We show you all the information about Bellerophon, one of the most popular heroes of Greek mythology with great legends.
Bellerophon, the hero
Ancient Greek heroes are among the most famous characters to appear in the stories of Greek mythology, and characters such as Heracles and Jason have instantly recognizable names. The names, and the deeds, of many other Greek heroes have been overlooked by many, but in antiquity people like Bellerophon were famous figures.
who was Bellerophon?
Bellerophon was a hero in Greek mythology. He was the son of Glaucus, king of Corinth, and Eurynome. He was the grandson of Sisyphus. This hero was also known for taming and riding Pegasus, conquering the terrifying monster, the Chimera, and defeating the Amazons in battle.
His story serves as a lesson for mankind, as it tells how pride can erase one’s success and instead serve as a legacy. Although Bellerophon was once honored by the gods and was able to conquer the world with their help, he became selfish and conceited, which ultimately led to his downfall.
Family
Poseidon and Eurynome were the parents of Bellerophon. However, Eurynome’s husband, Glaucus, raised him because he believed he was his own blood son. After taming Pegasus and conquering his enemies, Bellerophon finally settled down and married Philonoe. He was happy with her and with the birth of his children. He had two sons, Hippolytus and Isandros, and two daughters, Deidameia and Laodameia. During his reign as king, he was loved and honored by his people.
Unfortunately, however, Bellerophon’s new life was not as fulfilling as his past experiences. He decided that he would visit the gods to ask for a new quest and rode Pegasus to Mount Olympus.
Zeus was unhappy with this and sent a fly to sting Pegasus, throwing Bellerophon off his back. He survived the fall, but was permanently crippled. As punishment, he spent the rest of his life wandering and seeking help, but no one wanted to help because he had offended the gods. He died alone, but the exact cause is unknown, as there was no one present to record it.
Origins
Bellerophon’s grandson, Glaucus (named after his great-grandfather) tells the story of his grandfather in the Iliad. Both his family line and his missions are well documented by Glaucus.
Appearance
He was depicted as a strong young man. He is usually seen with Pegasus, either feeding the horse or riding him. In every image of him, he appears to be fit and attractive. His appearance gives a sense of power and control. He looks like a hero, especially in pictures of him conquering his enemies.
Myths of Bellerophon
The myths surrounding this hero of Greek mythology contain missions worthy of a hero. With the gods on his side, it seemed there was nothing he could not conquer.
Pegasus
Bellerophon’s father instilled in him an interest in horses from an early age, so it is not surprising that the myth of Bellerophon began with his search for Pegasus, the well-known winged horse of Greek mythology. After several attempts to tame the horse, Bellerophon turned to Poseidus, a famous seer of Corinth, for advice.
He instructed the hero to spend the night in the temple of Athena. While there, Bellerophon dreamed of a goddess who gave him a magical, golden bridle. He awoke to find himself holding the exact bridle of his dreams. He wisely offered a sacrifice to both Poseidon and Athena and immediately went to the meadow where Pegasus was grazing. However, he was unable to tame the horse.
Nevertheless, he was persistent, and with the magic bridle in hand, he finally triumphed. He rode Pegasus to King Pittheaus to show him that he had achieved the impossible. As a reward, he was offered the hand of King Pittheaus’ daughter, Aethra, in marriage. However, tragedy struck before the wedding. Details vary according to the source, but Bellerophon accidentally killed a man, possibly a brother or a tyrant, and was punished by expulsion from his home.
Chimera
After being banished from his homeland, Bellerophon rode Pegasus to King Proetus. He asked to be pardoned for his crime. The king agreed, and allowed him to stay with him. King Proteus’ wife, Stheneboea, was attracted to the young hero and tried to seduce him. But Bellerophon was an honorable man and refused her advances. This did not sit well with Steneboea, so she decided to take revenge by accusing him of trying to seduce her, which infuriated her husband.
King Proetus wanted to get rid of Bellerophon, but since he was well liked by the public, accusing him of anything negative would most likely result in a backlash. It was an offense to the gods to harm a guest, so his options were limited.
He came up with a plan to send Bellerophon to his wife’s father, King Iobates. To get Bellerophon to leave, King Proetus gave him a letter that he said needed to be delivered urgently.
Bellerophon and the King
Bellerophon took Pegasus to the house of Iobates. He was warmly received, and quickly made to feel at home. He delivered the letter, informing King Lobates of the man’s unwanted advances on his daughter. King Iobates was now as upset as King Proetus, and faced exactly the same problem. He could not harm Bellerophon, for he would be punished by the gods. But King Iobates came up with his own plan.
He decided to ask Bellerophon to accept a series of missions. King Iobates believed that these missions were so dangerous that he would soon find himself without a guest in his house, and he would still be worthy of the gods. But the ease with which Bellerophon seemed to conquer the impossible restored his illusion. He was a skilled archer, and with the help of Pegasus, he was able to win all the battles in which he participated. He also had the support of the gods on his side.
His first mission was to kill a monster known as Chimera, a fire-breathing hybrid creature. Most artistic depictions of the Chimera show an animal that resembles a lion, with the head of a goat protruding from its back and a tail ending with the head of a snake. Bellerophon was able to defeat the monster by shooting it from a safe distance while riding Pegasus.
Amazon
After defeating the monster, he was sent to confront a nearby tribe, who happened to be enemies of King Iobates. The hero easily defeated the tribe and was sent to face the Amazons. Again, he was victorious. King Iobates grew increasingly restless and turned his own army against Bellerophon, who killed all but one soldier.
This finally showed King Iobates the truth: with the gods on his side, Bellerophon could conquer anything. The king apologized to the hero and gave him half his kingdom. He also gave him his daughter, Philonoe, in marriage.
Steneboea’s fate is unclear. In some versions, Bellerophon seeks revenge and offers to take her for a ride on Pegasus. Once in the air, he pushes her and she falls to her death. In other versions, word reaches Steneboea that Bellerophon has married her sister. She fears being caught in his lie and takes her own life.
Symbology of Bellerophon
Bellerophon has two symbols associated with him and his missions. The first, and most common, is a picture of him on the back of Pegasus. The second is a picture of him defeating the monster Chimera. He used a spear to conquer the monster, and this is always depicted in the picture. According to Greek mythology, the spear had magical powers, which undoubtedly helped him in his quest along with the support of the gods. Because he was the son of Poseidon, he is sometimes associated with water as well.
