Chimaera in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Chimaera

6 passages from 6 ancient authors that tell of Chimaera, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. The Chimaera was a hybrid monster in Greek mythology, child of Typhoeus and Echidna and sibling of Cerberus and the Lernaean Hydra. It had the head an... For the story in one place, read our article on Chimaera.

Hesiod (1)

Hesiod, Theogony 305–334Echidna's offspring: Cerberus, the Hydra, the Chimaera and the Sphinx (305-334)Typhaon is joined in love to Echidna, and their offspring are Orthus, Cerberus, the Hydra and the Chimaera. The Hydra is nourished by Hera and killed by Heracles with Iolaus's help, and the Chimaera is killed by Pegasus and Bellerophon. Echidna and Orthus bear the Sphinx and the Nemean lion, which Hera rears, and the section ends with Ceto and Phorcys's youngest child, the serpent that guards the golden apples.

Homer (1)

Homer, Iliad 6.119–236Diomedes and Glaucus exchange armourDiomedes and Glaucus meet between the armies, and Diomedes asks who he is, saying that he will not fight a god. Glaucus answers that the generations of men are like leaves, and tells how his forefather Bellerophon was sent to Lycia, where he overcame the Chimaera, the Solymi and the Amazons. Diomedes, learning that their grandfathers were guest-friends, plants his spear and they exchange armour, Zeus taking the wits of Glaucus so that he gives gold for bronze.

Apollodorus (1)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 2.3.1–2Bellerophon and the ChimaeraBellerophon, after killing a man by accident, is purified by Proetus, and Stheneboea falsely accuses him when he rejects her. Proetus sends him to Iobates in Lycia with a letter calling for his death, and Iobates sets him to kill the Chimaera, which he does from the air on the winged horse Pegasus. He then defeats the Solymi and the Amazons and kills the ambush set for him, after which Iobates gives him his daughter and the kingdom.

Diodorus Siculus (1)

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 6.2.1–6.9.1Book 6: other fragmentsThe fragments that follow take up the gods named after lands they conquered, the Titans Xanthus and Balius, crowns, Picus who was called Zeus, and the Dioscori. They go on to Salmoneus, who imitated Zeus's thunder, to Admetus, Alcestis and Melampus, and end with Bellerophon at the court of Proetus and the Chimaera.

Strabo (1)

Strabo, Geography 14.3.4–10Lycia: the Chimaera, Patara and the SolymiStrabo follows the Lycian coast past Telmessus and Cragus, the setting of the fable of the Chimaera, to Pinara, where Pandarus is worshipped. He describes the Lycian river, Patara with its temple of Apollo, Myra and the Chelidoniae islands, and Phaselis, where Alexander marched through the sea at Climax. He then discusses the Solymi whom Homer places against Bellerophon, and the names once given to the Lycians.

Virgil (1)

Virgil, Aeneid 5.104–285The boat raceOn the ninth day the games begin with a boat race between four ships captained by Mnestheus, Gyas, Sergestus and Cloanthus. Gyas leads until he throws his pilot Menoetes overboard, Sergestus runs onto the rock, and Mnestheus overtakes the others. Cloanthus prays to the sea gods and wins by a narrow margin. Aeneas awards prizes to the victors and also rewards the wrecked Sergestus.