Bellerophon winner of the Chimaera, 1874

Description of the artwork

This Bellerophon, hero coming from Corinth, winner of many monsters, is a wonderful bronze with a composition that increases the muscle structure of the hero and Pegasus too.

Hébert dramatized the victory of Bellerophon on the Chimera. This monster with three breathed fire heads, one lion, one goat and one dragon, was the deformed daughter of Echidna and Typhon. Iobatès was asked to kill Bellerophon but didn’t want to do it directly. So he sent the hero to many dangers, hoping he met his death. That was the reason why Bellerophon, helpt by Athena who tamed Pegasus with a magic bridle, went into the fight against Chimera.

But despite of Pegasus’ speed, Bellerophon didn’t succeed in killing Chimera. The hero returned to Athena who informed him to drive his sword in a lead block. Bellerophon did this and when he plunged his sword into Chimera’s mouth, the monster breathed fire and the lead burned inside of it. So Pegasus moved aside at the monster died.