Chimera

The Chimera was a great three-natured monster, bearing the horned head of a goat, the head of a lion upon its underside, and a serpent for a tail. Loosed as a minion of Olympus, it breathed fire and spat paralyzing venom against Kratos in the temples and ruins of Greece, and its soul could afterward be called up at his command through the Claws of Hades.

Form#

In the lands of Greece the Chimera appeared as a large, tan-furred beast that could move upon either two legs or four. At its front sat the head of a monstrous fanged goat, crowned with three horns and a smaller one upon its snout; beneath it was the head of a lion, which faced downward while the beast went on all fours and took command of the body when it reared up to stand. The Chimera's tail took the form of a great serpent, blue-green in color, and snakelike scales ran along the underside of its belly. Its hands were humanlike, ending in long clawed fingers, while its hind legs bore cloven hooves. In older tales the Chimera was numbered among the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, kin to the Hydra and to Cerberus.

A creature of three natures#

The Chimera fought as though three beasts shared one body, each of its heads taking the lead in turn and ruling the whole. The serpent's head stalked and ambushed, spitting paralyzing venom and lashing with the tail. The lion's head loosed a wild and furious rampage, striking with brute force and breathing explosive gouts of fire. The goat's head took a wary, defensive course, keeping its foe at bay with horns, hit-and-run charges, and waves of flame swept across the ground. Most of its blows could be turned aside, and its fire was always heralded by a small bloom of flame in the mouth of whichever head then held command.

Appearances#

Kratos crossed paths with the Chimera in several places across his wars. At Delphi he faced a Chimera unlike the others, blue and white in hue and breathing killing cold rather than fire, though in all else it fought as its fiery kin did. In Olympia he battled a Chimera before his reckoning with Helios, and on the road to Tartarus he met another pair at the Gates of Tisiphone. Long after, Kratos could summon the very soul of a Chimera through the Claws of Hades; once called, it loosed a triple breath of fire ending in a powerful blast of flame against his enemies.