• From one-eyed giants to terrifying three-headed hellhounds, we count fifteen incredible Greekmythological creatures! 15 – Centaurs,• Centaurs are mythological creatures with human heads, arms and torsos, and the legsand body of a horse. • Centaurs are best known for instigatinga fight with the Lapiths. On the day of Hippodamia’s marriage to Pirithous, the king of the Lapithae,the centaurs barged in and attempted to kidnap the Lapith women. • The most renowned centaur in Greek mythology is Chiron, whose intelligence and impressivemedical skills contrast the violent and excessive drinking behaviours of most typical centaurs. 14 – Cerberus, • Cerberus is a massive three-headed hellhoundthat guards the entrance to the underworld so none who’ve crossed the river Styx canescape. He’s also Hades’ loyal guard dog. • Cerberus’s appetite extends only toliving flesh; he’ll allow deceased spirits to pass, but will consume any living mortalfoolish enough to approach him. • Cerberus’s three heads symbolise thepast, present and future – although in other versions of the myth the heads represent youth,adulthood, and old age. • Cerberus is probably best known as Heracle’stwelfth and final labour. Heracles must enter the underworld, wrestle the beast unarmed,and then bring Cerberus to the surface world, alive, to present to King Eurystheus. 13 – Sirens, • Sirens, also called the Muses of the lowerworld, are femme fatales who lure in sailors with their enchanting voices and music, bringingthem to shipwreck on rocky coastlines. • Sirens are usually depicted as bird–womenhybrids. In early Greek art, they are represented as birds with large women's heads, feathersand scaly feet. However, they are later represented as winged or wingless female figures withthe legs of birds. They are often seen playing a variety of musical instruments, particularlythe harp. • The term ‘siren song’ refers to anappeal that is hard to resist but that, if heeded, will lead to a bad conclusion. • Some writers have implied that Sirens are cannibals; others have suggested the sailorsthey lure die from starvation, unable to eat or leave due to their fixation. 12 – Pegasus, • Pegasus is the winged, pure white divinestallion of Greek mythology. The offspring of Medusa and Poseidon, legend says that aninspiring spring bubbles forth every time Pegasus’s hooves impact the ground. • Pegasus appears in an abundance of ancient Greek pottery, paintings and sculptures ofthe Renaissance. He is thought to symbolise poetry and inspiration. • Pegasus is the brother of Chrysaor (chris-ee-yor) and was born when his mother was decapitatedby Perseaus. After his birth, he ascended to heaven where he pledged allegiance to Zeus,the king of the gods. Zeus tasked him with bringing lightning and thunder from Olympus. • Pegasus is renowned for creating Hippocrene, the fountain on Mt Helicon, and for allowingthe Greek hero Bellerophon (bellero-fun) to ride him into battle with the formidable Chimera. After his death, Zeus transforms the winged horse into the constellation Pegasus and placeshim in the sky. 11 – The Empusa,• The Empusa is not as well known as other Greek legends; she does not appear in anytraditional epic or popular legend. However, her frightening appearance and penchant forhuman flesh make her a memorable addition to any list of mythological creatures. • The Empusa is described as a beautiful woman that can transform into a sharp-toothed,flame-haired and bat-winged creature. She is said to be a demigoddess under the controlof the goddess Hecate (heck-at-ee), a being commonly associated with crossroads and entranceways. • The Empusa seduces young men travellingalone. Once the unsuspecting youth is asleep, the creature shifts into her hideous trueform to devour her victim’s flesh and drink his blood for sustenance. • This horrific mythological being is best known for her appearance in Aristophanes’sThe Frogs, where she terrifies the god Dionysus as he travels to the underworld. 10 – Sphinx, • The mythical Sphinx is a monster withthe haunches of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and the face of a woman. She is known forher treachery and merciless nature, and for her terrifying habit of devouring those whofail to correctly answer her riddles. • The Sphinx famously appears in the legendof Oedipus. In the story, Oedipus travels down the road to his kingdom of Thebes, butis confronted by this strange and mysterious creature. Blocking Oedipus’ path, the Sphinxconfronts him with the following riddle: ‘What is that which in the morning goeth upon fourfeet; upon two feet in the afternoon; and in the evening upon three?’