CerberusThis is a featured page

There is only one Cerberus know to exist in classic mythology. In Greek and Roman mythology, Cerberus (derived from Greek "kerberos") is the guardian of the gates of the Underworld, Hades. Its sole purpose is to prevent doomed souls from escaping. Cerberus; like his brother, Orthrus, and many other monsters of Greek mythology was spawned from Echidna, also known as the mother of all monsters. It is most commonly depicted as a giant dog with three heads, and sometimes a mane composed of snakes, much like the hair of the gorgon, Medusa. Some renderings portray the beast with one single tail; others two, sometimes three. The tail(s) is/are that of a serpent. The Cerberus is regarded as a great and fearsome creature and is the original and is also considered a neutral creature because he takes doomed souls to the underworld where they belong. Some think that the Hell Hound is a distant cousin of the Cerberus.

Cerberus is said to be the sibling of the Lernaean Hydra, the Nemean Lion, the Sphinx, the Ladon, and the Chimeara. It was used in one of the twelve labors of Hercules, the final labor. In most works the three-heads each respectively see and represent the past, the present, and the future, while other sources suggest the heads represent birth, youth, and old age. Each of Cerberus' heads is said to have an appetite only for live meat and thus allow the spirits of the dead to freely enter the underworld, but allow none to leave. Cerberus was always employed as Hades' loyal watchdog, and guarded the gates that granted access and exit to the underworld (also called Hades).

Cerberus
The Cerberus was mainly used by Hades so 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, although, the depiction and background surrounding Cerberus often differed across various works by different authors of the era. The most notable difference is the number of its heads: Most sources describe or depict three heads; others show it with two or even just one; a smaller number of sources show a variable number, sometimes as many as 50.


W.n101
W.n101
Latest page update: made by W.n101 , Apr 17 2012, 6:52 AM EDT (about this update About This Update W.n101 Edited by W.n101

1 image added
1 image deleted

view changes

- complete history)
Keyword tags: Dogs Hounds
More Info: links to this page
Started By Thread Subject Replies Last Post
Anonymous Hmm 0 May 2 2013, 9:18 AM EDT by Anonymous
 
Thread started: May 2 2013, 9:18 AM EDT  Watch
Interesting
Do you find this valuable?    
Keyword tags: Dogs Hounds (edit keyword tags)
Anonymous Thanks 0 Feb 25 2013, 5:46 PM EST by Anonymous
 
Thread started: Feb 25 2013, 5:46 PM EST  Watch
This helped alot for a project Im doing.
1  out of 6 found this valuable. Do you?    
Keyword tags: Dogs Hounds (edit keyword tags)
Anonymous lol 0 Jan 29 2013, 5:14 PM EST by Anonymous
 
Thread started: Jan 29 2013, 5:14 PM EST  Watch
well they look friendly lol
4  out of 7 found this valuable. Do you?    
Keyword tags: Dogs Hounds (edit keyword tags)

Anonymous  (Get credit for your thread)


Showing 3 of 26 threads for this page - view all

Related Content

  (what's this?Related ContentThanks to keyword tags, links to related pages and threads are added to the bottom of your pages. Up to 15 links are shown, determined by matching tags and by how recently the content was updated; keeping the most current at the top. Share your feedback on Wetpaint Central.)