Monsters of greek mythology2

Monsters of Greek Mythology

And the Heroes who fought them

the GREEK view of MONSTERS

Vicious Creatures

Usually devoured or wreaked havoc (pandemonium)with humans

Used by gods to get revenge, teach humans a lesson orto scare them

Most defeated only by heroes with special qualities, strengths, talents or gifts (eg. Perseus had Athena's shield)

HEROES MONSTERS

Brave & Courageous

Role model

Possibly an offspring of one

of the gods

Special powers or abilities

or gifts from one of the

gods

On a quest

Flawed, but continually

learning

Mindless, cruel and brutal

Barbaric personality

Typically a child of one of the

Titans

Possessed special powers or

abilities – cursed !

An instrument of the gods

Some became monsters as

punishment for offending one

of the gods

MEDUSA

One of 3 Gorgons

Offended Athena

Slain by PERSEUS

In science – Medusa jellyfish

CERBERUS

3 headed-dog of monstrous size that guards the entrance to the underworld

Dragged up to the upper world by HERACLES as one of his 12 Labors

In modern literature – “Fluffy “from Harry Potter

CHIMERA

Fire-breathing femalemonster

Lion's head, goat's body, dragon's tail

Defeated by BELLEROPHON, a youngbrave Greek

Modern appearance - movie “MissionImpossible 2” - virus

CYCLOPES

Savage, powerful giants with one eye in the middle of their forehead

Children of Poseidon

ODEYSSEUS tricked the one named Polyphemus and escaped from its cave

In science“antheraea polyphemus”is a moth that has large spots on its wings that resemble eyes

HYDRA

Serpent with 9 heads - when one was cut off, two grew in its place

Even its breath could kill

Guarded one of the entrances to the underworld

•Slain by HERACLES in one of his 12 labors

•Hydra is largestconstellation of the southern sky

GRAEA (Gray) SISTERS

3 sisters born old, and grey

Had only one tooth and one eyeto share

Sisters of the GORGONS -guarded them

ENYO – warlikePEMPHREDO – thinkerDEINO – terror

Tricked by PERSEUS

NEMEAN LION

Child of ECHIDNA &the GIANT TYPHON, who were Titans

Terrorized the countrysideof Nemea, eating the animalsthat were raised for food

The first labor of HERACLES was to defeat this lion

MINOTAUR

Monstrous offspring ofthe queen of Crete

Body of a human, head of a bull

Ate humans

Imprisoned in a labryinth by MINOS,king of Crete

Defeated by THESEUS

CHARYBDIS & SCYLLA

CHARYBDIS was anevil woman who robbed travelers

ZEUS turned her into a terrible sea monster

Drowned sailors and capsized shipsby creating a giant whirlpool in the sea

Across the strait was SCYLLA, a six-headed monster , who also threatened passing sailors

ODYSSEUS had to sail between them on his trip home

Between Scylla and Charybdis

HARPIES

• Smelly bird-like creatures

• Face of woman, deadly claws

• Terrorized King Phineas

• Defeated by Jason