CERBERUS (Kerberos) - Three-Headed Hound of Hades of Greek Mythology Death-Darkness? Heracles and Cerberus the hound of Hades, Caeretan black-figure hydria C6th B.C., Musée du Louvre KERBEROS (Cerberus) was the gigantic, three-headed hound of Haides which guarded the gates of the underworld and prevented the escape of the shades of the dead. Kerberos was depicted as a three-headed dog with a serpent's tail, mane of snakes, and a lion's claws. According to some he had fifty heads although this count may have included the serpents of his mane. Herakles (Heracles) was sent to fetch Kerberos as one of his twelve labours, a task which he accomplished with the aid of the goddess Persephone . Kerberos' name perhaps means "Death-Daemon of the Dark" from the ancient Greek words kêr and erebos.

FAMILY OF CERBERUS [1.1] TYPHOEUS & EKHIDNA (Hesiod Theogony 310, Quintus Smyrnaeus 6.260, Hyginus Pref & Fab 30) [1.2] EKHIDNA (Bacchylides Frag 5, Ovid Metamorphoses 7.412) ENCYCLOPEDIA CE′RBERUS (Kerberos), the many-headed dog that guarded the entrance of Hades, is mentioned as early as the Homeric poems, but simply as "the dog," and without the name of Cerberus. (Il. viii. 368, Od. xi. 623.) Hesiod, who is the first that gives his name and origin, calls him (Theog. 311) fifty-headed and a son of Typhaon and Echidna. Later writers describe him as a monster with only three heads, with the tail of a serpent and a mane consisting of the heads of various snakes. (Apollod. ii. 5. § 12; Eurip. Here. fur.

24, 611; Virg. Aen. vi. 417; Ov. Met. iv. 449.) Some poets again call him many-headed or hundred-headed. (Horat. Carm. ii. 13. 34; Tzetz. ad Lycoph. 678; Senec. Here. fur. 784.) The place where Cerberus kept watch was according to some at the mouth of the Acheron, and according to others at the gates of Hades, into which he admitted the shades, but never let them out again. Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. ALTERNATE NAMES Heracles, Cerberus and Hecate, Apulian red-figure volute krater C4th B.C., Staatliche Antikensammlungen Homer, Iliad 8. 366 ff (trans.

Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) : "If in the wiliness of my heart I [Athene] had had thoughts like his, when Herakles (Heracles) was sent down to Haides of the Gates, to hale back from Erebos (the Dark) the hound of the grisly death god (Haides Stygeros), never would he have got clear of the steep-dripping water Styx." [N.B. In Homer the dog is just called "the hound of Haides." Hesiod is the first author to give it the name Kerberos (Cerberus).] Homer, Odyssey 11. 623 ff (trans. Shewring) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) : "[The ghost of Herakles addresses Odysseus in Hades :] ‘He [Eurystheus] once sent me even here [to Haides] to fetch away the hound of Haides, for he thought no task could be more fearsome for me than that.

But I brought the hound out of Haides' house and up to earth, because Hermes helped me on my way, and gleaming-eyed Athene.’" Hesiod, Theogony 310 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) : "Typhaon [Typhoeus] . . . was joined in love to her [Ekhidna (Echidna)] . . .

And next again she bore the unspeakable, unmanageable Kerberos (Cerberus), the savage, the bronze-barking dog of Haides, fifty-headed, and powerful, and without pity." Hesiod, Theogony 769 ff : "And before them [the halls of Haides and Persephone] a dreaded hound (deinos kunos) [Kerberos (Cerberus)], on watch, who has no pity, but a vile stratagem : as people go in he fawns on all, with actions of his tail and both ears, but he will not let them go back out, but lies in wait for them and eats them up, when he catches any going back through the gates." Bacchylides, Fragment 5 (trans. Campbell, Vol.

Greek Lyric IV) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.) : "Once, they say, the gate-wrecking, unconquerable son [Herakles] of thunder-flashing Zeus went down to the house of slender-ankled Persephone to fetch up to the light from Hades the jagged-toothed dog [Kerberos (Cerberus)], son of unapproachable Ekhidna (Echidna). There he perceived the spirits of wretched mortals by the waters of Kokytos (Cocytus), like the leaves buffeted by the wind over the bright sheep-grazed headlands of Ida." Aristophanes, Peace 315 ff (trans.

O'Neill) (Greek comedy C5th to 4th B.C.) : "[Comedy Play in which Eirene (Irene), goddess of peace, has been trapped in a deep pit :] Let us beware lest the cursed Kerberos (Cerberus) prevent us even from the nethermost hell from delivering the goddess by his furious howling, just as he did when on earth." Aristophanes, Frogs 468 ff : "[Comedy-Play in which Aiakos (Aeacus), the gateman of Haides, berates Herakles :] ‘O, you most shameless desperate ruffian, you O, villain, villain, arrant vilest villain! Who seized our Kerberos (Cerberus) by the throat, and fled, and ran, and rushed, and bolted, haling of the dog, my charge!’" Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2, 125 (trans.

Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "Herakles asked Pouton (Pluton) [Haides] for Kerberos (Cerberus), and was told to take the hound if he could overpower it without using any of the weapons he had brought with him. He found Kerberos at the gates of Akheron (Acheron), and there, pressed inside his armour and totally covered by the lion's skin, he threw his arms round its head and hung on, despite bites from the serpent-tail, until he convinced the beast with his choke-hold. Then, with it in tow, he made his ascent through Troizenos (Troezen). After showing Kerberos to Eurystheus, he took it back to Haides' realm." Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 122 : "As a twelfth labour Herakles was to fetch Kerberos (Cerberus) from Haides' realm. Kerberos had three dog-heads, a serpent for a tail, and along his back the heads of all kinds of snakes." Callimachus, Fragment 515 (trans.

Trypanis) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) : "The foreigner [Herakles] bringing the monstrous son [Kerberos (Cerberus)] of Ekhidna (Echidna) from below." Euphorion, Fragments (trans. Page, Vol. Select Papyri III, No. 121 (1)) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) : "Behind, under his [Kerberos (Cerberus)] shaggy belly cowering, the serpents that were his tail darted their tongues about his ribs. Within his eyes, a beam flashed darkly. Truly in the Forges or in Meligounis leap such sparks into the air, when iron is beaten with hammers, and the anvil roars beneath might blows,--or up inside smoke Aitna (Etna), lair of Asteropos.

