vi. Another common depiction shows it with only one head, having the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and t… 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. The Chimera was a specific hybrid monster in Greek mythology. Updates? 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 CHIMERA IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY The Chimera is one of the most famous, and fearsome, of monsters to appear in the tales of Greek mythology. She devastated Caria and Lycia until she was slain by Bellerophon. This matches the description found in Hesiod’s Theogony (7th century bc). irmafan cool. Chimera, in Greek mythology, a fire-breathing female monster resembling a lion in the forepart, a goat in the middle, and a dragon behind. Soaring above the monster on a winged horse, Pegasus, he shoots arrows at her. It had the front of a lion, the torso of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. The hero’s actions kills the fiery Chimera. As with all mythical creatures, there is the question of its origin. Typhon, the father, was an ancient and monstrous giant who was believed to be the most dangerous creature in all of Greece. 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. The Chimera also was known as a Chimaera, and in Greek the name typically means she goat. Bellerophon then attaches lead to his spear and thrusts it into the vicious beast. A fire-breathing hybrid, the Chimera would prove to be a worthy opponent for the Greek hero Bellerophon. 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. The goat’s head appears to be male, since it has horns and a beard. 2018-7-2 - Explore tinnee686's board "chimera mythology" on Pinterest. (Read 1st and 8th December, 1859. King Proteus was outraged, but knowing that immortal blood ran in Bellerophon’s veins, he was afraid to punish the boy. photo. 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. 1. The Chimera was also seen as an omen, of sorts. She often appeared before natural disasters, mostly volcanic eruptions. The Chimera, in mythology, is a Greek monster with the body and head of a lion with a snake for a tail and a fire-breathing goat head coming from its back. mythology. 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. (Hom. The hero Bellerophon had an affair with Anteia, but broke it off suddenly and would have no further contact with her. When he was young, he committed a crime and was sent to King Proteus to be punished. Author information: (1)Department of Oral Pathology and Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. It had many heads and every time someone would cut off one of them, two more heads would grow out of the stump. 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. 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. 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. 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. Together, Typhon and Echidna spawned many of the most dangerous beasts in Greece, including the Lynean Hydra, the Sphinx, the Nemean Lion, Cerberus, and, of course, the Chimera. goddess. 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. Bellerophon fought defeated the Chimaera by placing a lump of lead on his spear and holding it in front of its mouth. An aura of mystery has always surrounded this creature. 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. This strange and terrifying creature was once thought to be invincible, but its reign of terror eventually came to a gruesome end. 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. Godchecker guide to Chimera (also known as Chimaera), the Greek Demoness from Greek mythology. 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. 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 Bazopoulou-Kyrkanidou E(1). Instead, he sent him to his father-in-law, King Iobates, who devised a clever way to get rid of the young offender. 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. 646.) 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? okamidenfan, gatoman62 and 2 others like this. art. By Lieut.-Gen. the Hon. The fire spewed out from the goat’s head and devastated any challengers who approached the beast. ?a (Chímaira); Latin Chimaera) was a monstrous fire-breathing creature of Lycia in Asia Minor, composed of the parts of multiple animals: upon the body of a lioness with a tail that terminated in a snake's head, the head … 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. Chimaera. The word is now used generally to denote a fantastic idea or figment of the imagination. Pegasus, the mighty winged horse, was Bellerophon’s half-brother, and the two of them had spent many happy days together in their childhood. Monstrous daughter of Typhon, Echidna, and some weird and unsavory sex toy (Even today, the name “chimaera” sometimes refers to a genetic puzzle.) He challenged Bellerophon to kill the Chimera, fully expecting that the Chimera would kill Bellerophon instead. The fire-breathing monster melted the lead with its breath and the molten lead flowed down its throat and eventually killed it. She ransacked many villages, mostly killing cattle but sometimes destroying houses and slaughtering innocent people as well. Greek’s finest scholars, including Pliny the Elder, Seneca, Cicero, Virgil, Ovid, Homer, Plato, Pindar, Hesiod, all contributed to the monster’s legend. The original Chimera died long ago at the hands of the hero Bellerophon, though lesser Chimera still prowl the labyrinth of Crete. In Greek mythology, the Chimera (Greek ??µa? A Chimera is a Greek monster with traits of the lion, the goat, and the serpent. The Chimera was usually described as having three heads, like many monsters in ancient Greek legends. Chimera, in genetics, an organism or tissue that contains at least two different sets of DNA, most often originating from the fusion of as many different zygotes (fertilized eggs). In ancient myths, the Chimera was killed by Bellerphon on Pegasus when Bellerophon jammed a lead ball into its mouth. Like most chimeric creatures in Greek mythology, the Chimera was a nasty piece of work. It lived in the lake Lerna in the region of Argolid in the Peloponnese. She devastated Caria and Lycia until she was slain by Bellerophon. Il. It has a lion’s body, complete from head to tail. For a mate, he took the next most monstrous creature in Greece, a half-woman, half-serpent named Echidna. 