Soaring above the monster on a winged horse, Pegasus, he shoots arrows at her. A fire-breathing hybrid, the Chimera would prove to be a worthy opponent for the Greek hero Bellerophon. At last, he took a lead spear and hurled it into the creature’s fiery throat. The Chimera was one of the offspring of a legendary pairing: Typhon and Echidna. Chimera was according to greek Mythology a monstrous fire-breathing hybird Creature of Lycia in Asia a minor composed of the Parts of more than one Animal. irmafan cool. He challenged Bellerophon to kill the Chimera, fully expecting that the Chimera would kill Bellerophon instead. The Chimera also was known as a Chimaera, and in Greek the name typically means she goat. Chimera A Chimera is a Greek monster with traits of the lion, the goat, and the serpent. In art the Chimera is usually represented as a lion with a goat’s head in the middle of its back and with a tail that ends in a snake’s head Greek’s finest scholars, including Pliny the Elder, Seneca, Cicero, Virgil, Ovid, Homer, Plato, Pindar, Hesiod, all contributed to the monster’s legend.Three thousand years before the ancient Greek Chimera appeared, the Egyptians worshipped a sun goddess named Sekhmet, who sometimes appeared as a fire-breathing lion. The Chimera in Greekmyth was a fire-breathing monster resembling a cross between a lion, a goat and a serpent. Am J Med Genet. In art the Chimera is usually represented as a lion with a goat’s head in the middle of its back and with a tail that ends in a snake’s head. Chimera (Chimaera or Khimaira) is a mythical creature which is believed to be formed of three different animals; a lioness, a goat and a snake.. Chimera’s head was that of a lioness while she had a goat’s head on her back and a snake’s head at the tip of her tail. Greek Mythology tells us that the Chimera was actually female, the mane around her head was not sufficient to cover the ears, showing that the Chimera was female. The most common depiction gives it the head and front legs of a lion, a goat's head emerging from its back and a tail tipped with a snake's head (though sources vary whether its hind legs were like a lion's, goat's, or dragon's). Corrections? Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Chimera, in Greek mythology, a fire-breathing female monster resembling a lion in the forepart, a goat in the middle, and a dragon behind. It had the front of a lion, the torso of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. The hero Bellerophon had an affair with Anteia, but broke it off suddenly and would have no further contact with her. Today, the word “chimera” can be used to describe any creature with a strange combination of animal parts. The Chimera (Greek: Χίμαιρα, Khimaira, from χίμαρος, khimaros, "she-goat") according to Greek mythology, is a monstrous creature that was composed of several different animals.The chimera is only one of several famous mythological hybrids. As with all mythical creatures, there is the question of its origin. It has a lion’s body, complete from head to tail. Proteus saw huge potential in the boy, and he decided to pardon his crime. According to Greek Mythology, Chimera a mythical creatures with the tail of a snake, the body of a lion, and the head of a goat. athena. Three thousand years before the ancient Greek Chimera appeared, the Egyptians worshipped a sun goddess named Sekhmet, who sometimes appeared as a fire-breathing lion. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He rode into battle on the back of the winged horse, Pegasus. She ransacked many villages, mostly killing cattle but sometimes destroying houses and slaughtering innocent people as well. King Proteus was outraged, but knowing that immortal blood ran in Bellerophon’s veins, he was afraid to punish the boy. Updates? Now, the young hero summoned Pegasus to his aid, and the two of them launched an aerial attack on the Chimera. Typhon, the father, was an ancient and monstrous giant who was believed to be the most dangerous creature in all of Greece. Greek Mythology. Another common depiction shows it with only one head, having the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and t… Read more about amazing ancient adventures in National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology. chimera (plural chimeras) 1. Chimaera has become one of the most famous female monsters described in Greek mythology. She often appeared before natural disasters, mostly volcanic eruptions. User with this ability either is or can transform into a Chimera, a fire-breathing ferocious, mythological hybrid from Greek Mythology, composed of the parts of three animals — a lion, a snake and a goat. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Who led the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece? Exaggerated ears and breasts show that the creature is female, even though it does have a short, ragged mane. (Hom. It lived in the lake Lerna in the region of Argolid in the Peloponnese. Author information: (1)Department of Oral Pathology and Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. The term is derived from the Chimera of Greek mythology, a fire-breathing monster that was part lion, part goat, and part dragon. The Chimera of Arezzo is a bronze statue sculpted by the Etruscans of northern and central Italy during the 5th-4th century BCE. It was shown with three heads, each of a different animal, growing along the length of its body. It had the head and body of a lion, as well as the head of a goat that was attached to its back, and a tail that ended on a head of a snake. For a mate, he took the next most monstrous creature in Greece, a half-woman, half-serpent named Echidna. The Chimera was a specific hybrid monster in Greek mythology. art. She was brought up by Amisodarus, king of Caria, and afterwards made great havoc in all the country around and among men. Monstrous daughter of Typhon, Echidna, and some weird and unsavory sex toy Franchises like Yu-Gi-Oh, Wrath of the Titans, Percy Dragon, American Dragon, Final Fantasy, and World of Warcraft have all used the Chimera to test their heroes. 