Still, he came alive to Tiryns out of Haides, the last of twelve labours, for the pleasure of malignant Eurystheus; and at the crossways of Mideia, rich in barley, trembling women with their children looked upon him." Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 6. 260 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) : "[Depicted on the shield of Herakles' son Eurypylos (Eurypylus) :] And there, a dread sight even for gods to see, was Kerberos (Cerberus), whom Ekhidna (Echidna, the Loathly Worm) had borne to Typhon [Typhoeus] in a craggy cavern's gloom close on the borders of Eternal Night (Erebos), a hideous monster, warder of the Gate of Haides, home of Wailing, jailer-hound of dead folk in the shadowy Gulf of Doom.

But lightly Zeus' son [Herakles] with his crashing blows tamed him, and haled him from the cataract flood of Styx, with heavy-drooping head, and dragged the Dog sore loth to the strange upper air all dauntlessly." Heracles and Cerberus, Athenian red-figure amphora C6th B.C., Musée du Louvre Plato, Republic 588c (trans. Shorey) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) : "One of those natures that the ancient fables tell of, as that of the Khimaira (Chimera) or Skylla (Scylla) or Kerberos (Cerberus), and the numerous other examples that are told of many forms grown together in one." Strabo, Geography 8. 5. 1 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C.

to C1st A.D.) : "A headland that projects into the sea, Tainaron (Taenarum), with its temple of Poseidon situated in a grove; and secondly, near by, to the cavern through which, according to the myth writers, Kerberos (Cerberus) was brought up from Haides by Herakles." Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 35. 10 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : "[At Hermione in Argolis] are three places which the Hermionians call that of Klymenos (Clymenus, the Famous One) [i.e. of Haides], that of Plouton (Pluton, of Wealth) [Haides], and the Lake Akherousia (Acherusia). All are surrounded by fences of stones, while in the place of Klymenos there is also a chasm in the earth. Through this according to the legend of the Hermionians, Herakles brought up the Hound of Haides [Kerberos (Cerberus)]." Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 25.

5 - 7 : "On the promontory [of Tainaron (Taenarum), Lakonia] is a temple like a cave, with a statue of Poseidon in front of it. Some of the Greek poets state that Herakles brought up the Hound of Haides (Haidou kuna) [Kerberos (Cerberus)] here, though there is no road that leads underground through the cave, and it is not easy to believe that the gods possess any underground dwelling where the souls collect. But Hekataios (Hecataeus) of Miletos gave a plausible explanation, stating that a terrible serpent lived on Tainaron, and was called the Hound of Hades, because any one bitten was bound to die of the poison at once, and it was this snake, he said, that was brought by Herakles to Eurystheus. But Homer, who was the first to call the creature brought by Herakles the Hound of Haides, did not give it a name or describe it as of manifold form, as he did the Khimaira (Chimera).

Late poets gave the name Kerberos, and though in other respects they made him resemble a dog, they say that he had three heads. Homer, however, does not imply that he was a dog, the friend of man, any more than if he called a real serpent the Hound of Hades." Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 31. 2 : "[In the temple of Artemis at Troizenos (Troezen) in Argolis :] . . . are altars to the gods said to rule under the earth. It is here that they say . . . that Herakles dragged up the Hound of Haides [Kerberos (Cerberus)]." Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 18. 10 - 16 : "[Illustrated on the throne of the statue of Apollon at Amyklai (Amyclae) near Sparta :] On the left stand Ekhidna (Echidna) and Typhos [Typhoeus], on the right Tritones . . .

Next to these have been wrought two of the exploits of Herakles--his slaying of the Hydra, and his bringing up the Hound of Hell (kuna ton Haidou) [Kerberos (Cerberus)]." Pausanias, Description of Greece5. 26. 7 : "By the smaller offerings of Mikythos (Micythus) [at Olympia] . . . are some of the exploits of Herakles, including what he did to the Nemeian Lion , the Hydra, the Hound of Hell (kuna tou Haidou) [Kerberos (Cerberus)], and the boar by the river Erymanthos." Pausanias, Description of Greece 9. 34. 5 : "Here [on Mount Laphystios in Boiotia], say the Boiotians, Herakles ascended with the hound of Hades (kuna Haidou) [Kerberos (Cerberus)]." Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. 25. 1 (trans.

Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) : "He [Herakles] received a command from Eurystheus to bring Kerberos (Cerberus) up from Hades to the light of day. And assuming that it would be to his advantage for the accomplishment of this Labour, he went to Athens and took part in the Eleusinian Mysteries, Musaios (Musaeus), the son of Orpheus, being at that time in charge of the initiatory rites . . . Herakles then, according to the myths which have come down to us, descended into the realm of Hades, and being welcomed like a brother by Persephone brought Theseus and Peirithous back to the upper world after freeing them from their bonds. This he accomplished by the favour of Persephone, and receiving the dog Kerberos in chains he carried him away to the amazement of all and exhibited him to men." Plutarch, Life of Nisias 1. 3 (trans.

Perrin) (Greek historian C1st to C2nd A.D.) : "The goddess Kore (Core) [Persephone] who delivered Kerberos (Cerberus) into his [Herakles'] hands." Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "From Typhon and Echidna [was born] . . . Cerberus." Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 30 : "He [Herakles (Heracles)] brought from the Lower World for the king to see, the dog Cerberus, offspring of Typhon." - Hyginus, Fabulae 30 Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 32 : "Hercules had been sent for the three-headed dog [Cerberus] by King Eurystheus." Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 151 : "From Typhon the giant and Echidna were born . . .

the three-headed dog Cerberus." Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 251 : "Those who, by permission of the Parcae (Fates) [Moirai], returned from the lower world . . . Hercules, son of Jove [Zeus], to bring up the dog Cerberus." Heracles, Hermes and Cerberus, Athenian red-figure kylix C6th B.C., Museum of Fine Arts Boston Ovid, Metamorphoses 4. 450 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "The Stygian city and the cruel court of swarthy Dis [Haides] . . . she [the goddess Juno-Hera] entered and the threshold groaned under the holy tread.

Immediately Cerberus sprang at her with his three heads and gave three barks together." Ovid, Metamorphoses 4.500 ff : "[The Erinys] Tisiphone brought with her poisons too of magic power [to cause madness] : lip-froth of Cerberus, the Echidna's venom, wild deliriums, blindnesses of the brain, and crime and tears, and maddened lust for murder; all ground up, mixed with fresh blood, boiled in a pan of bronze, and stirred with a green hemlock stick." Ovid, Metamorphoses 7. 412 : "For that son's [Theseus'] death Medea mixed her poisoned aconite, brought with her long ago from Scythicae's (Scythia's) shores, said to be slobbered by Echidnaea [i.e. Kerberos (Cerberus), son of Ekhidna].