• Oedipus correctly answers the riddle: ‘Man’, who crawls on all fours as a child,stands on two feet as an adult, then, assisted by a cane, stands on three feet in the twilightof his life. Having been bested at her own game, the Sphinx devours herself in a frustratedrage. 9 – Harpies,• In Greek mythology, harpies are female monsters resembling birds with human faces. These former wind spirits drag evildoers to the Erinyes, the chthonic deities of vengeance. • The name of these winged spirits literally translates to ‘that which snatches’, whichis apt considering their tendency to steal food. In fact, Zeus, the father of Gods andmen, used harpies to punish King Phineus. Phineus was blinded and left on an islandwith a banquet of delicious food and a mob of harpies for company. Phineus endured tortureby starvation; ravenous, he could never enjoy the delicious foods on offer because the harpieswould always get to it first. • This is an example of the harpies’ cruelness. They regularly abduct people for the purpose of torturing them, and are therefore consideredagents of punishment. 8 – Griffins/ Hippogriff,• The Griffin is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; thehead and wings of an eagle; and an eagle’s talons for front feet. Since it is comprisedof two noble creatures – the king of beasts and the king of birds – griffins are thoughtto hold great powerful, intellect and majesty. • In ancient times, the griffin was considereda symbol of divine power and a guardian of the divine. • Hippogriffs – which did not, in fact, stem from J. K. Rowling’s imagination – sharephysical and behavioural similarities with Griffins. Hippogriffs are thought to be theoutcome of breeding a male griffin with a mare. Because of this, they have softer temperamentsand are easier to tame. In ancient times, knights rode hippogriffs into combat. 7 – The Chimera, • The Chimera is the feral, fire-breathingmonstrosity of Lycia (liss-ee-aa). The Chimera possesses the body and head of a lion anda snake for a tail. Additionally, the head of a goat protrudes from its back. • The term chimera has come to describe any mythical or fictional creature with partstaken from various animals. It’s also used to describe wildly imaginative or implausibleconcepts. • The earliest recorded appearance of theChimera is The Iliad. It is traditionally considered female, and is thought to havebirthed the Sphinx and the Nemean lion. It is an offspring of Typhon and Echidna anda sibling to such monsters as Cerberus and the Lernaean (learn-ee-yan) Hydra. • This feared monster was believed to have been an omen for storms, shipwrecks and othernatural disasters. • It is best known for its legendary battlewith Bellerophon (bellero-fun) and Pegasus. 6 – The Phoenix,• The phoenix of Greek mythology lives in Arabia, near a cool well, where it batheseach morning at dawn. It sings a song so beautiful that the Sun God stops his chariot to listen. • Legends tell that phoenixes can live over 1,400 years before their fabled rebirth. Whena phoenix feels its death approaching, it builds a nest of aromatic wood and sets iton fire, so that it can be consumed by the flames. When burned, a new phoenix springsforth from the pyre. It embalms the ashes of its predecessor in an egg of myrrh andflies with it to the city of the sun, Heliopolis. There it deposits the egg on the Sun God’saltar. • In ancient Greece, the phoenix was sometimesassociated with the similar-sounding Phoenicia, a region where purple dye is famously manufacturedfrom conch shells. It is said that this version of the phoenix derived its name because ofits allegedly purple-red hue. Because Phoenician purple dye has upper-class and even royalassociations, the phoenix was considered ‘the royal bird’. • The phoenix is often depicted with a nimbus, emphasising its connection to the sun. Itis also described as having a crest of feathers on its head, much like a rooster. 5 – The Hydra, • The Hydra is a deadly serpent-like watermonster with multiple heads and venom so potent that even its breath is lethal to man. Itsblood is so potent that even its tracks are deadly. • Ancient Greek poets describe it as having more heads than a vase-painter could paint. It can instantaneously regenerate these heads, should they be severed, and it’s said thatfor every head that’s removed, two more will grow in its place. • The Hydra’s lair is the lake of Lerna in an ancient part of the Peloponnese (pell-oh-poe-knees). The Hydra lurks in an underwater cave that is said to be an entrance to the underworld. • The Hydra is the second monster Heracles faces during his twelve labours. Realisingconventional