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Bellerophontes is a hero of Greek mythology. He was "the greatest hero and slayer of monsters, alongside Cadmus and Perseus, before the days of Heracles". He was born in Corinth, sired by the god Poseidon on the wife of the king. In his youth he captured the winged horse Pegasos as it came to drink from the town's fountain. Later he was exiled for the murder of a relative and travelled to the court of King Proitos in Argos. There Queen Stheneboia developed a passion for him. When he spurned her advances, she told her husband that he had tried to violate her. Proitos sent him to King Iobates in Lykia with a closed letter requesting that the boy be put to death. Iobates was reluctant to do this himself and so commanded Bellerophontes to slay the fire-breathing Chimera which was ravaging the land. He accomplished the task and returned alive. The king next sent him to subdue the barbarous Solymoi tribe, and later the Amazones, but again he was victorious. Finally Iobates commanded his guards to ambush and kill the youth, but he slew them all. The king then recognized him for the son of a god, and welcomed him into his house as his son-in-law and heir. Despite all of his successes Bellerophontes was still not satisfied and sought to fly to heaven on the back of Pegasos. Zeus was angered by his presumption and sent a gladfly to sting the horse, causing it to buck and cast the hero back to earth. Afterwards he wandered the world alone despised by gods and men.
