A Chimera

Louis-Jean Desprez (1743-1804) , 1771
BnF, département des Estampes et de la Photographie, HA-52-FT 4
Photo © Bibliothèque Nationale de France
The Chimera confronted by Bellerophon had three heads, of a lion, a goat and a snake; but every author has appropriated this hybrid monster, ascribing to it terrifying features, as in this engraving.
Among the characteristics that can cause fear, hybridity is one of the foremost. The Chimera is emblematic of the art of creating horrors by juxtaposing what should not coexist: the fearsome Typhoon is an entity halfway between living beings and the elements of fire and storm. Fantasy takes inspiration from this to create original monsters, by accumulation of characteristics, such as the Blast-Ended Skrewts of Harry Potter.