Greek mythological beasts

Marble sculpture of Laocoön and his sons struggling with serpents in a dramatic Greek mythology scene

Chimera: Definition, Mythology, and Symbolism

Orin Vale

The Chimera is a celebrated figure in Greek mythology, a fire-breathing hybrid usually described as part lion, part goat, and part serpent. Beyond its terrifying appearance, the creature became a lasting symbol of unnatural mixture, shaping words, myths, and even scientific terminology in ways that reveal its enduring cultural reach.