purpose, he directed him to pass the night in the temple of Minerva. He did so, and as he slept, Minerva came to him and gave him a golden bridle. When he awoke, the bridle remained in his hand. Minerva also showed Pegasus drinking at the well of Pirene, and at sight of the bridle the winged steed came willingly and suffered him to be taken. Bellerophon mounted him, rose with him into the air, soon to find the Chimera, and killed it with a lump of lead that he threw into the beast’s stomache. Sources: monsters.monstrous.com/chimera.htm -- source link
Tumblr Blog : doorwaytootherworlds.tumblr.com
#chimera#greek mythology#bellerophon#typhon#echidna