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
8
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-in-law · Sources
Father-in-law · Sources

Царь Ликии выдал за Беллерофонта другую дочь (Ил. 6.192), не Антею, жену Пройта. Имя жены Беллерофонта Гомер не сообщает; имя Иобата дано по внешней традиции.

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,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. 6.191–197

Il. 6.191–197

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

Tried to seduce him; rejected · Sources
Tried to seduce him; rejected · Sources

Антея пожелала тайной любви с Беллерофонтом, но не склонила его. Попытка завершилась отказом; любовная связь не состоялась.

Now the wife of Proetus, fair Anteia, lusted madly for Bellerophon, to lie with him in secret love, but could in no wise prevail upon wise-hearted Bellerophon, for that his heart was upright. So she made a tale of lies, and spake to king Proetus: Either die thyself, Proetus, or slay Bellerophon,
Il. 6.160–162

Il. 6.160–162

Falsely accused him · Sources
Falsely accused him · Sources

Рассказчик прямо называет слова Антеи клеветой. Стих 165 доказывает ложное обвинение, а не совершённое Беллерофонтом нападение.

Now the wife of Proetus, fair Anteia, lusted madly for Bellerophon, to lie with him in secret love, but could in no wise prevail upon wise-hearted Bellerophon, for that his heart was upright. So she made a tale of lies, and spake to king Proetus: Either die thyself, Proetus, or slay Bellerophon,seeing he was minded to lie with me in love against my will. So she spake, and wrath gat hold upon the king to hear that word. To slay him he forbare, for his soul had awe of that; but he sent him to Lycia, and gave him baneful tokens, graving in a folded tablet many signs and deadly,
Il. 6.163–165

Il. 6.163–165

See all 8

In art

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

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

Photograph / reproduction: Alexander Ivanov

Photograph / reproduction date: 1829

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

Photograph / reproduction: Peter Paul Rubens

Photograph / reproduction date: 1635

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

Photograph / reproduction: Erik Cornelius

Photograph / reproduction date: 17th centrury

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

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

Photograph / reproduction: GualdimG

Photograph / reproduction date: 2023-02-07 14:16:20

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

See all 9

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

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.