CREATURES FROM GREEK MYTHOLOGY

CHIMERA

The Chimera was a monstrous fire-breathing female creature of Lycia

in Asia Minor who was composed of the parts of three animals; a lion,

a snake and a goat. The term chimera has come to describe any mythical

or fictional animal with parts taken from various animals, or to describe

concepts perceived as wildly imaginative or implausible.

CERBERUS

A multi-headed dog, or “hellhound”, Cerberus guards the gates of the

Underworld to prevent those who have crossed the river Styx from

ever escaping.

CYCLOPS

A member of a primordial race of giants, each with a single eye in the

middle of his forehead, the name is widely thought to mean “circle-eyed”.

HYDRA

The Hydra was an ancient serpent-like water beast with reptilian traits

that possessed many heads — the poets mention more heads than the

vase-painters could paint, and for each head cut off it grew two more.

It also had poisonous breath and blood so virulent even its

tracks were deadly.

GORGONS

Perhaps the most popular gorgon in Greek mythology is Medusa,

the only mortal among the three sisters who had snakes for hair

and whose gaze would turn anyone into stone. She was famously

decapitated by Perseus who was armed with a mirror and scythe.

CENTAUR

The centaur is a  mythological creature with the head, arms, and torso

of a human and the body and legs of a horse. Perhaps one of the

most popular centaurs in Greek mythology is Chiron. He stands in contrast

to the typical depiction of centaurs being indulgent and violent drinkers

with his intelligence and enviable medical skills.

PEGASUS

One of the best known creatures in Greek mythology, he is a winged

divine stallion usually depicted as pure white in colour. He is the

offspring of Poseidon and Medusa and legend says every time his hoof

hit the earth, a spring of water bubbled forth.

MINOTAUR

The Minotaur was a creature with the head of a bull on the body of a

man. He dwelt at the centre of the Cretan Labyrinth, which was an

elaborate maze designed by the architect Daedalus and his son Icarus.

The bull-man was eventually slain by the Athenian hero Theseus.