Bellerophon

Mortal man

Bellerophon or Bellerophontes (Ancient Greek: Βελλεροφῶν; Βελλεροφόντης, lit. 'slayer of Belleros') or Hipponous (Ancient Greek: Ἱππόνοος, lit. 'horse-knower'), was a divine Corinthian hero of Greek mythology, the son of Poseidon and Eurynome, and the foster son of Glaukos. He was "the greatest hero and slayer of monsters, alongside Cadmus and Perseus, before the days of Heracles".

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Mentions
4
Connected characters
9
Books
1
Bellerophon. Bellerophon Taming Pegasus
Bellerophon Taming Pegasus · Жак ЛипшицImage source ↗Public domain

Mentions in the Iliad

A. T. Murray, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1924 · Homer, Iliad with an English Translation · CC BY-SA 3.0 US

“and Glaucus begat peerless Bellerophon. To him the gods granted beauty and lovely manliness; but Proetus in his heart devised against him evil, and drave him, seeing he was mightier far, from the land of the Argives; for Zeus had made them subject to his sceptre.”
Il. 6.155–159
“She was of divine stock, not of men, in the fore part a lion, in the hinder a serpent, and in the midst a goat, breathing forth in terrible wise the might of blazing fire. And Bellerophon slew her, trusting in the signs of the gods. Next fought he with the glorious Solymi,”
Il. 6.180–184
“for peerless Bellerophon slew them one and all. But when the king now knew that he was the valiant offspring of a god, he kept him there, and offered him his own daughter, and gave to him the half of all his kingly honour; moreover the Lycians meted out for him a demesne pre-eminent above all,”
Il. 6.190–194
“Verily now art thou a friend of my father's house from of old: for goodly Oeneus on a time entertained peerless Bellerophon in his halls, and kept him twenty days; and moreover they gave one to the other fair gifts of friendship. Oeneus gave a belt bright with scarlet,”
Il. 6.215–219

Connections

Father · Sources
Father · Sources
and Glaucus begat peerless Bellerophon. To him the gods granted beauty and lovely manliness; but Proetus in his heart devised against him evil, and drave him, seeing he was mightier far, from the land of the Argives; for Zeus had made them subject to his sceptre.
Il. 6.155

Il. 6.155

Grandfather · Sources
Grandfather · Sources

Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Сизиф → Главк → Беллерофонт.

Howbeit, if thou wilt, hear this also, that thou mayest know well my lineage; and many there be that know it. There is a city Ephyre in the heart of Argos, pasture-land of horses, and there dwelt Sisyphus that was craftiest of men, Sisyphus, son of Aeolus; and he begat a son Glaucus;
Il. 6.154
and Glaucus begat peerless Bellerophon. To him the gods granted beauty and lovely manliness; but Proetus in his heart devised against him evil, and drave him, seeing he was mightier far, from the land of the Argives; for Zeus had made them subject to his sceptre.
Il. 6.155

Il. 6.154 · Il. 6.155

Great-grandfather · Sources
Great-grandfather · Sources

Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Эол → Сизиф → Главк → Беллерофонт.

Howbeit, if thou wilt, hear this also, that thou mayest know well my lineage; and many there be that know it. There is a city Ephyre in the heart of Argos, pasture-land of horses, and there dwelt Sisyphus that was craftiest of men, Sisyphus, son of Aeolus; and he begat a son Glaucus;
Il. 6.154
and Glaucus begat peerless Bellerophon. To him the gods granted beauty and lovely manliness; but Proetus in his heart devised against him evil, and drave him, seeing he was mightier far, from the land of the Argives; for Zeus had made them subject to his sceptre.
Il. 6.155

Il. 6.154 · Il. 6.155

Grandson · Sources
Grandson · Sources

Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Беллерофонт → Лаодамия → Сарпедон.

a fair tract of orchard and of plough-land, to possess it. And the lady bare to wise-hearted Bellerophon three children, Isander and Hippolochus and Laodameia. With Laodameia lay Zeus the counsellor, and she bare godlike Sarpedon, the warrior harnessed in bronze.
Il. 6.196–197
a fair tract of orchard and of plough-land, to possess it. And the lady bare to wise-hearted Bellerophon three children, Isander and Hippolochus and Laodameia. With Laodameia lay Zeus the counsellor, and she bare godlike Sarpedon, the warrior harnessed in bronze.
Il. 6.198–199

Il. 6.196–197 · Il. 6.198–199

See all 9
Grandson · Sources
Grandson · Sources

Происхождение выведено по цепочке родителей: Беллерофонт → Гипполох → Главк.

