Bellerophon (bu lair' u fon) was a brave and handsome young man. His strength and courage made him very popular with the people of his country.

But one day Bellerophon's charm brought him trouble. Anteia (an tay' a), the queen, fell in love with him. When Bellerophon told her he wanted nothing to do with her, Anteia was infuriated. She made up terrible lies about the young man. She told these lies to her husband, Proteus (pro' tee us). 

"He has wronged us!" she cried. "I want him punished! I want him dead!" 

The king did not want to harm the young man. Bellerophon was well liked, and the king was not even sure his wife was telling him the truth. But he did not want to anger her even more. "How can I do as the queen wishes, and yet not kill Bellerophon myself!" he wondered. 

Proteus decided to ask Bellerophon to carry a message to his father-in-law, Lobates, the king of Lycia. Bellerophon did not know that this message asked Lobates to put him to death! 

Bellerophon was treated royally when he arrived in Lycia. As usual, everyone found him to be attractive and charming. It was ten days before Lobates asked to see the message that Bellerophon had brought. By this time he was very fond of the young man. The message he read upset him greatly. 

"How can I put this fine young man to death!" he asked himself. "And yet it is my duty to carry out the wishes of my son-in-law." 

It wasn't long before Lobates arrived at a solution. He called the young man to his throne. "Bellerophon, we have heard many tales of your bravery. We need someone with your skill to help us. Our

people have long been terrorized by a horrible creature called the Chimera. You will do us a great favor if you hunt and kill this beast." But to himself he thought, "No man has ever returned from a battle with the Chimera. Bellerophon will surely die." 

Bellerophon was excited by the king's request. He had heard of the Chimera. He knew that killing it would bring him great fame. He eagerly agreed to go after the creature. 

Bellerophon was not afraid. He wanted to help the people. Bellerophron went to seek the advice of a seer, who told him of the legendary flying horse named Pegasus.

“This is what you must do to destroy the Chimera,” the seer said, “Build an altar to the goddess Athena and offer her gifts. And in return, She will help you capture Pegasus.”

After making a sacrifice to Athena, Bellerophon found a Mounting Pegasus, he flew to the mountaintop where the Chimera lived. His first glimpse of the beast startled him. It had the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and a terrifying serpent for a tail. Its fiery breath brought a quick death to anyone who came too close. 

But Bellerophon did not have to get close to the Chimera. He urged Pegasus to fly high abovethe creature where its hot flames could not reach them. Safe from harm, Bellerophon drew his bow and arrow. He killed the Chimera with a single shot. 

Bellerophon returned to Lycia as a hero. The people praised and honored him. Even the king was pleased. He decided to ignore the request for Bellerophon's death. Surely the courageous young man had earned his life. The king was so grateful he gave Bellerophon his youngest daughter's hand in marriage. 

For many years Bellerophon lived a happy and full life. But he always thought of himself as a bit more important than other

mortals. His pride finally led to a dangerous mistake. One day Bellerophon decided that he belonged on Mt. Olympus with the gods. He climbed on Pegasus's back and ordered the horse to fly to Olympus. But Pegasus was much wiser than his master. He threw Bellerophon off. 

The gods were angry at Bellerophon for trying to join them. He was severely punished. For the rest of his life, he wandered the earth alone. He never saw his wife or his family again. He was scorned by everyone he met. 

Pegasus was well taken care of, though. Zeus brought him to Olympus where he became the best loved of all the gods' creatures.