There is a cavern yawning dark and deep, and there a falling track where Hero Tirynthius [Herakles of Tiryns] dragged struggling, blinking, screwing up his eyes against the sunlight and the blinding day, the hell-hound Cerberus, fast on a chain of adamant. His three throats filled the air with triple barking, barks of frenzied rage, and spattered the green meadows with white spume. This, so men think, congealed and, nourished by the rich rank soil, gained poisonous properties. And since they grow and thrive on hard bare rocks the farm folk call them ‘flintworts’--aconites. This poison Aegeus, by Medea's guile, offered to Theseus as his enemy, father to son." Ovid, Metamorphoses 9. 184 : "I [Herakles (Heracles) ] faced unafraid Cerberus' triple heads." Ovid, Metamorphoses 10.

21 ff : "[Orpheus addresses Haides, king of the underworld :] ‘I have come down not with intent to see the glooms of Tartara, nor to enchain the triple-snaked necks of Medusaeum [Kerberos (Cerberus)].’" Ovid, Metamorphoses 10. 65 ff : "His wits were stolen away, like him [unknown man] who saw in dread [Kerberos (Cerberus)] the three-necked hound of Hell with chains fast round his middle neck, and never lost his terror till he lost his nature too and turned to stone." Ovid, Heroides 9. 37 ff (trans. Showerman) (Roman poetry C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "[Deianeira, wife of Herakles, laments :] ‘My lord is ever absent from me . . . ever pursuing monsters and dreadful beasts.

I myself, at home and widowed, am busied with chaste prayers, in torment lest my husband fall by the savage foe; with serpents and with boars and ravening lions my imaginings are full, and with hounds three-throated [i.e. Kerberos (Cerberus)] hard upon the prey.’" Ovid, Heroides 9. 87 ff : "[Herakles] told of the deeds . . . Cerberus, branching from one trunk into a three-fold dog, his hair inwoven with the threatening snake." Virgil, Aeneid 6. 417 ff (trans. Day-Lewis) (Roman epic C1st B.C.) : "Huge Cerberus, monstrously couched in a cave confronting them, made the whole region echo with this three-throated barking. The Sibyl, seeing the snakes bristling upon his neck now, threw him for bait a cake for honey and wheat infused with sedative drugs.

The creature, crazy with hunger, opened its three mouths, gobbled the bait; then its huge body relaxed and lay, sprawled out on the ground, the whole length of its cave kennel. Aeneas, passing its entrance, the watch-dog neutralize, strode rapidly from the bank of that river [Styx] of no return." Virgil, Georgics 4. 471 ff (trans. Fairclough) (Roman bucolic C1st B.C.) : "Stirred by his [Orpheus'] song, up from the lowest realms of Erebeus came the unsubstantial shades . . . Still more: the very house of Death and deepest abysses of Tartarus were spellbound, and the Eumenides [Erinyes] with livid snakes entwined in their hair; Cerberus stood agape and his triple jaws forgot to bark." Propertius, Elegies 3. 5 (trans. Goold) (Roman elegy C1st B.C.) : "Cerberus guards the cave of hell with his three throats." Propertius, Elegies 3.

18 : "Hither [to Haides] all shall come, hither the highest and the lowest class: evil it is, but it is a path that all must tread; all must assuage the three heads of the barking guard-dog [Kerberos (Cerberus)] and embark on the grisly greybeard's [Kharon's (Charon's)] boat that no one misses." Propertius, Elegies 4. 5 : "May your spirit find no peace with your ashes, but may avenging Cerberus terrify your vile bones with hungry howl." Propertius, Elegies 4. 7 : "Spurn not the dreams that come through the Righteous Gate [from the dead]: when righteous dreams come, they have the weight of truth. By night we [the ghosts of the dead] drift abroad, night frees imprisoned Shades, and even Cerberus casts aside his chains and strays." Propertius, Elegies 4.

9 : "Only to one mortal [Herakles] has the Stygian darkness become light and Cerberus has howled to find himself dragged off against the will of Dis [Haides]?" Propertius, Elegies 4. 11 : "Let fierce Cerberus rush at no Shades today, but let his chain hang slack from a silent bolt." Cicero, De Natura Deorum 3. 17 (trans. Rackham) (Roman rhetorician C1st B.C.) : "Orcus [Haides] is also a god; and the fabled streams of the lower world, Acheron, Cocytus and Pyriphlegethon, and also Charon and also Cerberus are to be deemed gods. No, you say, we must draw the line at that; well then, Orcus is not a god either." Cerberus, Laconian black-figure kylix C6th B.C., National Archaeological Museum of Taranto Seneca, Hercules Furens 46 ff (trans.

Miller) (Roman tragedy C1st A.D.) : "[Hera complains about Herakles :] ‘Nor is earth vast enough for him [Herakles (Heracles)]; behold, he has broken down the doors of infernal Jove [Haides], and brings back to the upper world the spoils of a conquered king [i.e. the hound Kerberos (Cerberus)]. I myself saw, yes, saw him, the shadows of nether night dispersed and Dis [Haides] overthrown, proudly displaying to his father [Zeus] a brother's spoils. Why does he not drag forth, bound and loaded down with fetters, Pluto [Haides] himself, who drew a lot equal to Jove's [Zeus']? Why does he not lord it over conquered Erebus and lay bare the Styx? It is not enough merely to return; the law of the shades has been annulled, a way back has been opened from the lowest ghosts, and the mysteries of dread Death lie bared. But he, exultant at having burst the prison of the shades, triumphs over me, and with arrogant hand leads through the cities of Greece that dusky hound.

I saw the daylight shrink at sight of Cerberus, and the sun pale with fear; upon me, too, terror came, and as I gazed upon the three necks of the conquered monster I trembled at my own command.’" Seneca, Hercules Furens 598 & 782 ff : "[Herakles upon returning with Kerberos (Cerberus) describes his journey to the underworld :] ‘Whoever [of the gods] from on high looks down on things of earth, and would not be defiled by a strange, new sight, let him turn away his gaze, lift his eyes to heaven, and shun the portent. Let only two look on this monster [Kerberos (Cerberus)]--him who brought and her who ordered it. To appoint me penalties and tasks earth is not broad enough for Juno's [Hera's] hate. I have seen places unapproached by any, unknown to Phoebus [the sun], those gloomy spaces which the baser pole hath yielded to infernal Jove [Haides]; and if the regions of the third estate pleased me, I might have reigned.

