GREEK MYTHOLOGY - BEASTS OF MYTH AND LEGEND

From the brutal Cyclopes to the cunning Sphinx, the monsters and beasts from Greek mythology still intrigue, amaze and terrify audiences to this day.

Greek mythology is best known for its heroes; the brave and valiant men (and more rarely, women) who proved their strength and heroism through daring acts. However, in order for these heroes to shine they needed mighty foes to vanquish, and these came in the form of a myriad of legendary monsters.

The Greeks certainly did not go in by halves when creating these creatures of myth. The monsters which grace the pages, paintings and tales of Greek legend are among the most memorable and infamous in the entire literary canon. From Typhon, the god of all monsters and an utterly terrifying amalgamation of beasts, to the ravenous Sphinx who speaks only in riddles, Greek myths feature a cornucopia of beasts, spirits and dastardly demons eager to stop the heroes in their quests. While some of the legendary creatures could be helpful, such as the playful nymphs, most were ravenous, uncivilised monsters, such as Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guarded the depths of hell, and the lumbering but incredibly strong Cyclopes hunting men to consume.

These monsters played a vital role in myths and became so infamous that they developed beyond the stories where their legends began, permeating into ancient Greek culture and even being blamed as the source of natural disasters. These beasts were not simply mindless adversaries to be slain but rather came to represent the untamed, uncivilised and simply ‘mad’ aspects of the world. They were unreal creatures thrown unnaturally together, the stuff of nightmares and sleepless nights, and without these beasts presenting an imposing threat it is unlikely the famous heroes like Hercules and Theseus would have become the legends they did.

CYCLOPES

The greatest warrior of the Greeks had a brief but glorious life that ended before the walls of Troy.

The Cyclopes were one of the most famous races in Greek myth and played prominent roles in many heroic tales. Depicted as huge lumbering beasts, Cyclopes are most known for their one giant eye, which resides in the centre of their forehead. Their wild, unkempt appearances match their nature, and they are often portrayed as uncivilised, brutish beasts. The Cyclopes were anti-social, unwilling to bend to the will of the gods as well as being lazy and violent.

In some versions of the myth the cyclopes were the sons of the Titans Uranus and Gaia, but in Homer’s famous tale the Cyclops Polyphemus was the son of Poseidon. Polyphemus is likely the most famous Cyclops of them all – depicted as a man-eating monster who was outwitted and blinded by Odysseus.

By comparison Hesiod mentioned three Cylopes, Arges (thunderbolt), Steropes (lightning) and Brontes (thunder). These three Cyclopes were storm gods and talented smiths who fought with Zeus against the Titans. They later went on to become Zeus’ workers at Mount Olympus, forming his famous thunderbolts.

The cyclopes are an excellent example of how the Greeks rationalised the immense power of nature they observed but could not explain. They witnessed the seismic activity of the volcanoes around them, such as Etna, and attributed the ash and lava gushing forth as evidence that the god of fire, Hephaestus, had a workshop in the heart of the volcano where a team of powerful and skilled Cyclopes were working.

MINOTAUR

The unholy union of woman and bull, the Minotaur was a curse placed upon a disobedient man by an unflinching god.

The origin of this legendary beast is one of the more unusual in Greek myth. Minos was struggling to become leader of Crete, and to show his support Poseidon sent Minos a white bull to sacrifice. Minos, impressed with the beauty of the bull, decided not to sacrifice it. Enraged by this disobedience, Poseidon made Minos’ wife fall in love with the bull. Together they had a monstrous offspring – the Minotaur.

Reflecting its parents, the Minotaur was depicted as a half-man, half-bull beast, usually with the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man. The bull grew dangerous and fearsome as it aged and was only able to consume humans for nourishment. Minos consulted the oracle of Delphi for advice and under her instruction created a huge labyrinth under his palace. The Minotaur was placed at the centre, unable to escape and ravage innocents. However, when Minos’ son was killed in Athens the king demanded that 14 youths be sent to Crete every year as sacrifices to the Minotaur.

Years later, the son of the king of Athens, Theseus, decided to try and defeat the beast. Gaining the affections of Minos’ daughter, Ariadne, Theseus was given a sword and a ball of thread. He unravelled the thread as he explored the maze so he could find his way out later. When he reached the Minotaur he slayed the beast and then escaped the maze.

