Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
Monsters explained
This chapter catalogs various mythological monsters, including the Sphinx, the Chimaera, the Centaurs, the Pygmies, and the Griffin.
What happens
This chapter catalogs various mythological monsters, including the Sphinx, the Chimaera, the Centaurs, the Pygmies, and the Griffin. It recounts the tragic story of Oedipus and the Sphinx, the tale of Bellerophon and the winged horse Pegasus defeating the Chimaera, the nature and exploits of the Centaurs (including the wise Chiron), and descriptions of the Pygmies and the Griffin.
Themes in this chapter
Hubris and Divine Retribution
Bellerophon's attempt to fly to heaven on Pegasus leads to his downfall, as Jupiter sends a gadfly to unseat him, leaving him lame and blind.
Fate and Free Will
Oedipus unknowingly fulfills the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother, despite efforts to avoid it, highlighting the inescapability of fate.
Heroism and the Quest
Bellerophon's quest to slay the Chimaera with the help of Pegasus exemplifies the heroic journey, aided by divine gifts and guidance.
Characters to notice
- Oedipus
Solves the riddle of the Sphinx, becomes king of Thebes, and unknowingly fulfills a prophecy by killing his father and marrying his mother.
- Bellerophon
Hero who tames Pegasus with a golden bridle from Minerva, slays the Chimaera, but later falls from pride and dies miserably.
- Perseus
Mentioned as the slayer of Medusa, from whose blood Pegasus was born.
- Jupiter
Sends a gadfly to sting Pegasus, causing Bellerophon's fall; also strikes Aesculapius with lightning and places Chiron among the stars.
- Minerva
Captures and tames Pegasus, presents him to the Muses, and gives Bellerophon a golden bridle to capture the horse.
- Chiron
The wisest Centaur, tutor to heroes like Aesculapius, skilled in hunting, medicine, music, and prophecy; later becomes the constellation Sagittarius.
- Aesculapius
Son of Apollo, raised by Chiron, becomes a renowned physician who restores the dead to life, but is killed by Jupiter's lightning.
- Hercules
Mentioned in the context of the Pygmies, who attack him while he sleeps; he wraps them in his lion's skin and carries them to Eurystheus.
Key passages
“When Perseus cut off Medusa’s head, the blood sinking into the earth produced the winged horse Pegasus.”
The winged horse Pegasus sprang from the blood of Medusa after Perseus beheaded her.
Explains the origin of Pegasus.
“The Chimaera was a fearful monster, breathing fire. The fore part of its body was a compound of the lion and the goat, and the hind part a dragon’s.”
The Chimaera was a fire-breathing monster with a lion's front, a goat's middle, and a dragon's tail.
Describes the Chimaera's hybrid form.
“Oedipus replied, 'Man, who in childhood creeps on hands and knees, in manhood walks erect, and in old age with the aid of a staff.'”
Oedipus answered that the animal is a human being, who crawls as a baby, walks upright as an adult, and uses a cane in old age.
Oedipus solves the Sphinx's riddle.
“At last Bellerophon by his pride and presumption drew upon himself the anger of the gods; it is said he even attempted to fly up into heaven on his winged steed, but Jupiter sent a gadfly which stung Pegasus and made him throw his rider, who became lame and blind in consequence.”
Bellerophon's arrogance led the gods to punish him; when he tried to ride Pegasus to heaven, Jupiter sent a gadfly that stung the horse, causing it to throw Bellerophon, leaving him lame and blind.
Illustrates the theme of hubris and divine retribution.
