Monsters in Greek Mythology

Some of the scariest creatures ever devised in the mind of man were introduced through Greek mythology. They were one-eyed and many-eyed giants, a three-headed dog, a terrifying woman with real-snake locks of hair, man-eating beasts with half-human bodies, giant-winged creatures with heads of beautiful maidens and many-headed grotesque sea monsters. They horrified and intrigued us, mesmerizing the deepest cubby-holes of our vivid imaginations.

CYCLOPES

Gigantic one-eyed monsters that represented thunder, lightning and the lightning bolt. They were giants with a single eye in the middle of their forehead and four dispositions. The Cyclopes gave Zeus his weapons of thunder and lightning, which aided greatly in the defeat of the ten-year war against the Titans. The wandering hero, Odysseus, blinded the Cyclops Polyphemus, who happened to be a son of Poseidon. They were the first smiths, and created Poseidon’s trident, Artemis’ bow and arrows of moonlight, Apollo’s bow and arrows of sun rays, and Hades’ helmet of darkness. Noises proceeding from the heart of volcanoes were attributed to their forge operations.

MEDUSA

A former mortal maiden of great beauty who was transformed into an ugly monster with snake-like hair by Athena after Poseidon raped her on her temple floor. She was so hideous that anyone who looked upon her was turned to stone. Perseus eventually beheaded Medusa, and her head was placed on the shield of Athena. It is said that Medusa’s blood that dripped from her wounds after her decapitation caused the innumerable serpents that infest Africa today.

MINOTAUR

The minotaur was a fearful man-eating beast who was half-man and half-bull. To prevent the minotaur from eating his own people, Minos had the beast shut up in a complex maze. Each year, Minos ordered the Athenians to send over seven young men and seven young women to be fed to the minotaur. Theseus volunteered to replace one of the young men who was to be sacrificed to the monster, and successfully solved the maze and slayed the minotaur.

SIRENS

The Sirens were sisters-giant, winged creatures with the heads of beautiful women-who lured sailors to the deaths. Their songs were irresistible and lured boats towards treacherous rocks that would cause their demise. Odysseus filled his sailors’ ears with wax so that they could sail safely past the enchanting music of the Sirens.

ARGUS

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A giant with one hundred eyes (the “all-seeing one”), Argus’ most infamous role was that as guardian over IO, the heifer-nympth loved by Zeus. Zeus’ jealous and vengeful wife, Hera, employed him to watch over her night and day with his many eyes. Finally, he was killed by Hermes, and Hera put Argus’ eyes in the tail of the peacock, her favorite bird.

CERBERUS

The huge and powerful three-headed dog with a snake tail owned by Hades, Lord of the underworld. Snakes heads also protruded from his back. He used this fearsome hound to guard the entrance to his dark realm, allowing the dead to enter, but never to leave. Fetching Cerberus from the underworld and presenting him to King Eurystheus was the last labor of Heracles.

SCYLLA

Scylla was a horribly grotesque sea monster, with six long necks equipped with grisly dog-heads, each of which contained three rows of sharp teeth. Her body consisted of twelve canine legs and a cat’s tail. She ate sailors alive, including some of Odysseus’ men.

CHARYBDIS

Charybdis took form as a monstrous mouth who swallowed huge amounts of water three times a day and then belched back out creating whirlpools, which caused destruction to many ships and the deaths of many sailors. She was originally a sea-nymph who was turned into a sea monster by Zeus as punishment for stealing Heracles’ cattle.

Source :http://www.lifepaths360.com