Chimera

The Chimera (Ancient Greek: Χίμαιρα (Khímaira)) is a mixed beast from Greek lore whose body typically consists of various bits of a lion, a goat, and a serpent. It is known to breathe fire while the snake portion is venomous. The Chimera may have once been identified with the winter-rising constellation of Capricorn, the serpent-tailed goat.

Myths & Legends
The Chimera was rampaging in the area, and so King Iobates commanded the Greek hero Bellerophon to slay the Chimera. He rode into battle on the back of the winged horse, Pegasus.

Bellerophon fought defeated the Chimera by placing a lump of lead on his spear and holding it in front of its mouth. The fire-breathing monster melted the lead with its breath and the molten lead flowed down its throat and eventually killed it.

Appearance
Typically, the Chimera is portrayed with the body and head of a male lion, the head and body of a lion, with the head of a goat arising from its back, and a tail that might end with a snake head. She does not typically have the power of flight, a weakness which is exploited by Bellerophon on his flying steed, Pegasus.

Family
It was was one of the offspring of the monster Typhon and his niece, the Drakaina Echidna. As such, it is the sister of Cerberus, Orthrus, the Nemean Lion, the Lernaean Hydra, Scylla, and many other monsters. Other legends attribute the Nemean Lion to be the offspring of the Chimera rather than her brother. According to Homeric poems, the Chimera was of divine origin.

Chinese mythology
Western scholars of Chinese art use the word "chimera" to refer to winged quadrupeds such as the Bixie, Tianlu and the Qilin. However, there are a myriad of other hybrid beasts that are not considered chimeras.

Possible Real-life Origins
It is possible that the myth could have been inspired by permanent gas vents along the Lycian Way in southwest Turkey. The origin of the notion of this fire-breathing nature of the Chimera must probably come from the volcano named Chimera near Phaselis, in Lycia, or it may have originated on the volcanic valley near the Cragus, which is mentioned as the scene of the events connected with the Chimera.

Terminology
The term by itself has various meanings:
 * A vain, foolish, or incongruous fancy, or creature of the imagination, as in: "The chimera of an author."
 * In genetics, a "chimera" is an organism with genetically distinct cells originating from two zygotes.
 * "Chimera" is also the term used to refer to a creature or being with both physical and mental characteristics or traits from various other creatures.

Gallery

 * Chimera Gallery Page