DAEMON

These ever-present forces kept themselves busy at work in the shadows, always ready to bestow riches on the good and pain and suffering upon any poor soul they did not favour.

Daemons were believed to be semi-divine spirits that were born into existence when noble or semi-divine people passed away. Hesiod’s myth said that great and powerful people were to be honoured after death by becoming a daemon. It was believed that during the ‘Golden Age’, ruled over by Cronus, a golden race of men were created, that, although mortal, lived like gods. When one of these men passed away they became a daemon and helped rule civilisation and watch over the Earth.

When Zeus took control he brought with him his own race of daemons that would report to the gods if they witnessed unjust acts. They would also reward kind or modest behaviour with rewards such as a rich harvest.

Zeus’ daemons were not simply benevolent watchers of humanity, but also cruel and malevolent spirits known as kakodaimons. These devilish entities were known to abuse their power over humanity, whispering lies into their victim’s ears or inflicting unjust punishment. For example, Eurynomos was a daemon who resided in the Underworld and was believed to eat the flesh of rotting corpses, leaving only their bones behind. Another malevolent group of daemons was known as the Arae.

This all-female group were the spirits of curses, especially curses placed by the dead on those who had caused their death. They could bring disease, madness, hunger and death upon their victims. Although daemons did not often appear in Greek art or mythology with an outward appearance, their presence could often be felt, with them appearing to heroes in people’s dreams or whispering messages directly into their minds.

CENTAUR

Wild beasts, centaurs would roam in untamed tribes, dragging women away on lustful whims and savagely killing civilised men.

The centaurs are among the most famous of Greek legendary beasts due to their continued and increased popularity in contemporary fantasy. Depicted as half-men, half-horse tribes, there were multiple origin stories for the centaurs. The most common was that the creatures were the offspring of Ixion, king of the Lapiths, and Nephele, who was a cloud created in the image of Hera.

The centaurs were usually depicted as a savage, primitive race who lived in caves and used rocks and branches as weapons. It was said that the original centaur tribe lived on Mount Pelion in Thessaly. This tribe were famously invited to attend the wedding of their half-brother Peirithoos but became drunk and unruly. In their inebriated state they attempted to carry off the bride and female guests, resulting in a very bloody battle that destroyed half of the tribe.

Other examples of centaurs can be found in Greek myth, such as the ox-horned Lamian Pheres race, who were given their horns as a punishment by the goddess Hera for guarding Dionysus on Zeus’ orders. There was even a race of female centaurs, though they appeared far later in classical art and literature.

Although the centaurs are often depicted as wild, untamed beings, representing barbarism and uncivilised behaviour, there are exceptions. Chiron was a wise centaur, modest and civilised compared to his lustful brothers. He became prized for his skill in medicine and served as an important teacher to heroes such as Achilles.

When Prometheus was wounded by Heracles with an arrow covered with Hydra’s blood, Chiron offered himself up to Zeus as a sacrifice to free him from his torture, making him a heroic figure.

CERBERUS

The hound of nightmares and Hades’ loyal watchdog was tasked with keeping the dead where they belong – in the depths of the Underworld.

Perhaps one of the most famous Greek legendary beasts, Cerberus was not a race of creatures but a single, terrifying spectre. Commonly described as having three monstrous heads, a serpent’s tail, a mane of snakes and lion’s claws, Cerberus was the horrifying beast tasked with guarding the gates of the Underworld.

Although the ancient Greeks did keep dogs as pets and working companions, there was also great fear around the undomesticated, dangerous stray dogs that roamed the streets scavenging for food. Cerberus incorporated the qualities feared in these canines as a wild, terrifying beast capable of tearing men limb from limb. The monster was described as having razor-sharp teeth, a poisonous bite and in some accounts could even turn people into stone. The three heads were said to represent different things such as the past, present and future or birth, youth and old age. Some sources even claim the dog had as many as 50 heads. Cerberus’ ghastly appearance can be attributed to his parents – the feared Typhon and Echidna, half-woman, half-snake.

