Chimera Mythology
According to Greek mythology, Chimera was a monstrous creature who was the offspring of Typhon and Echidna. Chimera’s siblings were Cerberus and Lernaean Hydra, also creatures. However, they were all different in structure. The chimera was creature with the front part as a lion. The behind of a goat, and the tail of a snake. She could also breath fire. Chimera’s mother was Echidna and she had three heads , one of a lion, one of a dragon, and one of a goat, and she breathed a raging fire. Although Chimera was considered to be a female, she had the mane on her head like that of the male lion. When one saw Chimera it was an omen that there would be storms, shipwrecks, and natural disasters, especially volcanoes.
There is one version of the story of Chimera that says she mated with her brother, Orthus, and gave birth to Sphinx and the Nemean Lion (Leo).Another story says that Orthus mated with his mother Echidna. In one story it tells of Chimera living in Lycia, but her representations were all Greek. Chimera is first shown on vases and wall paintings, as early as the 4th Century B. C..
Chimera was killed by Bellerophon with the help of Pegasus. Bellerophon rode Pegasus into the air and shot a lead arrow into Chimera and killed her. They were well out of reach of her fire that she breathed. When the lead of the arrow hit the fiery breath it melted and killed the creature.
Chimera is depicted on vases and wall paintings more than in writing. In more recent times, the name Chimera is used to describe real life entities which were created as amalgams of separate entities in categories such as botany. Some of these are biology, Chimera (plant), genetics, Chimera genetics, and biology, Chimera protein. Chimeras are also mentioned in the Harry Potter Books. This is not unusual in the Harry Potter Books because the three headed dog monster in Harry Potter is very similar to the one depicted as the one which guarded the entrance in Hades. Probably if one paid closer attention or read more about Greek mythology, there might be even more similarities in Harry Potter Books as well as other stories or movies about monsters today. We all have seen may dragon movies or cartoons and the dragon was a big part of many cutural myths in ancient times. There are other popular creatures or animals which we have seen in books or movies, which were a part of the early myths. Another very popular animal was the Phoenix. The Phoenix was a large bird which was a symbol in many cultures, even religions, symbolizing rebirth or reincarnation.
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