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GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Mythical Monsters and Creatures
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They had the torso, arms, and head of a man on a horse’s fourlegged body.
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They were a wild and uncivilized people who were skilled with
weapons and hostile toward humans.
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An exception, Chiron, was a wise tutor who befriended and taught
several Greek heroes, including Theseus, Achilles, and Heracles.
THE CENTAURS
CERBERUS

This dog, owned by Hades, was a huge
three-headed beast that was said never
to sleep.
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He guarded the gates of the
underworld and stopped the souls of the
dead from escaping.
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He also prevented the living from trying
to enter and rescue their loved ones
from the clutches of death.
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It is a three-headed, fire-spitting monster that roamed the ancient
district of Lycia (present-day Turkey).
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A lion with a goat’s head on its back and a snake’s or dragon’s
head on its tail.
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It is the offspring (child) of Typhon and Echidna.
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Weapons: claws, horns, fangs, and fire.
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Killed by the hero Bellerophon.
THE CHIMERA

Unlike their peaceful predecessors who
were descended from Gaia and
Uranus, these evil, man-eating giants
killed and ate unfortunate seafarers
who landed in Sicily.

They were tall and strong, with a single
eye.

Offspring of the sea god, Poseidon.

Weapons: sticks and stones
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Defeated by Odysseus
THE CYCLOPES

These vicious flying creatures tormented humans and could swoop
down to steal whatever they pleased.
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They were half woman, half bird.
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Daughters of Electra and Thaumas
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Weapons: strong, claw like hands
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Exiled to the island of Crete by the Argonauts.
THE HARPIES

This serpent had poisonous breath and
many heads.

If one head was cut off, it could grow
two heads in its place.

Each head had a long, flexible neck.

Offspring of Typhon and Echidna

Weapons: poisonous fangs and breath
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Killed by Heracles
THE HYDRA

These three horrible sisters had long fangs and a mass of hissing snakes
for hair.
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Roughly human with golden wings, snakes for hair, and hands of
copper.

Offspring of Phorkys and Keto, two of the Gorgons were immortal, but
Medusa was mortal.

Weapons: they turned people to stone
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Medusa was killed by Perseus.
THE GORGONS

This man-eating monster was kept
imprisoned in a labyrinth in Crete
beneath the palace of King Minos.

It had the body of a man with a bull’s
head.

Son of Queen Pasiphae of Crete.

Weapons: great strength, bull’s horns
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Killed by Theseus
THE MINOTAUR

It was a flying steed tamed and ridden by Bellerophon, who used a magic bridle
given to him by Athena.
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It was a winged horse.

Arose from the blood of Medusa.

It possesses no weapons.

Turned into a constellation.
PEGASUS

These wild, hairy creatures of the forest were often found
hanging out with Dionysus.

They were half man, half goat, with small horns.

They had no parents and were considered to be natural spirits.

Weapons: music and merrymaking

Believed by some to still exist
THE SATYRS
SCYLLA
•
It was a six-headed monster
that lived on one side of the
narrow channel of sea between
Sicily and Italy.
•
It was six-headed with twelve
legs.
•
It was once a Nereid but was
turned into a monster after
incurring the wrath of Circe.
•
Weapons: vast size and many
teeth
•
Turned into a rock.