The chaos of everlasting night, and something worse than night, and the grim gods and the fates--all these I saw and, having flouted death, I have come back. What else remains? I have seen and revealed the lower world. If aught is left to do, give it to me, O Juno [Hera]; too long already dost thou let my hands lie idle. What dost thou bid me conquer?’ [Amphitryon addresses Theseus :] ‘. . . Unfold his heroic deeds in order; tell how long a way leads to the gloomy shades, and how the Tartarean dog bore his galling bonds.’ [Theseus :] ‘Next after this [the boat of Kharon (Charon)] there appears the palace of greedy Dis [Haides]. Here the savage Stygian dog [Kerberos (Cerberus)] frightens the shades; tossing back and forth his triple heads, with huge bayings he guards the realm. Around his head, foul with corruption, serpents lap, his shaggy man bristles with vipers, and in his twisted tail a long snake hisses. His rage matches his shape.

Soon as he feels the stir of feet he raises his head, rough with darting snakes, and with ears erect catches at the onsped sound, wont as he is to hear even the shades. When [Herakles] the son of Jove stood closer, within his cave the dog crouches hesitant and feels a touch of fear. Then suddenly, with deep bayings, he terrifies the silent places; the snakes hiss threateningly along all his shoulders. The clamour of his dreadful voice, issuing from triple throats, fills even the blessed shades with dread. Then from his left arm the hero looses the fierce-grinning jaws, thrusts out before him the Cleonaean head and, beneath that huge shield crouching, plies his mighty club with victorious right hand. Now here, now there, with unremitting blows he whirls it, redoubling the strokes. At last the dog, vanquished ceases his threatenings and, spent with struggle, lowers all his heads and yields all wardship of his cavern. Both rulers [Haides and Persephone] shiver on their throne, and bid lead the dog away.

Me also [Theseus trapped in Haides] they give as boon to Alcides' prayer. ‘Then, stroking the monster's sullen necks, he binds him with chains of adamant. Forgetful of himself, the watchful guardian of the dusky realm droops his ears, trembling and willing to be led, owns his master, and with muzzle lowered follows after, beating both his sides with snaky tail. But when he came to the Taenarian borders, and the strange gleam of unknown light smote on his eyes, though conquered he regained his courage and in frenzy shook his ponderous chains. Almost he bore his conqueror away, back dragging him, forward bent, and forced him to give ground. Then even to my aid Alcides [Herakles] looked, and with our twofold strength we drew the dog along, mad with rage and attempting fruitless war, and brought him out to earth.

But when he saw the bright light of day and viewed the clear spaces of the shining sky, black night rose over him and he turned his gaze to ground, closed tight his eyes and shut out the hated light; backward he turned his face and with all his necks sought the earth; then in the shadow of Hercules he hid his head.’" Seneca, Hercules Furens 984 ff : "Cruel Tisiphone [one of the Erinyes (Furies)] . . . since the dog [Kerberos (Cerberus)] was stolen away [by Herakles] has blocked the empty gate [of Haides] with her outstretched torch." Seneca, Hercules Furens 1107 ff : "Fierce Cerberus, crouching in his lowest cave, his necks still bound with chains." Seneca, Oedipus 160 ff : "[Drought and pestilence ravage the city of Thebes :] They have burst the bars of abysmal Erebus, the throng of sisters with Tartarean torch [i.e. the Erinyes, (Furies)] . . .

Dark Mors (Death) [Thanatos], death opens wide his greedy, gaping jaws and unfolds all his wings . . . Nay more, they say that the dog [Kerberos (Cerberus)] has burst his chains of Taenarian iron, and is wandering through our fields; that the earth has rumbled; that ghosts go stealing through the groves, larger than mortal forms." Seneca, Oedipus 559 ff : "[The Theban seer Teiresias (Tiresias) performs the rites of necromancy :] Then he summons the spirits of the dead, and thee who rulest the spirits [Haides], and him [Kerberos (Cerberus)] who blocks the entrance to the Lethaean stream; o'er and o'er and o'er he repeats a magic rune, and fiercely, with frenzied lips, he chants a charm which either appeases or compels the flitting ghosts . . . the whole place was shaken and the ground was stricken from below . . . blind Chaos is burst open, and for the tribes of Dis [Haides] a way is given to the upper world . . .

in mad rage three-headed Cerberus shook his heavy chains." Seneca, Phaedra 222 ff : "Trust not in Dis [Haides]. Though he bar his realm, and though the Stygian dog [Kerberos (Cerberus)] keep guard o'er the grim doors, Theseus alone finds out forbidden ways." Seneca, Phaedra 843 ff : "Alcides [Herakles] . . . when he dragged the dog [Kerberos (Cerberus)] by violence out of Tartarus, brought me [Theseus], too, along with him to the upper world." Seneca, Troades 402 ff : "Taenarus and the cruel tyrant's [Haides] kingdom and Cerberus, guarding the portal of no easy passage." Hermes, Cerberus and Heracles, Athenian black-figure hydria C6th B.C., Toledo Museum of Art Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 3. 224 (trans.

Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : "[The Titan] Coeus in the lowest pit [of Tartaros] burst the adamantine bonds and trailing Jove's [Zeus'] fettering chains . . . conceives a hope of scaling heaven, yet though he repass the rivers and the gloom [Kerberos (Cerberus)] the hound of the Furiai (Furies) [Erinyes] and the sprawling Hydra's crest [the two guardians of Haides] repel him." Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 6. 110 ff : "Baying [of Hounds] loud as that which rings at the grim gate of Dis [Haides] [i.e. the bark of Kerberos, Cerberus] or from Hecate's escort to the world above." Statius, Thebaid 2. 27 (trans.

Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : "Cerberus lying on the murky threshold perceived them, and reared up with all his mouths wide agape, fierce even to entering folk; but now his black neck swelled up all threatening, now had he torn and scattered their bones upon the ground, had not the god [Hermes] with branch Lethaean soothed his bristling frame and quelled with threefold slumber the steely glare." Statius, Thebaid 2. 52 ff : "The baying of death's tri-formed warder [Kerberos (Cerberus)] has scared the rustics from the fields [around the entrance to Haides at Tainaron]." Statius, Thebaid 4. 410 ff : "[Teiresias (Tiresias) performs the rites of nekromankia summoning ghosts from the underworld :] ‘Nor let Cerberus interpose his heads, and turn aside the ghosts that lack the light.’" Statius, Thebaid 8.