blows are fruitless, Heracles devises a plan. He decapitates one of theHydra’s heads and takes a torch to the remaining stump. The wound is cauterised and the creatureis unable to produce any more heads. With this tactic, he is able to lob off the Hydra’sfinal head, killing the creature and completing his second task. 4 – Gorgons, • Gorgons are grotesque creatures that faintlyresemble human women, but are depicted as having tusks, whiskers and snakes for hair. • Medusa is the most popular and recognisable gorgon in Greek mythology. She was born tothe archaic marine deity, Ceto, and had snake tails for legs and writhing, venomous snakesfor hair. Unlike her sisters, whose abilities include murderous screams, Medusa can turnany onlooker who gazes her face to stone. • Medusa was famously decapitated by Perseus. Perseus wielded a scythe and was able to safely approach her by viewing her reflection inhis mirror shield. • Medusa features in countless works offiction, including video games, movies, cartoons and books. The designer Gianni Versace's (ver-sa-chey's)uses Medusa’s head as a symbol. It is said to represent beauty, art and philosophy. 3 – Cyclops, • Cyclops are primordial giants said tohave been born from Gaia, the earth. They possess great strength and ferocity, and arerecognisable because of the single bulging eye protruding from their foreheads. • During their early years, the cyclops were imprisoned in the pits of Tartarus bytheir father Uranus, who feared their power. Eventually, the mighty Zeus released them. To show gratitude, they crafted thunderbolts for the young Olympian. • The most famous story involving cyclops involves Odysseus, who ends up trapped inthe cave of the mighty Polyphemus (pol-ee-phee-mus). The monstrous cyclops blocks the exit to thecave and devours the flesh of his captives day after day. • The wily Odysseus tricks Polyphemus into overindulging on wine. The jolly drunk monsterthen asks Odysseus for his name. Odysseus replies that his name is ‘nobody’. WhenPolyphemus falls asleep from intoxication, Odysseus and his men blind the cyclops witha sharpened staff. Polyphemus, now enraged, cries out to the other cyclops that ‘Nobody’has blinded him. • Odysseus and his men then escape fromthe cave by harnessing themselves to the underbellies of the Polyphemus’s sheep. The blind Polyphemusis unaware of their ruse. 2 – The Minotaur,• The Minotaur, whose name translates to ‘The Bull of Minos’, is a terrifying creaturewith the head of a bull on the body of a very strong man. • The Minotaur was born of bestial relations; the sea god Poseidon made Pasiphaë (pass-if-fay),the wife of King Minos, fall in love with a bull as punishment for her husband’s disrespect. The offspring consummated from this unholy union was the monstrous Minotaur. • Because of his ferocious manner, the Minotaur was banished to the centre of the Cretan Labyrinth,an elaborate maze designed by the architect Daedalus and his son Icarus. • Young Medians were fed to the Minotaur as a type of sacrifice. It was said that thissacrifice would avert a terrible plague. • This iconic bull-man was eventually slainby the Athenian hero Theseus. 1 – Typhon,• Typhon is the most ferocious creature in all of Greek mythology. • This beast of legend is gargantuan; his human upper half reaches as high as the stars,and his hands stretch far out into the distance. Instead of a human head, Typhon has a hundredmenacing dragon heads that have erupted from his neck and shoulders. The lower half ofhis body consists of twin coiled and aggravated viper tails. When spread, his wings blot outthe sun, and his eyes flash with fire, striking fear into the heart of any living creature,even the mighty Olympians. • Typhon is the last son of Gaia, the earth,and is fathered by Tartarus, the depths of hell. He is considered the ‘Father of allMonsters’, and his wife Echidna is the ‘Mother of all Monsters’. • Typhon is so powerful that the only conceivable opponent to challenge him is Zeus himself. While the other Olympians run in terror, Zeus stands strong against this monstrous being. A legendary clash of titans ensues, causing countless earthquakes and tsunamis. Theirwar threatens to break the planet in two. • By casting one hundred well-aimed thunderbolts,Zeus eventually triumphs over Typhon, who is then cast down into the pits of Tartarus,where he is sealed away for eternity. However, the rage of this monster still cannot be contained. His furious tantrums manifest in the form of volcanic eruptions. In this way, Typhoncontinues to terrorise humanity from his underworld prison.
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