Despite Cerberus’ monstrous genes, the beast actually served an important purpose for the ancient world as the watchdog of the Underworld. Subservient to Hades, lord of the Underworld, Cerberus was placed along the River Styx and guarded the gates of Hades, preventing the dead escaping and the living from entering, unless granted permission by Hades. Anyone who attempted to return to the realm of the living would be devoured by the chained beast.

Cerberus’ appears in where in both instances the heroes get the better of him. When Orpheus attempts to enter the Underworld to rescue his lover he manages to put the beast to sleep by playing his lyre. However, perhaps most famous is Cerberus’ role as Heracles’ final labour. When the demi-god is tasked with capturing Cerberus and presenting him to Tiryns, Hades allows him to do so but only without weapons, something Heracles achieves by wrestling the beast. Unlike the majority of monsters who faced Heracles, Cerberus survives and returns to his role in guarding the Underworld.

CHIMERA

A monstrous, fire-breathing hybrid, the Chimera was the stuff of nightmares, a beast that defied nature, reason and logic.

Although today the term Chimera can be used to refer to any mythical animal comprising of several different animal parts, there was a singular beast originally referred to as the Chimera. This original monster was believed to be the offspring of the terrifying Typhon and Echidna, making it the sibling of the three-headed dog Cerberus.

The Chimera was described as having three heads: a lion, a goat and a dragon, however, the most common depiction of the beast in art is it having the head and body of a female lion, a goat’s head sprouting from its back along with goat’s udders and a serpent for a tail. It is one of the most peculiar of all Greek legendary beasts and largely regarded as one of the most terrifying due to its monstrous appearance. The Chimera was also known for having a horrific temper, ransacking villages, reigning hellfire upon innocents and slaughtering masses of people. Not only did it have a venomous bite, but it also had the ability to breathe fire, making it an incredibly dangerous foe. The Chimera developed a reputation for being a bad omen of natural disasters, and it was rumoured it could be seen lurking before a volcanic eruption.

In myth the Chimera was known to roam the Lynean countryside virtually unchallenged until the hero Bellerophon arrived. The son of Poseidon was challenged to kill the beast to clear his name of a crime he did not commit. With the help of the winged horse Pegasus, Bellerophon was able to attack the Chimera from the air, raining arrows down upon it. Finally, the hero threw a spear through the beast’s fiery throat, which melted the lead and burned the monster from the inside out, finally slaying the Chimera once and for all.

HYDRA

Poisonous, deadly and virtually indestructible, this many-headed serpent was so dangerous even Heracles could not defeat it alone.

Like many of the most terrifying mythical beasts of Greek legend, the Hydra was the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, regarded as the father and mother of all monsters. The Hydra’s lair was the lake of Lerna in the Argolid which was regarded by some to be an entrance to the Underworld. This makes sense when one observes the monster’s hideous appearance.

The Hydra was a giant serpent that possessed a great number of heads. Accounts vary from six heads to nine and even 50. Later versions of the Hydra myth added a terrifying ability to the beast – when one head was cut off it would regenerate two to replace it, making it a virtually unbeatable foe. The Hydra also had poisonous breath, and it was said that its scent alone was capable of killing a man.

This repertoire of deadly attributes made the Hydra the perfect beast to challenge Heracles as one of his 12 labours. It was said that Hera raised the beast specifically to put an end to the hero. Using a cloth to protect himself from the poisonous fumes, Heracles faced the Hydra alone. However, discovering its regeneration ability he called upon his nephew, Iolaus, for help. While Heracles cut off the heads, Iolaus cauterised the open stumps with a firebrand to prevent them growing back. As they began to gain the advantage, Hera sent a giant crab to help the Hydra, but Heracles simply crushed it under his foot. Eventually the hero managed to cut off the beast’s final head with a golden sword given to him by Athena.

The beast defeated, Heracles dipped his arrows in its poisonous blood. This poison would play a part in Heracles’ future adventures and ultimately lead to his own demise, the Hydra’s final posthumous revenge against the demi-god that had slain him.

NYMPHS

Alluring, playful but also powerful and dangerous, nymphs held dominion over nature and the hearts of men.

Young, female and beautiful, nymphs are popular among the Greek myths and grew in popularity in the ancient world too. These divine spirits were regarded as goddesses of nature that populated the Earth. Though ranked below the gods of Olympus, they were summoned to attend assemblies of the gods, so their importance cannot be understated.

