Download May 16: Mythological Critters

Magical Critters and Monsters
The Furies
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Three female monsters of vengeance.
They pursued people guilty of horrible crimes.
Wings, bloody eyes
Greek: Erinyes
Roman: Dirae
Sometimes called “the Kindly Ones” (to
protect yourself from their wrath!)
Satyrs
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Satyrs were goat/human hybrids
Roman term: fauns
Associated with the gods Pan and Dionysus
Associated with nature and wilderness
Minotaur
• The Minotaur was a half-man, half-bull
monster
• Lived in a labyrinth on the island of Crete
• Killed by the hero Theseus with the help of
Princess Ariadne (who gave him string)
Centaurs
• Centaurs have the bodies of horses and the
torsoes of men
• Very wild and uncivilized
• Chiron, trainer of heroes (including Achilles),
was a different type of centaur who was very
wise
Medusa
• Medusa was one of 3 Gorgons
• She was cursed by Athena and changed from a
beautiful woman into a horrible monster with
snake hair
• Her gaze turned people to stone
• Killed by Perseus
• Pegasus, the winged horse, sprang from her
blood
Hydra
• Serpent-monster with multiple heads
• Each head cut off grew 2 more
• Killed by Hercules with help from his nephew:
Hercules sliced and the nephew burned the
stumps
Lotus Eaters
• Inhabitants of an island where the magical
lotus plant grows
• The lotus causes sleepiness and lack of
interest in doing anything
• In the Odyssey, Odysseus has to rescue some
of his men from the Lotus Eaters
Hades
• God of the underworld (not “hell”)
• Roman name: Pluto
• Drew lots with his brothers Zeus and Poseidon
to determine who would rule the sky, sea, and
underworld
• Not really “evil” in our modern sense