53 ff : "Fierce Alcides [Herakles] [provoked Haides], when the iron threshold of Cerberus' gate fell silent, its guardian removed." Statius, Silvae 2. 1. 183 ff (trans. Mozley) (Roman poetry C1st A.D.) : "Lay aside thy fears [for the beloved dead], and be no more in dread of threatening Letus (Death) [Thanatos]: Cerberus with triple jaws will not bark at him." Statius, Silvae 2. 1. 228 ff : "Neither the ferryman [Kharon (Charon)] nor the comrade [the Hydra] of the cruel beast [Kerberos (Cerberus)] bars the way [to the Underworld] to innocent souls." Statius, Silvae 3. 3. 21 ff : "Tis a happy shade that is coming, ay, too happy, for his son laments him. Avaunt, ye hissing Furiae (Furies) [Erinyes], avaunt the threefold guardian [Kerberos (Cerberus)]!

Let the long road lie clear for the peerless spirits." Statius, Silvae 5. 3. 260 ff : "But do ye, O monarchs of the dead and thou, Ennean Juno [Persephone], if ye approve my prayer [provide a peaceful journey for the soul of my dead father] . . . let the warder of the gate [Kerberos (Cerberus)] make no fierce barking." Apuleius, The Golden Ass 1. 15 ff (trans. Walsh) (Roman novel C2nd A.D.) : "At that moment, as I recall, the earth yawned open [by the power of witches]. I caught a glimpse of Tartarus deep below, and of Cerberus waiting to make a meal of me to relive his hunger." Apuleius, The Golden Ass 6. 19 ff : "[Psykhe (Psyche) is given instructions for her journey down into the underworld :] When you have crossed the river [Akheron (Acheron)] and have advanced a little further, some aged women weaving at the loom will beg you to lend a hand for a short time.

But you are not permitted to touch that either, for all these and many other distractions are part of the ambush which Venus [Aphrodite] will set to induce you to release one of the cakes from your hands. Do not imaging that the loss of a mere barley cake is a trivial matter, for if you relinquish either of them, the daylight of this world above will be totally denied you. Posted there is [Kerberos (Cerberus)] a massive hound with a huge, triple-formed head. This monstrous, fearsome brute confronts the dead with thunderous barking, though his menaces are futile since he can do them no harm. He keeps constant guard before the very threshold and the dark hall of Proserpina [Persephone], protecting that deserted abode of Dis [Haides]. You must disarm him by offering him a cake as his spoils. Then you can easily pass him, and gain immediate access to Proserpina herself . . .

When you have obtained what she gives you, you must make your way back, using the remaining cake to neutralize the dog's savagery." ANCIENT GREEK ART Knowing Cerberus: The Legendary Three-headed Dog in Greek Mythology Follow Us Knowing Cerberus: The Legendary Three-headed Dog in Greek Mythology The ancient Greek pantheon is rife with symbolism. One such symbolic creature is Cerberus, the three-headed monstrous canine, the loyal servant and guardian of the Greek God of Death. Advertisement Did you know? The first poisonous plants sprang up from the saliva of Cerberus and were used by the Thessalian witches to make a potion that enabled levitation. Index 5. Symbolism The Greek pantheon is stuffed with all sorts of imaginary creatures - beasts and monsters alike. These are basically composite beings bearing bodies, heads, tails and wings of different animals at the same time which is why they seem to have characteristic traits of all the animals they are composed of. The idea behind the presentation of such creatures is to encompass all the good (or bad) qualities of the animals they are made of and thus to set before the people, an example of a perfect being.

Cerberus is one such creature that occupied a prominent place in the mythology of the ancient Greeks. Cerberus is the name of the three-headed hound of Hades, the Greek God of Death. In the Greek mythical tradition, Cerberus is the guardian of the gates of the underworld, the realm of Hades. His job is to prevent the living from entering the land of the dead and to prevent the dead from escaping the boundaries of the underworld. He is stationed on that bank of the Styx river which adjoins the underworld. Styx river, according to the Greek legends is a supposed boundary between the earth and the underworld. Its waters have miraculous powers that make a person bathing in it, immortal. Therefore, the river also needs to be guarded, a task with which Cerberus is also assigned. The Creature: Etymology and Origin The term 'Cerberus' is a latinized version of Greek 'Kerberos' which possibly refers to 'devil of the pit'. The name, in some form, also resembles the name of one of Lord Yama's (God of Death in Indian mythology) dog, 'Sabala', who is associated with the final judgment of the souls that enter his realm.

*Click images to enlarge. Interestingly enough, the Homeric literature refers to a dog who guards Hades' entrance but refers to him simply as 'a dog' and not 'Cerberus, the three-headed dog'. Hesiod, in 7th - 8th century B.C., refers to the creature as being fifty-headed. He also states that he was a son of Typhon and Echidna. Typhon was a winged giant bearing a tail of a snake who could control and command the storms. He was the son of Gaia, mother earth of the Greek myths. Echidna, on the other hand, is a half-woman-half-serpent monster in the Greek tradition, who had supposedly mothered all the monsters appearing in the mythology. Some of the later sources describe Cerberus as having three canine heads, a dog's body, a mane made of snakes and a dragon's tail. This kind of composition makes the creature appear extremely monstrous and fierce. But this kind of representation fits perfectly owing to the kind of tasks that the creature is assigned with. Legend says that Cerberus was so dreadful to behold that anyone who tried to look at him with a bare eye, was turned instantly to stone.

As mentioned above, Cerberus is the hound of Hades with three heads. He is Hades' most loyal companion and servant. Some classical sources state that these heads represent three phases of human life, viz. infancy, youth and old age. Another theory says that the three heads of the hell-hound symbolize the past, the present and the future. It has been mentioned that Cerberus fed on raw meat of the humans and so he ate all those mortals who dared to cross the Styx in order to enter the realm of Hades. In a way, Cerberus stands for the sharp line of distinction between the world of the mortals and the world of the dead. The myth of Cerberus attempts to highlight the fact that life and death are two distinct concepts which can never overlap with one another. If any such effort is made by any individual, he may have to face grievous consequences for the same. This also applies to the dead and their souls that reside in the underworld.