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. 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. Ov. Who is the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Ares? The Lernaean Hydra was a monster in Greek mythology. Proteus saw huge potential in the boy, and he decided to pardon his crime. chimera . The Chimaera was a hybrid monster in Greek mythology, child of Typhoeus and Echidna and sibling of Cerberus and the Lernaean Hydra. 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. God of War: Ascension A Chimera appears in God of War Ascension. The Chimera of Arezzo is a bronze statue sculpted by the Etruscans of northern and central Italy during the 5th-4th century BCE. chimera in Greek mythology, a fire-breathing female monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tale; any mythical animal with parts taken from various animals. The Chimera was a fire-breathing monster from Greek mythology. Am J Med Genet. Enraged, Anteia turned to her husband, King Proetus, telling him that their guest had dishonored her and deserved to die. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). ... 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. Chimera Finally, the monster’s lion tail morphs into a snake, with a venomous serpentine head replacing the lion’s natural puff of fur. CHIMAERA (Chimaira), a fire-breathing monster, which, according to the Homeric poems, was of divine origin. athena. The ball melted, killing it with lead poison and suffocation. The Chimera has a small appearance in Greek mythology. Read more about amazing ancient adventures in National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology. It was shown with three heads, each of a different animal, growing along the length of its body. (Greek mythology) Alternative letter-case form of Chimera (a flame-spewing monster often represented as having two heads, one of a goat and the other of a lion; the body of a goat; and a serpent as a tail).quotations ▼ 1.1. )”, in … Greek Mythology The Chimera is a hideous, fire-breathing monster, with the head of a lion, the head of a goat protruding from its back, and a serpent’s tail. 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. She terrorized the people of Lycia until … She begged him to become her lover, and when he refused, she accused him of raping her. The King of Lycia was just as hesitant, for Bellerophon had been his guest for o… The Chimera’s image remained consistent throughout the Greco-Roman era. 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. Unfortunately, Proteus’s wife also saw potential in Bellerophon. zues. It had the head of a lion, the torso of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. Chimaera has become one of the most famous female monsters described in Greek mythology. 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). This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chimera-Greek-mythology. 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. Exaggerated ears and breasts show that the creature is female, even though it does have a short, ragged mane. Sir E. Cust, D.C.L., President. chimera (plural chimeras) 1. At last, he took a lead spear and hurled it into the creature’s fiery throat. It’s possible that Sekhmet’s legend inspired the Chimera. 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. 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. Omissions? It was one of the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, the father and mother of all monsters respectively. However, the classic lion-goat-serpent Chimera still has a place in fantasy and sci-fi. She had a terrible temper and no civilized instincts. Descriptions of the Chimera Now, the young hero summoned Pegasus to his aid, and the two of them launched an aerial attack on the Chimera. Chimeric creatures in Greek mythology and reflections in science. Today, the word “chimera” can be used to describe any creature with a strange combination of animal parts. 2001 Apr 15;100(1):66-80. The Chimera as told in legends, met its fate at the hands of Bellerophon, a Greek hero. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Corrections? 1860, E. Cust, “The Chimeras: An Attempt to Show that the Compound Animals of the Assyrian Marbles are Representations of those Erected by Solomon and Jeroboam. Chimera, or chimère, in architecture, is a term loosely used for any grotesque, fantastic, or imaginary beast used in decoration. She was brought up by Amisodarus, king of Caria, and afterwards made great havoc in all the country around and among men. The Chimera was rampaging in the area, and so King Iobates commanded the Greek hero Bellerophon to slay the Chimaera. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. poseidon. 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. ix. There, the lead melted and spread throughout her body, burning her from the inside out. Chimaera – A Fire-Breathing Monster. The Chimera was one of the offspring of a legendary pairing: Typhon and Echidna. But Iobates didn’t know that Bellerophon has a secret ally. At its most basic level, the Chimera is a female lion. According to Hesiod (Theog. Chimera, in Greek mythology, a fire-breathing female monster resembling a lion in the forepart, a goat in the middle, and a dragon behind. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. god. The creature also has a goat’s head, rising from between its shoulder blades. But of course, there’s more to the Chimera than its lion features. Bellerophon rained arrows down on her, giving her several critical wounds. 180, xvi. 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. Met. From fruits to winged sandals, test your knowledge in this study of Greek and Roman mythology. He rode into battle on the back of the winged horse, Pegasus. The term is derived from the Chimera of Greek mythology, a fire-breathing monster that was part lion, part goat, and part dragon. But this monster’s most unusual and deadly weapon, by far, was her ability to breathe fire. 319, &c.), she was a daughter of Typhaon and Echidna, and had three heads, one of e… Chimera are minor enemies in God of War Ascension, and God of War III. Greek Mythology. 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