Over the centuries, the monster paled into insignificance, turning into a figment of the imagination, "an illusion or fabrication of the mind; an unrealisable dream", according to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.
World peace, a people's republic, true translation, tolerance, the idea of capitalist stabilisation long-term - it's all a chimera.
And now it is resurfacing, gaining substance again - but not as a powerful wild creature: oh no, as a mere object of the ambitions of genetic engineering.
Merriam-Webster again: a chimera is "an individual, organ,
or part consisting of tissues of diverse genetic constitution". ". So far, a mixture between sheep and goat - geet? shoap? - has been achieved,
through lumping together embryos from different species.
As you see, the goat is still in there, but the new creature lacks fire - the search for dragon embryos is still on.
And anyway, the new chimera science is more interested in pigs' kidneys that can be transplanted into deficient
human bodies to get the waterworks going again.
Poor Chimera! Gone to the pigs, sort of…
On the other hand, brother Kerberos hasn't had a better deal either, posing as a logo for petrol stations.
At least, sister Sphinx managed to maintain some grandeur, gazing down stonily at shoals of tourists floating around her. Maybe it runs in the family…
Wishing you mixed pleasures (and don't forget to send me a photo of your DIY chimera…)
