Cerberus - Revision history

Irlandos at 15:30, August 3, 2006

2006-08-03T15:30:28Z

Irlandos: /* Heracles' capturing of Cerberus */

2006-04-23T14:00:27Z

Heracles' capturing of Cerberus

Irlandos at 13:59, April 23, 2006

2006-04-23T13:59:54Z

New page

In [[Greek mythology]], '''Cerberus''' or '''Kerberos''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] Κέρβερος ''Kerberos'', ''demon of the pit''), was the hound of [[Hades]]—a monstrous three-headed dog (sometimes said to have 50 or 100 heads) with a snake for a tail and innumerable snake heads on his back.

He guarded the gate to Hades (the Greek underworld) and ensured that the dead could not leave and the living could not enter. His brother was [[Orthrus]]. He is the offspring of [[Echidna]] and [[Typhon]].

He was overcome several times:
*[[Heracles]]' final labour was to capture Cerberus, which he did by treating it with the first kindness it had ever received.
*[[Orpheus]] used his musical skills to lull Cerberus to sleep.
*[[Hermes]] puts him to sleep with water from the river [[Lethe]].

== Heracles' capturing of Cerberus ==
[[Heracles]]' final labour was to capture Cerberus. After having been set the task, Heracles went to [[Eleusis]] to be initiated into the [[Eleusinian Mysteries]] so that he could learn how to enter and exit the underworld alive, and in passing absolve himself for killing [[centaur]]s. He found the entrance to the underworld at [[Tanaerum]] and [[Athena]] and [[Hermes]] helped him to traverse the entrance in each direction. He passed [[Charon]] thanks to Hermes' insistence, and his own heavy and fierce frowning.

Whilst in the underworld, Heracles freed [[Theseus]] but the earth shook when he attempted to liberate [[Pirithous]], so he had to leave him behind. They had been imprisoned by Hades, by magically binding them to a bench, because they had attempted to kidnap [[Persephone]]. The magic was so strong that when Heracles pulled Theseus free, part of Theseus' thighs remained on the bench, explaining why his descendants had notably lean thighs.

In some versions, Heracles merely asks [[Hades]] for permission to take Cerberus, to which Hades agrees as long as Heracles does not harm the hound, though in other versions Heracles shot Hades with an arrow. In some versions, Heracles wrestles the dog into submission and drags it out of Hades, passing through the cavern [[Acherusia]], but in other versions, Heracles treats the vicious dog with the first kindness it has seen, and easily walks out with it.

{{Credit wikipedia}}

==External links==
*[http://www.theoi.com/Ther/KuonKerberos.html Cerberus in the Theoi Project]

[[category:Greek legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Mythological dogs]]
[[Category:Twelve labours of Herakles]]

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 *[http://www.theoi.com/Ther/KuonKerberos.html Cerberus in the Theoi Project]
-[[category:Greek legendary creatures]]
+[[category:Legendary creatures]]
 [[Category:Mythological dogs]]
 [[Category:Twelve labours of Herakles]]

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 == Heracles' capturing of Cerberus ==
-[[Heracles]]' final labour was to capture Cerberus. After having been set the task, Heracles went to [[Eleusis]] to be initiated into the [[Eleusinian Mysteries]] so that he could learn how to enter and exit the underworld alive, and in passing absolve himself for killing [[centaur]]s. He found the entrance to the underworld at [[Tanaerum]] and [[Athena]] and [[Hermes]] helped him to traverse the entrance in each direction. He passed [[Charon]] thanks to Hermes' insistence, and his own heavy and fierce frowning.
+[[Heracles]]' final labour was to capture Cerberus. After having been set the task, Heracles went to [[Eleusis]] to be initiated into the [[Eleusinian Mysteries]] so that he could learn how to enter and exit the underworld alive, and in passing absolve himself for killing [[centaur]]s. He found the entrance to the underworld at [[Taenarum]] and [[Athena]] and [[Hermes]] helped him to traverse the entrance in each direction. He passed [[Charon]] thanks to Hermes' insistence, and his own heavy and fierce frowning.
 Whilst in the underworld, Heracles freed [[Theseus]] but the earth shook when he attempted to liberate [[Pirithous]], so he had to leave him behind. They had been imprisoned by Hades, by magically binding them to a bench, because they had attempted to kidnap [[Persephone]]. The magic was so strong that when Heracles pulled Theseus free, part of Theseus' thighs remained on the bench, explaining why his descendants had notably lean thighs.
@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 {{Credit wikipedia}}
 ==External links==