One finds it truly difficult to escape references to ancient Greek myths in modern popular culture. The Chimera is an interesting example of this phenomenon.

One truly needn’t look too far in today’s society to find references to Greek mythology. Whether it is in film, television, literature, names or any number of other places – either blatant or merely symbolic – references to the vast system of ancient Greek religious beliefs if more pervasive than most people realize.

Consider the Greek names for the astrological signs, or the names of the planets in the solar system, or the use of the term “Achilles heel” or the brand name Nike. Examples are not hard to come by.

Truthfully, such usage of mythology has most likely been the case for some time now; probably even stretching all the way back to the time when Greek Mythology was considered nothing more than 'contemporary religion.'

The Greek Chimera

An all-too-often overlooked example of this absorption of Greek mythology into western popular culture is the case of the Chimera.

In Greek Mythology (beginning with its first appearance in Homer’s The Iliad), the Chimera was an evil creature, made up of various parts of different animals; an amalgam of creatures such as snakes, goats, dragons and lions (the creature is different, of course, depending on which ancient source one chooses to use). What's more, the Chimera was well known to breath fire from its mouth (or, as some versions of the monster have multiple heads, it always breaths fire out of at least one of them). The Chimera was generally regarded as being evil, and sightings of it were often viewed as bad omens, forecasting a coming disaster.

Eventually, according to the legend, the Chimera was eventually killed by a Greek Hero named Bellephoron, who killed it by, apparently, shoving a lead-tipped spear down its throat while riding a Pegasus, suffocating the creature to death. Even though the Chimera died what was surely a noble mythological death, its legacy has continued to live on to this very day.

The Chimera of Today

Today, in culture, Chimera is a no longer an evil monster, but rather a fairly common word which is often used to describe anything which is an amalgam of two other things, such as plants, animals or even viruses. It seems to be practically everywhere, if one really knows where to look.

In the recent past, the word Chimera has been used as:

o The title of episodes on The X-Files, Star Trek: Deep Space 9 and Stargate SG1 (and, oddly enough, all of these episodes occurred in the seventh season of the respective series... which may or may not have significance)

o A Heavy Metal band from Ohio

o The titles of albums by at least twelve (surely more) musical artists

o Names of characters or plot catalysts in many films, television shows and video games, including Harry Potter and Mission Impossible 2

o An ornamental sculpture on certain buildings, similar in many ways to a gargoyle

and...

o The name biochemists use to describe a protein made by the splicing of two separate genes

While knowing what the Chimera was in Greek mythology may not be able to help one understand too many things better today, it can’t exactly hurt, either. After all, the prevalent use of the Chimera in modern popular culture surely means one of two things: Either one is inclined to believe that humanity today has found Greek mythology enlightening and relevant enough to be “borrowed” from frequently, or people have discovered that using an obscure name from Greek mythology has the potential to make one seem more intelligent than they really are.

Of course the Chimera is not remotely alone in its modern usage. If anything, it seems to be a rather accurate example of the role Greek mythology often is relegated to in today’s world – it has become a tool, rather than a set of religious beliefs. It has become the means, rather than an end, though no one seems to mind.

References:

“Chimaera.” Harper’s Dictionary of Classical Antiquities.

“Khimaira.”

“Introduction to Greek Mythology: Greek and Roman Myth in Daily Life.”