Bellerophon (or Bellerophontes)

Bellerophon (Or Bellerophontes)

in Greek mythology, was the son of the Corinthian king Glaucus and of Eurymede. He unintentionally killed his brother, and therefore fled to king Proetus in Argos. But, as the latter's wife became enamoured of him, and he did not favor her love, she accused him to her husband of evil intentions and violence to her person. The king did not care to avenge himself on his guest, but sent him with a letter to his wife's father, Jobates, king of Lycia, asking him to execute Bellerophon. Jobates likewise refused to kill him as a-guest, but exposed him to dangers to which he might fall a victim. The deities stood by him because of his innocence, and sent him the winged horse Pegasus (q.v.), by the aid of which he subjected the Solymi, an Asiatic nation, the Amazons, and the Chimaera (q.v.). Jobates was so touched thereby that he gave Bellerophon his daughter Philonoe as a wife, and appointed him his successor. His end was not so happy as his life. The deities, out of envy; began to hate him, and threw him from his Pegasus; lame, he wandered about lonely and sad, in bitter anguish of heart fleeing the paths of men. Philonoe bore him three children, Isander, Hippolochus, and a daughter Laodamia. Mars slew the first in a battle; Diana robbed him of his daughter; but Hippolochus inherited his father's kingdom.