12 Ancient Greek Mythical Monsters

1. 12 Ancient Greek Mythical Monsters Zachary Allen May 7, 2010

2. Basilisk • The basilisk was a mix of a reptile and a bird. • The basilisk was supposedly hatched from a weird egg that was laid by a cockerel, then incubated by a toad. • The basilisk polluted waterways and turned green farmland into nothing but a barren desert. Rocks would burst if the Basilisk rubbed against them. • Weasels were said to be impervious to the basilisk magic and poison. • The eyes of the basilisk- there is only one known way to kill the basilisk, that I know of. If the basilisk were to see its reflection it would die. The eyes glowed red. • The basilisk’s tongue was said to be forked, like a snake. The beak of basilisk was lined with dagger-like teeth. • When serpents heard the Basilisk’s hiss they fled in terror.

3. Basilisk • The body of the of the basilisk was rounded like a rooster’s but had little feathers. No one knows how big it grew. • The basilisk had the wings of a dragon. • The basilisk tail was long and snaky. It might have been lined with barbed spines. • The skin was as scaly as the skin of roughest snake. • The monster ran swiftly on feet that had vary sharp claws. • The comb was bright and pointed. It said to look like a queen’s crown.

4. Cerberus • Cerberus is known as the ancient mythical ‘hell hound’. • He has been written about as far back as 700 B.C. • He is known as the guard dog to the Underworld. His job is to let the dead into the Underworld, but not out. • He has three heads that have powerful jaws that drip with poisonous saliva. • His tail is made up of snakes. In some versions of the mythical tale, he has one or three snake heads. • In some versions of the mythical tale, the mane is a collection of snake heads on top of each dog head which adds to this creature’s ferocity. • The claws of Cerberus are know to tear at he flesh of the bodies of the people who were greedy in life.

5. Chimaera • The Chimaera was a hateful and bloodthirsty monster that had three beastly heads. • The creature was part lion, part goat and part snake. Each head worked independently and could face different directions. • The lion head could shoot out flames and terrorized the people of an ancient territory called Lycia. • The Chimaera’s feet had brutal claws that were capable of ripping the flesh of the victims. • Where the tail should be, the Chimaera had a snake head and body and that was deadly and the fangs were filled with venom. • The goat head grew out of the middle of the Chimaera’s back.

6. Griffin • The Griffin is part eagle and lion. • The head, wings and forelegs are that of an eagle and the back and rear legs are that of a lion. • The griffin is known for attacking humans on site using it’s claws or talons and terrifying beak. • The griffin is very strong. Some mythical tales say it is stronger than 8 lions and 100 eagles. • The griffin is known for hoarding gold and emeralds and fiercely protect it’s nest from anyone who tried to steal from it. • The male griffin has no wings. The female griffin has wings like a great eagle. • The backend of the griffin has hair that varies in color from cold to cream with scarlet flecks. • The tale is snake-like tipped with a tuft of hair like a lion. • The griffin’s talons are said to be as long as antelope horns and possess magical powers.

7. Cyclops • The cyclops were almost like human beings but of a gigantic size and with only one eye in the middle of their head. • The first cyclops were Steropes, Brontes and Arges. They were sons of Gaea and Uranus. • The last cyclops were shepards who lived their lives in dingy caves. • They communicated with grunts and roars.

8. Gorgon • Medusa and her sisters were once beautiful women. • Medusa offended Athena by making Poseidon desire her. Athena cursed Medusa and her sisters, turning them into Gorgons. • The gorgon refers to any of three sisters who had hair of living, venomous snakes, and a horrifying gaze that turned those who looked into their eyes into stone.

9. Hydra • Hydra is a mythological many-headed serpent-like water beast that possessed nine heads. • Hydra stopped local farmers from getting fresh water. It emerged to attack the villagers and their cows. • The poisonous breath and toxic venom killed anyone who came near it. • If one of its heads were cut off, two would grow back. • The hydra was killed by Hercules

10. Minotaur • Minotaur was a creature with the head of a bull on the body of a man. • Poseidon punished Minos by making his wife, Queen Phasiphae, fall in love with the bull. • The offspring of their coupling was a monster Minotaur. • Minos had an underground maze built to keep the monster. Every once in a while victims were put to into the maze for the Minotaur to feed upon them. • The Minotaur was killed by the hero Theseus.

11. Harpy • The harpy is one of the winged spirits best known for stealing food from a king named Phineus. • The harpy’s body was half human and half bird, and had the legs and wings of a vulture. • The head and torso were that of a woman. In some stories, the harpy had arms and wings. • Her toes are armed with sharp brass talons. • The skin was gray because she was always starved.

12. Scylla • The scylla was a sea monster who lived underneath a dangerous rock at one side of the Strait of Messia. • The scylla had six heads and long necks equipped with grisly heads, each of which contained three rows of sharp teeth. • Her body consisted of twelve tentacle-like legs and a cat's tail and with four to six dog-heads ringing her waist • It had the face and features of a female. • She threatened passing ships with her snapping and snarling dog heads. • It was said to be 328 feet long.

13. Sphinx • A sphinx is represented as a monster with a head of a woman, the body of a lioness, the wings of an eagle, and a snake headed tail. • It was known to be quite ugly • The Sphinx is said to have guarded the entrance to the Greek city of Thebes, and to have asked a riddle of travelers to allow them passage. If they got it right she would not strangle and eat them. • One bite would kill the strongest challenger.

14. Medusa • Medusa was a gorgon female monster. The only mortal gorgon. • Upon gazing directly upon her would turn onlookers to stone. • She was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who used her head as a weapon until he gave it to the goddess Athena. • Perseus was given a polished shield that acted like a mirror, so he did not have to look directly at her eyes. • He used her head to turn his enemies into stone.