Greek Mythology/Beasts/Chimaera

The Chimaera was a fire-breathing beast with the body of a goat, the head of a lion and a snake for a tail. Other descriptions also attribute to it an additional head of a goat. It was the offspring of Typhon and Echidna. Its pairing with its brother Orthrus produced the Nemean Lion and the Sphinx.

Sighting the Chimaera was an omen of storms, shipwrecks and natural disasters, particularly volcanoes.

It was slain by the hero Bellerophon with help from his flying steed Pegasus, under orders from King Iobates of Lycia. There are multiple descriptions of how this was done. According to one, Bellerophon used his spear. Another says he fitted a chunk of lead to his weapon, which melted by the heat of the Chimera's breath and consequently burnt the creature.