in fabulous history, the son of Glaucus king of Epirus, happening accidentally to kill his brother, fled to Proetus king of Argos, who gave him a hospitable reception: but Sthenoeba, his queen, falling in love with the beautiful stranger, and finding that nothing could induce him to injure his benefactor, she accused him to her husband of an attempt to violate her honour. Proetus, however, not being willing to act contrary to the laws of hospitality, sent him to Iobates king of Lygia, and the father of Sthenoeba, with letters deiring him to be put to death: whence the proverb Bellerophonis literas afferet, equivalent to Literae Uriæ. That prince, at the receipt of these letters, was celebrating a festival of nine days, which prevented Bellerophon's destruction. Iobates, however, sent him in the mean time to subdue the Solymi, the Amazons, and Lyfians, and thought to get rid of him by exposing him to the greatest dangers; but by his prudence and courage he came off victorious. Iobates next employed him to destroy the Chimera; when Minerva or according to others, Neptune, in consideration of his innocence, furnished him with the horse Pegasus, by whose assistance he killed the Chimera. Iobates, on his return, being convinced of his truth and integrity, and charmed with his heroic virtues, gave him his daughter Philonoë in marriage, and declared him his successor: which when Sthenoeba heard, she killed herself. Bellerophon at length growing vain with his prosperity, resolved, by the assistance of Pegasus, to ascend the skies; when Jupiter checked his presumption, by striking him blind in his flight; on which he fell down to the earth, and wandered till his death in contempt and misery: but Pegasus mounting into heaven, Jupiter placed him among the constellations.