Greek Mythology: Beasts

1. Myths of the Day II Greek Mythology: Beasts

2. MEDUSA

3. Famously known as the woman with snakes for hair • She was originally a beautiful, golden-haired maiden. • Medusa was a priestess of Athena, and dedicated to a celibate life Medusa

4. Poseidon desired her, and there are two stories… • 1. After being rejected, raped her in the Temple of Athena • 2. She fell in love with him • Either way, Athena was horrified, and decided to punish Medusa harshly Her Offense

5. Each wavy golden lock turned into a venomous snake • Her gentle, love-inspiring eyes now became blood-shot, furious orbs • Her milk-white skin turned a loathsome greenish tinge She was cursed…

7. Repulsed with herself, she left her home, never to return • In her despair she fled to Africa, which is why some native cultures there worship snakes • A hero named Perseus eventually beheads her Her End…

8. The Minotaur

9. In Crete there were three princes, struggling to ascend to the throne. • Minos prayed to Poseidon to send him a snow-white bull, as a sign of approval of the gods for his reign It begins with Minos…

10. He promised to sacrifice the bull, as a sign he was a servant to the gods. • A beautiful white bull rose from the sea, but when Minos saw it, he wanted to keep it for himself. A gift from the gods

11. He assumed Poseidon would not mind, so he kept it. • Poseidon did mind. He got his revenge by causing Minos’ wife to fall in love with the white bull. Poseidon’s Revenge

12. She tricked the bull into making love to her using an invention from Deadalus, an inventor. Their child was a monster called a Minotaur. • The creature had the head and tail of a bull, but the body of a man. Freaky Deaky Offspring

13. The monster caused so much destruction on Crete that Deadalus was called again. • The architect built a huge, intricate labyrinth, and the Minotaur was locked inside. The Labyrinth

14. Every year for nine years, seven youths and maidens came as tribute from Athens. • Eventually, he was beaten to death by Greek hero Theseus. The End

15. The Sirens

16. Half-woman, half-bird-like creatures • Sang such sweet songs that listeners forgot everything and died of hunger • They use their voices to lure ships to the shallows, where they crash • Song of the Sirens is irresistible to men Sirens

17. Pegasus

18. Winged horse • The result of the mating of Medusa and Poseidon • It was born from Medusa when her head was cut off by Perseus. • He was tamed by Bellerophon, for awhile. He ended up on Mt. Olympus, carrying Zeus’ lightning bolts Pegasus

19. Cerberus

20. Three-headed dog with a dragon tail • Guards the entrance to the Underworld, allowing the dead to enter but never leave • Once he got away, and Hercules had to fetch him Cerberus

21. Cyclops

22. Gigantic one-eyed monsters • Generally thought of as the Sons of Uranus and Gaea • Led a lawless life, with no social manners or fear of the gods • Worked for Hephaestus Cyclops

23. Centaur

24. Half-man, half-horse • Most are wild and savage, known for lustfulness and drunkenness • The most famous is Chiron, who was wise and known for his goodness • Chiron trained Achilles Centaur

25. Daughter of Poseidon and Gaia • She flooded land to enlarge her father’s kingdom. Zeus was angry, and turned her into a monster • She is a giant whirlpool, who swallows huge amounts of water three times a day, and then belches it back out Charybdis

26. Formerly a beautiful maiden • Glacus was deeply in love with Scylla. He went to the witch Circe and asked for a potion that would warm her heart. • Circe fell in love with him instead, but he still only wanted Scylla. Circe was jealous, so she turned Scylla into a monster • She has 6 arms, 6 heads with 4 eyes each, the lower part of her body is siz hideous dogs with a mouth containing rows of teeth • Hidden in a cave in a cliff Scylla