[ Top ] Cerberus in Greek Myths Cerberus appears in numerous myths of the ancient Greeks, most of which put across a point that it was possible either to lull, subdue or capture the creature, as was proven by many at a number of times. However, one cannot ignore the deadly and fierce aspect of the creature due to which he was stationed where he was. Credit: Wikimedia Commons (PD) ♠ King Eurystheus had arrested and imprisoned Heracles for killing his own children after he was forced into a state of insanity by Hera, the wife of Zeus. In order to be released, he was assigned with a set of twelve labors that he had to perform according to the rules which were set. His twelfth and final labor was to capture Cerberus and to parade him openly in the Mycenaean capital and then to take the creature to the king. The only condition put forth by Eurystheus and Hades what that Heracles had to capture the creature unarmed which the demi-god managed to do. Cerberus was then paraded on the streets of the Mycenaean capital and then taken to the king as decided.

But the king was so terrified on seeing the hell-hound that he asked Heracles to take it back to Hades with immediate effect. ♠ Persephone, the daughter of Demeter was abducted by Hades and was forcibly made to marry him. So, Demeter decided to enter the underworld in order to look for her daughter and take her back. But, as usual, she met Cerberus standing guard at the gates of Hades in light of which Demeter could never possibly enter his territory. So, it became necessary to get rid of Cerberus in order to proceed with her quest for Persephone. In an attempt to enter the underworld unnoticed, she threw some drugged sweet cakes before Cerberus which he ate and immediately fell unconscious. Demeter, then slipped past the beast. There are some other tales as well that tell us that Cerberus could be subdued and lulled by playing melodious music to him. These legends show that Cerberus, no matter how formidable he seemed, could be hushed and captured, though with great efforts. [ Top ] Literary Depictions Cerberus appears numerous times in the popular literature, including prose and poetry alike.

Apart from the classical Greek and Roman literary sources, we find references to Cerberus in medieval and modern writings as well. ♠ The first canto of Dante's Divine Comedy is known as Inferno. It is an allegory speaking of Dante's journey through Hell which is represented by nine circles of suffering located underneath the earth. Cerberus appears when Dante enters the third circle of Gluttony, where the creature is depicted as a watchdog guarding the Gluttons and making them undergo their share of sufferings. Gluttony stands for capitalization of all the food and wealth and depriving the needy of the same. It is considered as one of the deadliest sins and thus punishable even after death. ♠ Shakespeare's Love's Labor Lost refers to the twelfth labor of Hercules and says that Hercules was given a club by an imp with the help of which he succeeded in capturing and taming Cerberus, the three-headed canine that guarded Hades' dominions. ♠ John Milton, in his poem Paradise Lost mentions 'Cerberean' hounds residing in the underworld. He says that the barks and cries of these hounds are deafening and unstoppable.

♠ Fever 103° is a poem by the renowned American poet Sylvia Plath which describes the misery of a woman having high fever and her wish to break the bonds of life and embrace death. Plath equates the misery with Hell and says that just as Cerberus, who guards the entrance to Hell cannot lick anything clean because the place where he resides is as it is very impure and unclean, even she cannot get rid of her pain and release herself from fever. ♠ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (first part of the Harry Potter series) by J.K. Rowling has, as one of its characters, a three-headed dog called Fluffy. Fluffy is a huge hound that belongs to Rubeus Hagrid, the Gamekeeper and the Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where Harry is a student. Fluffy is in charge of guarding the room wherein the philosopher's stone is hidden. However, Hagrid tells Harry and his friends that Fuffy, however vicious he seemed, could be pacified and put to sleep by the sound of a flute, after which one could get into the room unnoticed. Fluffy resembles Cerberus in numerous respects.

Notably enough, Cerberus seems to be a popular subject of depiction amongst the authors and the public in general. [ Top ] Artistic Expressions In the classical art, Cerberus makes an appearance in almost everything that has to do with Hades or his realm. Thus, we have Cerberus depicted in statues, vase paintings and sarcophagi which are based on themes relating to Hades. The creature has been depicted as a ferocious canine either having a mane comprising serpents or a serpent tail. However, the number of heads is not always certain. Often he is portrayed as a three-headed dog, but there are instances where he has only two heads. Credit: Sebastian Wallroth/ Wikimedia Commons (PD) ♠ On the pediment relief of Castle Friedrichsfelde, Berlin, the creature is depicted in the act of attacking. He has ferocious features, a mane, three heads, a snake's tail, sharp teeth and violent eyes. ♠ A sculpture placed in Galleria Borghese, an art gallery in Rome, portrays a three-headed Cerberus sitting beside the standing image of Hades.

♠ A bronze in Naples that depicts the Eighth Labor of Heracles depicts Heracles driving the two-headed Cerberus out of Hell in order to parade him openly on the streets of the Mycenaean capital. ♠ The most modern depiction of Cerberus can be seen in a statue at the Berlin underground station, Rathaus Steglitz. This colossal piece of modern art depicts the creature with two heads facing two opposite directions. Artistic depictions of the creature are many. Over a period of time, artists have tried to interpret the description of Cerberus in the classical sources in their own ways, thus giving us a large number of images portraying the creature in various styles. The Underworld The Underworld See More The Underworld Pictures > The Underworld was hidden deep in the earth and was the kingdom of the dead, ruled by god Hades . Hades was a greedy god, whose sole purpose was to increase the number of souls in his kingdom; at the same time, he was very reluctant to let any soul leave. The Erinnyes were welcomed in the Underworld. For most souls, life in the underworld was not particularly unpleasant.

It was rather like being in a miserable dream, full of shadows, ill-lit and desolate, barren of hope; a joyless place where the dead slowly faded into nothingness. Geographically, the Underworld was considered to have been surrounded by five rivers: the Acheron (river of woe), the Cocytus (river of lamentation), the Phlegethon (river of fire), the Styx (river of unbreakable oath by which the gods took vows), and the Lethe (river of forgetfulness). Past the rivers, a diamond gate, guarded by Cerberus , formed the entrance to the kingdom. Deep within the kingdom, lay Hades ' vast palace, full with guests. Upon death, a soul was led by Hermes near the entrance of the underworld , where the ferry awaited to carry it across the Acheron. There was a single ferry run by Charon, the boatman who took the souls across the river. Only those who could pay the fare with coins placed on their lips when buried, were granted passage; the rest were trapped between two worlds. After the boat ride, the souls entered through the gates; Cerberus allowed everyone to enter, but none to leave.