Nymphs generally would preside over any natural phenomena on Earth and were classified depending on what they were associated with. The nymphs of the mountains were known as the oreads; trees and flowers were the dryads and meliae; naiads presided over the springs, rivers and lakes; and nymphs of the sea were nereids. A lot of nymphs were also associated with gods and goddess, particularly those associated with nature, such as Apollo, Dionysus or Artemis.

In mythology the nymphs were portrayed as beautiful, playful and seductive. This was in stark contrast to the reserved wives and daughters commonly seen in Greek culture. It is probably because of this that so many nymphs were the mothers of gods and the subject of affairs with mortal men. It was even believed nymphs could drive mortals insane, known as nympholepsy.

Although the nymphs are often depicted positively, this isn’t always the case. Melinoe was a nymph who was believed to bring nightmares and madness to men. The daughter of Persephone and either Zeus or Hades, Melinoe was born in the Underworld. Feared by mortals, the beautiful but vengeful spirit led the restless spirits of the dead to haunt the living at night. It was said that she was able to take on many different forms, with some believing her to be half black and half white, representing her links to both heaven and hell.

TYPHON

The beast of all beasts, Typhon was so terrifying and powerful that only Zeus alone was brave enough to face it.

Of all the monsters and creatures in Greek mythology, Typhon was regarded as the deadliest and most dangerous of them all. Typhon was more than a monster – he was a god, and his name alone struck fear into Greeks.

The son of Gaia and Tartarus, some myths attribute the creation of Typhon to Hera, who wished to create a being that could challenge Zeus. The beast was described as being so huge that his head skimmed the stars themselves, and he was said to have the torso of a man but with hundreds of wings from different animals. His legs were coils of vipers and it was said he had a multitude of serpent heads in place of fingers. His eyes glowed red, his hands were made of coils of snakes and he could even breathe fire. Typhon is also described as being soot black in colour with filthy hair. The descriptions of this beast differ depending on the sources, but they all conjure images of a truly terrifying being.

Typhon was believed to be a storm giant, and he used his powers to go to war with Zeus. Typhon scared the gods so much that they retreated into their animal forms to escape him. This left Zeus to fight a cataclysmic battle against the beast, which he finally won with the aid of his thunderbolts. Upon defeating him, Zeus threw the monster into the bottomless pit of Tartarus. In some stories Mount Etna was placed over the beast to prevent his escape. Because of this, volcanic eruptions were believed to be caused by Typhon trying to escape the volcano, and earthquakes were also triggered by the beast.

Typhon and his wife Echidna were said to have given birth to many infamous monsters, such as the Sphinx, Cerberus, Hydra, the Caucasian eagle who ate Prometheus’ liver every day and the Nemean lion.

SPHINX

Asker of the most famous riddle in history, the Sphinx was not simply a famous monument but also a terrifying beast of Greek myth.

Although the Sphinx is commonly associated with Egyptian myth, it also appeared in Greek mythology. This is likely due to the close links between the two cultures. In Greek myth the Sphinx is represented as having the head of a human, the body of a lion, the wings of and eagle and sometimes a tail with the head of a serpent. The Sphinx was not a race, but rather one mythical being. Believed to be female, the Sphinx was the daughter of the monster Orthrus and either Echidna or the Chimera.

The Sphinx was regarded as a terrible demon of ill fortune and destruction. She would sit outside the entrance of Thebes, and for travellers to pass through they would have to answer a riddle posed to them by the beast. The riddle asked was ‘Which is the creature that has one voice, but has four feet in the morning, two feet in the afternoon, and three feet at night?’ Anyone unable to answer correctly was devoured by the Sphinx. Oedipus managed to solve the riddle by answering, “Man – who crawls on all fours as a baby, then walks on two feet as an adult, and then uses a walking stick in old age.” In some accounts there was a second riddle that Oedipus solved.

Beaten, the Sphinx cast herself from her high rock, or, by some accounts, devoured herself. It is due to this story that Oedipus is seen as a figure representing the transition from the old religious practices (the Sphinx) to the new ones of the Olympian
deities (Oedipus).

In "All About History - Greek Mythology", UK, editor Amy Best, excerpts pp. 92-101. Digitized, adapted and illustrated to be posted by Leopoldo Costa.