Cerberus: Hound of Hades

Role

Cerberus guarded the underworld.

Appearance

Three-headed dog with lion's claws, a snake tail and a mane of snakes growing from its back.

Special Powers

He could turn a person to stone with his frightful appearance, and he had a venomous snake for a tail.

Weakness

A fondness for honey cakes (even if they are spiced with a sleeping drug).

Myth

For the last of Heracles ' twelve labors, Heracles was given the task of retrieving Cerberus. Hades agreed that Heracles could take Cerberus from the underworld, but he could use no weapons. Heracles grabbed Cerberus and was bitten by the hound's snake tail, but he didn't let go. In the end, he managed to overcome the hound. 

Heracles brought Cerberus to the mortal world but he did not kill him and Cerberus returned to the Underworld.


Ancient Greek Mythological Beasts

Grade Level: 4 - 6

Resource Type: PDF Download

Pages: 38 (including 7 answer sheets)

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Chimera: The Three Headed Monster

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Centaur: The Horse-Man