May
08
/ 2020
Bellerophon is a well-known hero in Greek mythology. He is best-known for the slaying of the Chimera, a monstrous fire-breathing creature with three heads. The hero was able to accomplish this feat with the aid of Pegasus, the winged horse. In classical art, the three figures are often depicted together. The story of Bellerophon, however, ends in tragedy. It was his hubris, or excessive pride that resulted in the hero’s downfall. This may be a lesson that the ancient Greeks sought to present through the story of Bellerophon. Who Was Bellerophon? The ancient writers were not in full agreement regarding the parentage of Bellerophon. According to Homer’s Iliad, for example, his father was Glaucus, the King of Ephyre (the old