to make prayer to the gods, and promise them hecatombs. So saying, Hector of the flashing helm departed, and the black hide at either end smote against his ankles and his neck, even the rim that ran about the outermost edge of his bossed shield. But Glaucus, son of Hippolochus, and the son of Tydeus
Il. 6.119
and he lived not for long, seeing that he was hated of all the immortal gods. So would not I be minded to fight against the blessed gods. But if thou art of men, who eat the fruit of the field, draw nigh, that thou mayest the sooner enter the toils of destruction. Then spake to him the glorious son of Hippolochus:
Il. 6.144
a fair tract of orchard and of plough-land, to possess it. And the lady bare to wise-hearted Bellerophon three children, Isander and Hippolochus and Laodameia. With Laodameia lay Zeus the counsellor, and she bare godlike Sarpedon, the warrior harnessed in bronze.
Il. 6.196–197

Il. 6.119 · Il. 6.144 · Il. 6.196–197 · Il. 6.206 · Il. 6.215–216 · Il. 7.13 · Il. 12.309 · Il. 12.387 · Il. 17.140 · Il. 17.216

Friend · Sources
Friend · Sources
Verily now art thou a friend of my father's house from of old: for goodly Oeneus on a time entertained peerless Bellerophon in his halls, and kept him twenty days; and moreover they gave one to the other fair gifts of friendship. Oeneus gave a belt bright with scarlet,and Bellerophon a double cup of gold which I left in my palace as I came hither. But Tydeus I remember not, seeing I was but a little child when he left, what time the host of the Achaeans perished at Thebes. Therefore now am I a dear guest-friend to thee in the midst of Argos,
Il. 6.215–220

Il. 6.215–220

In art

Bellerophon Taming Pegasus
Bellerophon Taming PegasusJacques Lipchitz · 1977Collection not recorded

Jacques Lipchitz. Bellerophon Taming Pegasus. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17509210

Беллерофонт отправляется в поход против Химеры
Беллерофонт отправляется в поход против ХимерыAlexander Ivanov · 1829Collection not recorded

Alexander Ivanov. Беллерофонт отправляется в поход против Химеры. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116192808

Image author: Alexander Ivanov

Image date: 1829

Bellerophon riding Pegasus defeats the Chimaera, 1635
Bellerophon riding Pegasus defeats the Chimaera, 1635Peter Paul Rubens · 1635Musée Bonnat-HelleuInv. 458

Peter Paul Rubens. Bellerophon riding Pegasus defeats the Chimaera, 1635. Musée Bonnat-Helleu. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109289139

Image author: Peter Paul Rubens

Image date: 1635

See all 9
Jupiter and Bellerophon
Jupiter and BellerophonErik Cornelius · 1700Drottningholm CollectionInv. NMDrh 720

Erik Cornelius. Jupiter and Bellerophon. Drottningholm Collection. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18574820

Image author: Erik Cornelius

Image date: 17th centrury

Bellerophon Mosaic
Bellerophon MosaicArtist not recorded · 200Musée Rolin

Bellerophon Mosaic. Musée Rolin. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124623423

Belerofonte, Pierre Jacques 01
Belerofonte, Pierre Jacques 01Artist not recorded · Date not establishedCollection not recorded

GualdimG. Belerofonte, Pierre Jacques 01. собрание не указано. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABelerofonte%2C_Pierre_Jacques_01.jpg

Image author: GualdimG

Image date: 2023-02-07 14:16:20

Bellerophon and Pegasus
Bellerophon and PegasusJulius Troschel · 1845Neue PinakothekInv. L 2045

Julius Troschel. Bellerophon and Pegasus. Neue Pinakothek. CC BY-SA 3.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q115526939

Bellérophon et Pégase - Musée du Louvre AGER CA 314
Bellérophon et Pégase - Musée du Louvre AGER CA 314Artist not recorded · 455 BCDepartment of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities of the Louvre · ПарижInv. CA 314

Bellérophon et Pégase - Musée du Louvre AGER CA 314. Department of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities of the Louvre. CC0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q126077794

Darius Vase
Darius VaseDarius Painter · 400 BCNaples National Archaeological MuseumInv. 81947

Darius Painter. Darius Vase. Naples National Archaeological Museum. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1241753

04 / PROVENANCE

Sources and verification

The character is matched to the catalogue.

Wikidata Q189872

Reference material remains distinct from the poem’s assertions. Characters who share a name retain separate pages.