Also Chimera. The Greek for 'she-goat', but in Greek mythology the Chimaera was a fire breathing female creature with the body of a lion, a goat's head emerging from her back, and a serpent as her tail. Hesiod's account though gives it the mane and legs of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a dragon or serpent, with three heads (lion's, goat's and serpent's). According to Homer and Hesiod, the Chimaera was of divine origin. Her mother was Echidna (a monster and a prolific breeder of monsters, it was half-woman and half-serpent), her father was the monster Typhon. The Chimaera was slain by Bellerophon, with Pegasus help. The Chimaera is identified as female in literature, but is usually male in artwork. According to all authorities, the monster was native to Lycia, where there was a volcano bearing its name.

The base of this mountain was infested with serpents, higher up on its flanks were meadows and goats, and toward its desolate top, which belched out flames, a pride of lions had its resort. Even in the fantasies of mythology the Chimaera was felt to be extreme and the word today suggests something absurdly fantastic, wildly imaginary; also have been used as a symbol of the impossible.

Image Credit: Lampas Group/Campana Collection, 1861