Chimeras and Chimera Mythology

The chimera in Greek mythology is described in Homer's Iliad as having the body of a goat, the head of a lion, and tail of a snake. Having the strength of these three animals, the chimera was feared as a vicious, powerful creature. On top of that, legend held that it also breathed fire!

The chimera is best known for its death at the hands of Bellerophon who triumphed over it with the help of Pegasus, the flying horse. Able to fly above the chimera, and so out of the range of the fire coming out of its mouth, Bellerophon shot arrows at the beast wounding it, and finally killing it.

Image of Chimera on Apulian red-figure dish from Wikimedia Commons.

Unlike the fearsome chimera slain by Bellerophon, Pegasus is a noble creature. When Bellerophon became too proud and tried to fly to Mount Olympus where the Gods dwelt, Pegasus threw him off and was rewarded with a place in Mount Olympus in the stable of Zeus' horses.

Pegasus, the Winged Horse
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The mythical basilisk or cockatrice is a composite of a reptile and rooster, with the head and front legs of the rooster and a reptilian tail. Sometimes the creatures have wings, and then they are called cockatrices. Both versions are dangerous, evil creatures with the power to kill with a single glance.

The Griffin (also spelled gryphon) is a chimera or hybrid creature. It has the body of a lion, the head and wings of an eagle, and often the ears of a horse. Legends told of griffins that hoarded gold and hidden treasure. Being a combination of lion and eagle it was considered pretty fierce!


Bronze Griffin, Schloss Branitz, Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany
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Many chimeras or hybrid creatures are combinations of a human being and one or more other creatures. For example, the centaur is a combination of a man and horse, the minotaur of a man and bull, the mermaid is the combination of a woman and a fish.

Some of these creatures, like many other mythical and legendary creatures are good, some evil; and some, like the sphinx, are mysterious and confusing.

Sphinx of Thanit
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In Greek mythology the centaurs were a race of mythical creatures, with the head and torso of a man with his waist joined to the horse's withers. Some have speculated that they were the first reaction of a non-riding culture when they saw nomads mounted on horses.

The centaur brings together the human being, able to talk, think, and reason, with the strength and speed of a strong, swift animal. Although the original centaurs of Greek mythology were barbaric, dangerous creatures, modern portrayals of centaurs focus more on their human characteristics and are often on the side of goodness.

Centaur
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Also appearing in Greek mythology, the Minotaur was part man and part bull. King Minos of Crete kept the creature in the center of a "labyrinth," actually a maze designed by the architect Daedalus specifically for the Minotaur. The Minotaur was an evil creature, and was kept placated by human sacrifices. Of course, this set up the scene for a hero to kill the beast and save the Athenians who would have otherwise been sacrificed. And sure enough, Theseus took on the task. He slew the Minotaur and even escaped the maze (with a little help from his friend Daedalus who, in most versions of the tale, gave him a ball of thread to retrace his path).

The Minotaur the Monster Kept by King Minos in His Labyrinth
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The sphinx is always a creature of secrecy and intrigue. Sphinxes are composites of two or more animals, usually with the body of a lion, and sometimes part human. Egyptian sphinxes had the head of a bird, a ram, or a person, usually a pharoah.

The sphinx, that creature of mystery and intrigue, is a composite of two or more animals. Some sphinxes are part human, such as the Great Sphinx of Giza of Ancient Egypt, which has the body of a lion and the head of a Pharoah.

Sphinx with Great Pyramid in Background
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Encountering a sphinx is an opportunity to gain wisdom, but is also a confusing and dangerous experience. In Greek mythology the sphinx appears as a female, often beautiful, with the body of a lion and the wings of an eagle.

In many tales, the sphinx speaks in riddles which must be solved by those seeking to obtain her knowledge or to pass through whatever she is guarding. The sphinx is beautiful but very dangerous to those who fail to answer her riddles.

Oedipus and the Sphinx
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Merpeople have the head and upper body of a human attached to the tail of a fish. The female is more common and known as the mermaid, but many legends also speak of male "mermen." Mermaids are generally portrayed as beautiful sea creatures, but they use their enchanting voices to lure sailors to their death with their songs.