Cerberus

greek-mythology · monsters · guardians

Three-headed guard dog. Cerberus was a massive dog with three heads instead of one, and he stood watch at the gates of the underworld, the ancient Greek place where souls went after death. His job was to make sure that no dead person could ever leave and return to the living world.

Serpent tail and snakes. Cerberus wasn't just a regular dog with extra heads. He had a serpent (a snake) for a tail and snakes all over his body, making him one of the most monstrous creatures in Greek mythology.

Monster parents. Cerberus was the child of two fearsome creatures named Echidna and Typhon, who were among the scariest monsters in Greek myths. His wild nature and strange appearance came straight from his terrifying family.

Heracles' final challenge. The strongest hero in Greek mythology, Heracles (also called Hercules), had to capture Cerberus as his last and most difficult task. This adventure tested Heracles more than any of his other eleven legendary labours.