Tradition: Greek Mythology
Alternative Names: Chimaera, Khimaira
Category: Lion
The Myth
The Chimera was a monstrous, fire-breathing hybrid that terrorized the land of Lycia in Asia Minor. Its body combined several fearsome animals: it had the head and forequarters of a lion, a goat’s head rising from its back, and a serpent for a tail. Some descriptions portray it as having three heads, with a lion at the front, a goat in the middle, and a serpent at the rear. The creature breathed blazing fire and was considered a terrible threat to both people and livestock. It was said to be the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, making it a sibling of other famous monsters, including Cerberus and the Lernaean Hydra.
The Chimera brought destruction to Lycia, killing cattle and devastating the countryside. King Iobates therefore ordered the hero Bellerophon to slay the monster, hoping that the dangerous task would lead to his death. Bellerophon, however, undertook the challenge with the help of Pegasus, the winged horse. Mounted on Pegasus, he soared above the Chimera and attacked it from the air, eventually killing the beast with his weapons.
The Chimera became one of the best-known monsters of Greek mythology, representing the terrifying union of different animals into a single creature. Its image appeared in ancient art, including pottery, sculptures, and mosaics depicting its battle with Bellerophon and Pegasus. Its name later came to describe any fantastic creature formed from parts of different animals.
Sources
“Chimera.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 21, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_(mythology)