The souls then appeared before a panel of three judges, Rhadamanthus , Minos , and Aeacus , who passed sentence based on their deeds during their previous life. The souls who were good went to the Elysian Fields, while the others were singled out for special treatment; Sisyphus and Tantalus are two examples of souls that were sentenced to be tormented for eternity. Cerberus of Greek mythology - The 3-headed Hound of Hell Cerberus in Greek Mythology Cerberus (Greek mythology) is best known as the guardian to the gates of Hades (the Underworld). In Greek mythology Cerberus is depicted as a dog with three ferocious heads and the tail of a snake. He is one of the great Greek monsters born unto the infamous Typhon and Echidna . His sole task is essentially be the "bouncer" of Hades. As the rules go, only the dead may enter the Underworld, and none may leave. There are only a couple of myths in Greek mythology where a hero gets the better of Cerberus.

The first is when Orpheus (Greek mythology), the famed musician, sneaks into Hades by lulling the usually unstoppable Cerberus to sleep with his beautiful music. The second myth is when Hercules (Greek mythology), with the approval of Hades (Greek mythology), the god of the Underworld , gets Cerberus in a choke hold, knocks him out, and kidnaps him. He is eventually returned to his post where he remains to this day. Other than these myths, the three-headed hound of Hell is an unmatched force for anyone trying to get in or out of Hades without express permission. In vampire mythology , it is said that the souls of all vampires are held in a container (a coffin, appropriately), somewhere in Hades. According to the Vampire Origin Story , because of a deal made by the first vampire, if any vampire should ever return to Hades they can get in (because technically they are dead), but they can never leave again. Some believe that due to his unmatched dedication to the gods of ancient Greece, Cerberus was eventually released by Hades and was able to join the gods in a more human immortal form, thereafter being known by the name Naberius .

1000+ images about Cerberus on Pinterest | Guardians of ga'hoole, Rivers and Mythology Forward Cerberus , in Greek and Roman mythology, is a multi-headed hound (usually three-headed) which guards the gates of the Underworld, to prevent those who have crossed the river Styx from ever escaping. Cerberus featured in many works of ancient Greek and Roman literature and in works of both ancient and modern art and architecture See More Cerberus (Saint Seiya) | Jaden's Adventures Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Share Cerberus is the guard dog of the Underworld, and a servant of Hades (Saint Seiya) . He is the legendary three headed dog, that guards the underworld, the only way to have ny person pass, is to feed all three heads the same amount. It's name means demon of the pit. In Greek Mythology, Cerberus was the three-headed dog that guards the gates to the Underworld. He was the son of the demon Typhon and his mate, Echidna who were created by Gaia to defeat Zeus as revenge for his imprisonment of the Titans in Tartarus.

After Typhon was imprisoned beneath Mount Etna, Zeus let Echidna's offspring live so that they may present a challenge for future heroes. Contrary to Dante and Kurumada's depictions of him, Cerberus has an appetite for live meat, he is friendly to any dead soul who enters the underworld, but if they try to escape then he gets angered. The only way to calm him down is with either drugged honey cakes, which is what the Cumaean Sybill did when she helped Aeneas venture through the underworld, or with music as with Orpheus did with his enchanted lyre. Hercules, on the other hand, used his bare strength to bring Cerberus up to the surface on his 12th and final labor, after which he returned the dog to Hades as he promised. Cerberus is one of many children of Tyhon, and scariest of canines next to his younger brother, Orthus, the two headed dog. Gallery Cerberus | MythOrTruth.Com - Mythical Creatures, Beasts and Facts associated with them.

Cerberus 0 comments Cerberus is the dog monster that guards the entrance to Hades, which is the mythical Greek underworld. The creature’s function is to keep the souls of those who have crossed the river Styx from ever leaving the Underworld, and also to prevent living mortals from entering into Hades. Styx However, portrayal of Cerberus was not limited to myth or religion, but was extended to other mediums as well, including sculptures, paintings, murals and literature. It’s worth mentioning, for example, that Cerberus has been mentioned in the works Plato, Virgil, Homer and Thesiod. In ancient ruins, one can even find extensive works of art that feature Cerberus right next to important mythical characters from Greek mythology. A Laconian vase from 560 BC, for example, portrays Cerberus as having three heads with a body surrounded by snakes. Also, in various murals and sculptures, Cerberus is presented as a creature of varying proportions, but always presented in the context of either the underworld or the Heraclean myths.

Cerberus in Roman and Greek Myth Cerberus, or Kerberos as it was originally called, plays a prominent role in Greek and Roman mythology, particularly those relating to the trials of Hercules and the various struggles of the Gods. Cerberus There are conflicting accounts about the number of heads which can be found on Kerberos. Some sources indicate that Kerberos only had one or two heads, while other sources point to 10 or more. According to both Greek and Roman mythology, Cerberus was the offspring of Echidna and Typhon, both of whom were also prominent primordial beings in both Roman and Greek mythology. One of Kerberos’ siblings was Orthrus, a two headed dog which shared much of its ferocity. Aside from Kerberos’ role as guardian of the underworld, it was also portrayed as a ravenous monster with an exclusive diet of live meat. In sources where Kerberos is represented as having three heads, Cerberus takes on a special symbolism. Like the sisters of fate, the Moirai, Cerberus’s three heads also have a special significance.

Some sources say that the heads represent the creature’s ability to see into eternity, and that three heads represent the past, the present and the future. Other sources claim that the three heads represent birth, youth and old age. Echidna and Typhon Whatever the case may be, Cerberus is a prominent archetype in the Greco-Roman idea of the underworld. It’s worth mentioning, for example, that along with Charon, Hades and other prominent entities, Kerberos, according to some sources, judges some of the souls that pass through into the underworld. This is strangely similar to the role played by the Jackal headed god, Anubis in Egyptian mythology. Despite its role however, Kerberos remains a mythological creature, an entity that symbolizes the primal human fear of death. Also, considering how it is a child of other Greek monster deities proves – to some extent – that Cerberus may have been inspired by non-Greek origins. Cerberus and Heracles Although references to Cerberus can be found in dozens of Greek and Roman literary and religious sources, the most prominent source of all is the Twelve Labors of Heracles.

