| Ancient Greece is a uniquely preserved culture we | | | | enough revenge for Athena, and later she guided |
| know much about through study and research. Greek | | | | Perseus to find Medusa and kill her. |
| mythical figures and beasts played a pivotal role in | | | | Another of the major Greek mythical beasts was |
| Greek society and folklore at that time. | | | | Cerberus, the three-headed dog. This animal was the |
| The Mythical Figures and Beasts of Ancient Greece | | | | offspring of Typhoeus (an immortal storm giant) and |
| While gods and goddesses may have been the most | | | | Echidna, a monster that was half human and half |
| important beings in Greek mythology, there were | | | | snake. Cerberus had three dog heads, a snake's tail, |
| many other characters that were essential to these | | | | and snakes protruding from its monstrous back. |
| tales. Mortals were very important in Greek myths; | | | | Cerberus's position was at the entrance to the |
| without them, there would be no one for the gods | | | | underworld, where he allowed the dead to enter but |
| and goddesses to "play with". Also integral were | | | | not to leave. Only a few living mortals were ever |
| Greek mythical figures - these fantasy animals and | | | | able to get past Cerberus, including Orpheus, who |
| partially human beings served a vital role in the myths | | | | charmed him to sleep with music. |
| that were told during this time. | | | | A final look at Greek mythical beasts comes up with |
| Search Engine Marketing Specialist | | | | Hecatoncheires, literally translated as the "hundred |
| Since 1995 SEO/SEM tools, training, and professional | | | | handed". Three of these existed, named Aegaeon, |
| "full service" Search Engine Marketing help at very | | | | Cottus, and Gyges. Born to Gaea and Uranus, they |
| affordable rates. | | | | hated their father so much that Uranus was forced |
| One of the most talked about mythical figures of all | | | | to imprison the Hecatoncheires back into Gaea's |
| time has to be Medusa. Depicted as a woman with | | | | womb. They were later released by Zeus, when he |
| snakes on her head instead of hair, the story of | | | | was fighting against the Titans; they were able to |
| Medusa begins with a mortal woman. It is said that | | | | hurl a hundred boulders at a time at their opponents. |
| Medusa was so beautiful as a young girl, her looks | | | | There were many lesser Greek mythical figures and |
| enchanted Poseidon, and turned his attention away | | | | beasts as well, and there was a definite hierarchy |
| from Athena. This angered Athena so much that she | | | | among the different mythical characters. These |
| changed Medusa into a gorgon, a mythical beast with | | | | animals and sometimes human hybrids made up the |
| snakes for hair and a face so hideous that it turned | | | | majority of the story lines that went along with the |
| anyone who looked at it into stone. This was not | | | | gods and goddesses. |