Great Beasts of Legend: Centaurs, Sirens and Chimaera: The Greeks and their Monsters

Dr. Jeremy McInerney, Davidson Kennedy Professor Department of Classical Studies, University of Pennsylvania The Greek imagination was populated with all sorts of hybrids and monsters, from the half-horse, half man centaur to the chimaera, a blend of lion, snake and goat. What function did these creatures play in Greek culture? In this lecture we’ll look at some of the most extraordinary monsters and fabulous creatures of the Greeks and try to explain where they came from and why the Greeks were fascinated by them.