In order to redeem himself, Heracles (or Hercules, as he was known in Roman civilization) was given twelve tasks which will acquit him of his sins against the gods. One of these tasks was given to him by King Eurytheus, and the task involved capturing Cerberus from Hades. According to Greek mythology, Heracles, despite being alive, entered the Underworld with the help of various gods. Once he was there, he personally asked permission from Hades, the god of the underworld, to take the three headed monster back to the surface and show it at Eurytheus’ court. Hades’ agreed to Heracles’ request but only on the condition that he would subdue Kerberos without the use of any weapons. Heracles was able to meet Hades’ conditions and carried the unconscious hound over his shoulder back to the land of the living. When Heracles showed the monster to King Eurytheus, the king was stricken with fear and ordered Heracles to return the creature back to the underworld. Heracles Explanations About the Inspiration for the Myth of Cerberus Throughout the Greco-Roman world, various intellectuals and scholars attempted to explain the origins of the depiction of Cerberus.

Various interpretations and explanations have been put forward by different people from different eras on the nature and origins of the Kerberos. One such explanation was made by Heraclitus the paradoxographer, who claimed that Cerberus was not – in fact a three headed dog monster – but one very large dog, with two very attentive puppies or companions. Heraclitus’ argument was that, given how the three dog were always close together, the artists simply began portraying the creature as a single dog with three heads. On the other hand, modern historians and scholars are considering the possibility that Kerberos by have had its origins from Proto-Indo-European myths. This theory is based on the idea that in various Sanskrit legends, “Sarvara” was the name given to the dogs of Yama, the God of Death in early Vedic mythology. Hades Another possible explanation comes from Norse Mythology, where Cerberus is believed to have been inspired by the dog, Garmr, a blood stained wolf-like dog that guard’s Hell’s gates. Whatever the truth may be about the origins of Cerberus, it’s quite obvious that the guardian dog of hell archetype is not exclusive to the Greeks.

Cerberus in Modern Culture Aside from the extensive portrayal of Cerberus in Greek and Roman culture, the creature remains quite popular in contemporary times. One can even say that the archetypal hell-hound used in modern horror and adventure movies are actually based on Kerberos. A quick observation of certain movies and books with themes centered around magic and mystery will reveal that the hell-hounds used on such stories are actually modern day replicas of Kerberos from Greek myth. In the Harry Potter series as well as the Resident Evil video games, for example, certain dogs and monsters match the descriptions of Kerberos. So even in this day and age, Cerberus still guards the gates to our imaginations. Cerberus: Legendary Hell Hound of the Underworld | Ancient Origins 29 May, 2015 - 03:27 Bryan Hill Cerberus: Legendary Hell Hound of the Underworld (Read the article on one page) In ancient Greek mythology, there exists a three headed dog called Cerberus that guards the entrance to Hades, a misty and gloomy underworld in which spirits of the dead are permitted to enter but none are allowed to leave.

In the ancient world, dogs were often depicted as wild animals that defied domestication, roamed the streets in packs and scavenged on the edge of town. The mythical Cerberus incorporated not only the feared qualities of the ancient canine, but was a strange mixture of several creatures in one and a nightmarish sight to behold. The name Cerberus comes from the Greek "Kerberos" meaning “spotted.” To the Greeks, Cerberus was a monstrous three-headed dog, or "hellhound" with a serpent's tail, a mane of snakes, and a lion's claws. His three heads were thought to represent the past, the present, and the future while other sources suggest they were symbolic of birth, youth, and old age. The most potent ability of Cerberus was his look, which was so dreadful that anyone who looked upon him was immediately turned into stone. It was said that Cerberus had razor sharp teeth and a poisonous bite. The poison that drips onto the ground sprung up as a plant that is known as the wolf’s bane.

Five incredible funerary practices from the ancient world The father of Cerberus was Typhon, the mightiest and deadliest monster in Greek mythology (as well as a god). A huge fire breathing dragon said to have glowing red eyes, a hundred heads and a hundred wings, the Olympian gods were terrified of him. Everywhere Typhon went, he spread fear and disaster with his mission being to destroy the world and to put obstacles for Zeus along his path to the Kingdom of Heaven. Cerberus' mother, was Echidna, a half-woman, half-snake creature known as the "mother of all monsters". Had black eyes, the head and torso of a beautiful woman and the lower body of a serpent. In a cave is where she dwelt luring men in with her body before she ate them raw. Cerberus primary role was the watchdog of the Greek underworld and faithful servant to the god Hades. His main haunt was along banks of the river Styx, a river forming the boundary between Earth and the Underworld. He guarded the gates of Hades and prevented the dead from escaping and the living from entering without his master's permission.

Chained to the entrance gates of Acheron, another river of the Underworld, Cerberus fawned on the dead or new spirits as they entered, but would savagely eat anyone trying to pass back through the gates and return to the land of the living. The Charon known as the ferryman taking souls to the river Styx and through to Hades. Artist: Alexander Litovchenko. 1860. ( en.wikipedia.org ) Cerberus is featured in several mythological stories as “hell’s watchdog” and there are even a couple of myths in Greek mythology where a hero gets the better of the beast. The first is when Orpheus, the famed musician of Greek mythology, sneaks into the underworld by lulling the normally alert and aggressive Cerberus to sleep with his lyre (a type of harp). The Thracian singer was revered in Greece and happily married to the nymph, Eurydice. One day she was bitten by a snake and died. Orpheus was so grief stricken by his loss that he stopped singing and playing all together. He then decided to risk his own life in a desperate journey to the Underworld to try and rescue Eurydice.

His playing enchanted Charon, the ferryman who carried the souls of the dead across the river Styx and he agreed to take Orpheus across the river, even though he was still living. When he encountered Cerberus, the three headed monster lay down meekly to the strains of Orpheus's lyre after which Orpheus was able to gain passage. Hades and his wife Persephone, granted Eurydice back to Orpheus under one condition: Eurydice must walk behind him as they ascended back to the upper world, and Orpheus was forbidden to look at her. Just before they reached the surface, Orpheus was so overcome with passion that he turned around to look at Orpheus. She was immediately turned into a ghost and sent back to the underworld forever. Orpheus' own fate was to be dismembered by Thracian maenads, the female worshipers of Dionysus. Orpheus leading Eurydice out of the underworld after having played his lyre for Cerberus. Painting by Edward Poytner, 1862. ( Wikimedia Commons)

Question: In Greek mythology, what was the name of the three headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld?
Answer: CERBERUS