Lesson #1 (September) - Chimaera

Ministry of Magic Classification: XXXXX

The Chimaera was a fire-breathing she-goat with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and a serpent's tail. This beast was the product of a union between the equally hideous monsters Typhon and Echidne.

Echidne bore a particularly dreadful brood to Typhon: along with the Chimaera, the two of them produced Cerberus, the three-headed hound of Hades; Orthrus, the two-headed hound of Geryon; the Sphinx, who had a woman's head, lion's body, serpent's tail, and eagle's wings; and the Hydra, a multi-headed water serpent. The Chimaera and her siblings comprised some of the most feared monsters in Greek mythology.

This dreaded monster took up residence in a place called Lycia and caused great havoc, killing and terrorizing all the neighboring area. In due time, the hero called Bellerophon, riding the winged horse Pegasus, challenged this beast.

Flying above the Chimaera on Pegasus, Bellerophon rained down arrows on the creature, with little effect - the beast was too strong and threatened to overwhelm the hero with its flaming breath. Bellerophon then attached a lump of lead to the point of his spear and thrust it between the Chimaera's jaws. The creature's fiery breath melted the lead, which trickled down its throat, burning its insides and instantly killing it.

After overcoming the Chimaera, Bellerophon defeated the neighboring enemies, including the fierce nation of women warriors called the Amazons, and eventually became the champion of Lycia.