Chimera

The Chimera was a hybrid monster from Greek mythology which is part lion, part goat and part snake. It was killed by a Greek hero named Bellerophon.

The Chimera was a mythical beast with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a dragon. The name “Chimera” means “she-goat”. This is a fire-breathing creature that, some say, has the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a serpent while others say it has three heads – a lion’s head at the front, a goat’s head on its back and a snake’s head on its tail.

The Chimera was raised by a King in order to terrorize the surrounding region. This vicious beast breathed flames and devoured every living thing it came across.

A young warrior, named Bellerophon, was sent out to slay the Chimera. Bellerophon accepted the challenge, but first consulted a fortune teller, who advised him that the Chimera would surely kill him unless he enlisted the help of the legendary horse, Pegasus.

Bellerophon mounted Pegasus, rose with him into the air and soon found the Chimera. With Pegasus keeping him out of range of the Chimera’s attacks, Bellerophon fired a spear with a lump of lead attached, at the monstrous beast. The Chimera breathed fire, which melted the lead. The molten lead fell into the throat of the Chimera and suffocated it.