Editing Chimera (mythology) (section)

==Killed by Bellerophon==
[[Image:Bellerophon killing Chimaera (mosaic from Rhodes).jpg|thumb|upright|A [[Hellenistic art|Hellenistic Greek]] [[pebble mosaic]] depicting [[Bellerophon]] riding [[Pegasus]] while killing the Chimera, [[Archaeological Museum of Rhodes]], dated 300–270 BC]]
[[File:Bellerophon riding Pegasus and killing the Chimera, Roman mosaic, the Rolin Museum in Autun, France, 2nd to 3rd century AD.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Bellerophon]] riding [[Pegasus]] and slaying the Chimera, central medallion of [[Bellerophon Mosaic|a Gallo-Roman mosaic]] from [[Autun]], [[Musée Rolin]], 2nd to 3rd century AD]]

According to Homer, the Chimera, who was reared by Araisodarus (the father of [[Atymnius]] and Maris, Trojan warriors killed by [[Nestor (mythology)|Nestor]]'s sons [[Antilochus]] and Trasymedes), was "a bane to many men".<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:16.306-16.350 16.317–329]; compare with [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:2.3.1 2.3.1].</ref> As told in the ''[[Iliad]]'', the hero [[Bellerophon]] was ordered by the king of [[Lycia]] to slay the Chimera (hoping the monster would kill Bellerophon). Still, the hero, "trusting in the signs of the gods", succeeded in killing the Chimera.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:6.156-6.190 6.160–183].</ref> [[Hesiod]] adds that Bellerophon had help in killing the Chimera, saying, "her did [[Pegasus]] and noble Bellerophon slay".<ref>[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0020.tlg001.perseus-eng1:304-336 325], so also [[Pindar]], ''Olympian'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0033.tlg001.perseus-eng1:13 13.84–90].</ref>

Apollodorus gave a more complete account of the story. [[Iobates]], the king of [[Lycia]], had ordered Bellerophon to kill the Chimera (who had been killing cattle and had "devastated the country") since he thought that the Chimera would instead kill Bellerophon, "for it was more than a match for many, let alone one".<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:2.3.1 2.3.1].</ref> But the hero mounted his winged horse [[Pegasus]] (who had sprung from the blood of [[Medusa]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pegasus {{!}} Greek mythology {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pegasus-Greek-mythology |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> "and soaring on high shot down the Chimera from the height."<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:2.3.2 2.3.2]; compare with [[Hyginus (Fabulae)|Hyginus]], ''[[Fabulae]]'' 57.</ref>