Cerberus

In Greek mythology, Cerberus was the terrifying three-headed dog who guarded the entrance to the underworld. The offspring of the monsters Typhon and Echidna, Cerberus was also the brother of the serpent creature Hydra and the lion-headed beast Chimaera. He is often pictured with the tail of a snake or dragon and with snakes sprouting from his back. According to legend, his appearance was so fearsome that any living person who saw him turned to stone. The saliva that fell from his mouth produced a deadly poison.

underworld land of the dead

Cerberus prevented spirits of the dead from leaving Hades and living mortals from entering. Three humans, however, managed to overcome him. Orpheus* charmed him with music. An old woman named the Sibyl of Cumae put Cerberus to sleep by giving him a cake soaked in drugged wine to give the Roman hero Aeneas access to the underworld. Hercules* used his sheer strength to take Cerberus from the land of Hades to the kingdom of Mycenae and back again, the twelfth labor of Hercules.

User Contributions:

Camille

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You need to add more information to this article like why he guarded Hades.

Ashley

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This is very useful, but there needs to be more information, like the reason why he guarded the gates to Hades and how long he was owned by Hades (or Pluto)

Alex

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For those who don't know (though I am not sure on the details) Cerberus saved a girl named Delia from something and became friends because of this and despite his terrifying looks. Hades, whose domain had the dead escaping, needed a guard. For a long time, he had an eye on Cerberus and he took the chance. He kidnapped Delia. As ransom, for Cerberus to rescue his one and only true friend, Hades wanted him as a guard dog.

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