SIKYONIA, Sikyon. Circa 330/20-280 BC. AR Triobol or Hemidrachm (16mm, 2.84 g). Chimaera standing left, raising forepaw; ΣE below / Dove flying left; Σ above tail. BCD Peloponnesos 289; HGC 5, 213 Good very fine
The earliest description of the Chimaera comes from Homer's Illiad, "a thing of immortal make, not human, lion-fronted and snake behind, a goat in the middle, and snorting out the breath of the terrible flame of bright fire."There are a few myths associated with the Chimaera, but the most popular is from Corinth, where the beast attacked the city on a nightly basis, carrying off women, children, and livestock. Athena appeared to Bellerophon in a dream and gave him the golden bridle, allowing him to tame the Pegasos. Belleraphon was able to slay the Chimera while riding Pegasos, by driving a spear through its heart. Another variation of the myth is that the spear ended with a clump of lead, when heated by the Chimera's flaming breath, melted and sealed the monster's throat.