2001 Apr 15;100(1):66-80. Ov. The hero’s actions kills the fiery Chimera. Il. According to the belief, she lived in Lycia (Likya in modern Turkey) in Anatolia. However, the classic lion-goat-serpent Chimera still has a place in fantasy and sci-fi. The Chimera may be ancient Greece’s most bizarre creature—so bizarre that its name is now used to describe any creature with an unusual combination of animal traits. The creature is the fire-breathing monster from Greek mythology which has the head of a lion, tail of a snake, and a goat's head protruding from its back. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. 319, &c.), she was a daughter of Typhaon and Echidna, and had three heads, one of e… 646.) This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chimera-Greek-mythology. Chimera, in Greek mythology, a fire-breathing female monster resembling a lion in the forepart, a goat in the middle, and a dragon behind. The King, however, was unwilling to kill Bellerophon, so he sent him to the King of Lycia in Asia, secretly requesting that he kill Bellerophon. Godchecker guide to Chimera (also known as Chimaera), the Greek Demoness from Greek mythology. She devastated Caria and Lycia until she was slain by Bellerophon. She terrorized the people of Lycia until … It was one of the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, the father and mother of all monsters respectively. Chimera, or chimère, in architecture, is a term loosely used for any grotesque, fantastic, or imaginary beast used in decoration. chimera . The Chimera was usually described as having three heads, like many monsters in ancient Greek legends. The Chimera comes from ancient Greek mythology, appearing in paintings as early as the 6th century BC and in texts as early as the 8th century BC. It had many heads and every time someone would cut off one of them, two more heads would grow out of the stump. In Greek mythology, the Chimera (Greek ??µa? Sir E. Cust, D.C.L., President. The Chimera was a fire-breathing monster from Greek mythology. ... was the first of the mythic heroes of Greek mythology whose exploits in defeating various archaic monsters provided the founding myths of the Twelve Olympians. God of War: Ascension A Chimera appears in God of War Ascension. When he was young, he committed a crime and was sent to King Proteus to be punished. Who is the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Ares? CHIMAERA (Chimaira), a fire-breathing monster, which, according to the Homeric poems, was of divine origin. The Lernaean Hydra was a monster in Greek mythology. For years, the Chimera roamed the Lynean countryside unchallenged, since “not even a quantity of men could subdue it with ease, let alone one.” But her legend didn’t take the hero Bellerophon into account. The word is now used generally to denote a fantastic idea or figment of the imagination. The Chimera has a small appearance in Greek mythology. goddess. The Greek Sphinx was said by Hesiod to be the offspring of Orthrus, the two headed monstrous dog, and the Chimera, the fire breathing monsters. Usually depicted as a lion, with the head of a goat arising from its back, and a tail that ends in a snake's head, although more regent descriptions add a dragon to the amalgamation, which may affect the type of breath-weapon they have. Bellerophon was a son of Poseidon and a beautiful mortal woman. In extended usage, the term may be used for a thing which is hoped or wished for but in fact is illusory or impossible to achieve. Enraged, Anteia turned to her husband, King Proetus, telling him that their guest had dishonored her and deserved to die. Different versions of Chimera mythology have slightly different descriptions, such as wings on the back or the back legs of a snake, but most follow the description above. Like most chimeric creatures in Greek mythology, the Chimera was a nasty piece of work. Unfortunately, Proteus’s wife also saw potential in Bellerophon. Chimaera. But of course, there’s more to the Chimera than its lion features. The Chimera or Chimaera (Template:Lang-el, Khimaira, from χίμαρος, khimaros, "she-goat") was, according to Greek mythology, a monstrous fire-breathing female creature of Lycia in Asia Minor, composed of the parts of multiple animals: upon the body of a lioness with a tail that ended in a snake's head, the head of a goat arose on her back at the center of her spine. More commonly though, the Sphinx was said to be the daughter of Typhon and Echidna, and this parentage would make the Sphinx sibling to the likes of the Nemean Lion, the Chimera, Ladon, Cerberus and the Lernaean Hydra. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The King of Lycia was just as hesitant, for Bellerophon had been his guest for o… (Even today, the name “chimaera” sometimes refers to a genetic puzzle.) 180, xvi. She had a terrible temper and no civilized instincts. The Chimera was reputed to be “near invincible,” for she had the strength of a lion, the cunning of a goat, and the venom of a snake. The fire-breathing monster melted the lead with its breath and the molten lead flowed down its throat and eventually killed it. There, the lead melted and spread throughout her body, burning her from the inside out. The original Chimera died long ago at the hands of the hero Bellerophon, though lesser Chimera still prowl the labyrinth of Crete. greek. Bellerophon fought defeated the Chimaera by placing a lump of lead on his spear and holding it in front of its mouth. Bazopoulou-Kyrkanidou E(1). But this monster’s most unusual and deadly weapon, by far, was her ability to breathe fire. The ball melted, killing it with lead poison and suffocation. The fore part of her body was that of a lion, and the hind part that of a dragon, while the middle was that of a goat. 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