Chimera
A lion with a goat’s head rising from its back and a serpent for a tail, the Chimera breathes fire and ravages Lycia. Slain by Bellerophon on Pegasus, it embodies unnatural fusion and heroic trial.
Story beats
- 1) Born of Typhon and Echidna, the Chimera terrorizes Lycia’s plains.
- 2) King Iobates sends Bellerophon to kill it, expecting his death.
- 3) Riding Pegasus, Bellerophon hovers beyond its flame, driving a lead spear into its throat; molten metal suffocates it.
- 4) Its defeat cements Bellerophon’s fame but feeds his hubris, leading to his fall when he tries to reach Olympus.
Context & symbolism
The Chimera’s mismatched bodies alarmed ancient Greeks as a sign of disorder—mixing species, spitting fire, warping nature. Combat from the air foreshadowed mythic air superiority tactics.
Its lead-choking death highlights ingenuity over brute force: using the monster’s own fire against it.
Motifs
- Lion-goat-serpent fusion
- Fire breath as area denial
- Lead-tipped spear melting to choke it
- Task meant as a death sentence
Use it in play
- Boss fight requiring vertical tactics or ranged solutions to avoid flame.
- Find lead or heat-reactive materials to weaponize the Chimera’s breath.
- Investigate hybrid beasts; this Chimera is only the first of many in a lab or lair.
- Repurpose the Chimera’s fire for a forge or ritual once it is subdued.