The Beasts of Greek Mythology

Centaurs

Horse body, front is human from waist up

Gentle and wise Skilled in music and

medicine

Cerberus

3 headed dog that guards the entrance to the underworld

Chimera

Lion in front Goat in middle (goat

head) Serpent tail Fire breathing

Cyclops (es = plural)

1 eyed giants Children of Gaia &

Uranus, also Poseidon Polyphemus (Odyssey)

Echidna

“Mother of all Monsters” Chimera, Cerberus,

Sphinx

Gorgons

3 sisters – Medusa most famous

Lived underground Snakes instead of hair Scales on body Anyone who looked into

their eyes turned to stone.

Griffons

Lion bodies Eagle wings & head Guardians of the god’s

treasures

Harpies

Birds with women’s heads and sharp claws

Fierce Preyed on people Pecked eyes out

Hecatonchires

Children of Gaia & Uranus

100 hands, 50 heads

Hydra

9 headed dragon When 1 head is cut off,

2 more grow in its place

Minotaur

Bull’s head on man’s body

Man-eating beast on Crete

Pegasus

White winged horse Sprang from blood of Medusa when Perseus killed

her

Satyr

Part goat part man (usually male)

Signify fertility Carefree characters

who roam the forest having fun

Companions of Pan and Dionysus

Play the flute

Sphinx

Woman’s head on lion’s body – sometimes shown with wings

Riddle: What walks on 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs in the afternoon and 3 legs in the evening?

Answer: Human

Triton

Top half man – bottom half fish (Merman)

Son of Poseidon During big war, helped

Olympians by blowing a conch shell and scaring Titans.

Other Characters

Nymphs

Beautiful women Mostly daughters of

Zeus, but some daughters of the Titan Ocean (lived in sea).

Often fell in love with human men.

Fates (3)

3 women who control the destiny of humans

Hold the threat of life and can cut it when they want to – that is the end of life.

Furies (3)

Hideous to look at Bodies of old women Heads of dogs Snakes for hair Bat’s wings Live in Hades and

torture people Born of drops of blood

that fell on Gaia when Uranus was castrated.

Graces (3)

Daughters of Zeus and a sea nymph

Beautiful, hand-maidens to Aphrodite

Associated with spring

Graeae (3)

3 Sisters of Gorgons Guarded Gorgons Shared 1 eye and 1

tooth Named Spiteful, Terrible

and Warlike

Muses (9)

Daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne.

Goddesses of the arts Followers of Apollo Served as inspiration to

humans who wanted to be creative

The End !

Created by Ms. Birtcher

February 2011

Westerville North High School

English 9