Exactly what the title says it is.
This is adapted from Monsters and Villains of the Movies and Literature by Gerrie McCall, Dragons: Fearsome Monsters from Myth and Fiction by Gerrie McCall, and Mythical Monsters by Chris McNab.
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BODY: Part lion, part goat, the Chimera has an impenetrable hide that cannot be pierced by sword or spear. HEADS: With three mouths to feed, the Chimera is always hungry. The serpent head, the lion head, and the goat head sometimes torch their prey before eating it. More often than not, they consume their terrified victims alive. JAWS: The Chimera's mighty jaws spew forth a ferocious stream of fire that converts forests into kindling, homes into smoking ruins, and crops into useless ash. FRONT LEGS: The powerful forelegs of a lion are necessary to support the Chimera's three hulking heads. Its claws are handy for ripping flesh it has not already gulped down or roasted. REAR LEGS: The rear legs of a goat give the Chimera uncanny agility. It scrambles easily over all types of terrain in search of a target for its rage.
The ghastly Chimera, once the pet of the king of Caria, escapes. Rampaging within the kings court, it terrorizes everyone it meets with three fearsome heads: the head of a goat, the head of a lion, and the head of a serpent. Continually vomiting flames, it ravages the countryside and sets fire to everything in sight. When the Chimera reaches Lycia, it sears the land with its fiery breath and consumes every living thing that crosses its path. Not only is the beast swift-footed and strong, it is immortal as well. No weapon made by humans can harm it.
Bellerophon, one of the greatest heroes of Greek mythology, is sent by the king of Lycia to slay the Chimera. Riding his winged horse Pegasus, courageous Bellerophon flies high above the Chimera's searing flames. The monsters breath is hot enough to melt the heroes spear, so Bellerophon places a block of lead on the tip of his spear. He flies straight at the beast and thrusts the lead-tipped spear into the Chimera's throat. Its flaming breath melts the lead, which seals the Chimera's throat shut. The Chimera quickly suffocates.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Chimera claims both the Hydra and Cerberus as its siblings. Their parents specialized in producing monstrous beasts with multiple heads.
Athena, the warrior goddess, gave Bellerophon a golden bridle in a dream in a dream as he slept in her temple. Waking to find the bridle still in his hands, he used it to capture Pegasus, the winged horse he would ride to face the Chimera.
The Chimera left the bones of his many victims strewn across a local mountainside. Lycia was once a happy place but now the inhabitants lived with the constant fear that they or a loved one would be snatched up and consumed by the Chimera.
In some accounts, the Chimera has the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a snake.
