Bellerophon facts for kids
Bellerophon was a famous hero from ancient Greek myths. He was known as one of the greatest monster-slayers before the mighty Heracles. Bellerophon was the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea, and a human woman named Eurynome. His most amazing feat was taming the incredible winged horse, Pegasus. With Pegasus by his side, Bellerophon managed to defeat the terrifying Chimera, a monster that was part lion, part goat, and part snake!
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Who Was Bellerophon?
Bellerophon was a brave hero in Greek mythology. He was born in the ancient city of Corinth. His father was said to be Poseidon, the powerful god of the sea. His mother was a human woman named Eurynome. Bellerophon was known for his strength and courage. He was considered one of the most important heroes of his time. He was often compared to other great heroes like Cadmus and Perseus.
Taming the Winged Horse, Pegasus
One of Bellerophon's most famous stories is how he tamed Pegasus. Pegasus was a magnificent horse with large, white wings. He was born from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa. Pegasus was wild and untamable. Many heroes tried to catch him, but they all failed.
Bellerophon, however, was determined. With the help of the goddess Athena, he found Pegasus. Athena gave him a special golden bridle. This bridle was said to have magical powers. Bellerophon used it to approach Pegasus. To everyone's surprise, Pegasus allowed Bellerophon to put the bridle on him. From that moment on, Pegasus became Bellerophon's loyal companion. They flew through the skies together.
Battling the Terrifying Chimera
Bellerophon's greatest challenge came when he was asked to defeat the Chimera. The Chimera was a fearsome monster. It had the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and a tail that was a snake. Fire breathed from its mouth. This monster was causing great destruction in the land of Lycia.
The king of Lycia, Iobates, sent Bellerophon on this dangerous quest. He hoped Bellerophon would fail. But Bellerophon was not afraid. He mounted Pegasus and flew towards the monster. The Chimera attacked with its fiery breath. Pegasus was fast and agile. Bellerophon used his spear. He managed to stab the Chimera. The monster was finally defeated. This victory made Bellerophon a legendary hero.
Bellerophon's Later Life
After defeating the Chimera, Bellerophon had many more adventures. He fought against other enemies of King Iobates. He always won his battles. The king was so impressed that he gave Bellerophon his daughter to marry. Bellerophon became a respected ruler.
However, Bellerophon eventually became too proud. He thought he was as great as the gods. He tried to fly Pegasus up to Mount Olympus. This was the home of the gods. Zeus, the king of the gods, was angered by Bellerophon's arrogance. Zeus sent a gadfly to sting Pegasus. Pegasus bucked, and Bellerophon fell back to Earth. He survived the fall but was injured. He spent the rest of his life wandering alone. This story teaches us about the dangers of too much pride.
Images for kids
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Bellerophon riding Pegasus (1914)
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The eternal fires of Chimera in Lycia (modern-day Turkey) where the Chimera myth takes place.
