BEASTS 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 who’s 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.