The Stymphalian Birds

English I- Louise S. McGehee School 2004

• The Stymphalian Bird is a man and animal eating bird with a brass beak. The feathers on their wings were known to shoot out like arrows. They were the size of cranes and looked like the ibis bird (left.) Their talons were very sharp like claws.

(“Ibis”)

More interesting facts

• These birds were heard of to destroy crops on farming land

• They had metallic wings.

• The people who came in contact with the Stymphalian birds, though usually not by choice, feared these birds because they were known to eat people alive.

(“Stymphalian Birds”)

More Interesting Facts (continued)

• These birds reproduced faster than they could be killed.

• The Birds went to Stymphalos to escape a pack of wolves that were taking over their homeland.

The Birds

• Alfred Hitchcocks 1963 movie The Birds is a great example of the Stymphalian Birds. In this movie the man eating birds were located near the Bodega Bay much like the Stymphalian birds who were found near the lake in Stymphalos in Arcadia

(The birds movie poster)

Here is a picture of Stymphalos. This city in Arcadia is still present and people live there. Though the legend still lives on there are no recent records of seeing any Stymphalian birds.

(Y2K European Trip)

• The most common myth these birds are tied to is with Hercules. He was the only god to successfully kill the Stymphalian birds. He was sent out by Eurystheus for his sixth out of twelve labors. The reason he was sent on these twelve labors was because he wanted to become a hero and this was the only way.

How Hercules defeated the birds• Once Hercules arrived at

the lake, he realized he did not know how to defeat these birds. Athena, daughter of Zeus, came to his rescue and gave him a krotala which is an ancient noise maker. Hercules went to the top of a mountain and crashed the two together. This noise startled the birds and they all took flight. While they were in the air, Hercules shot them all. (The sixth Labor: The Stymphalian Birds)

Works CitedCaldwell, Dick. “The Labors of Herakles.” The Myths of Argos. 11 January 2004. <

http://www.greecetravel.com/greekmyths/argos7.htm.>.

“Hercules and Stymphalian Birds Back - Theseus and the Minotaur.” 09 January 2004. <http://www.artfromgreece.com/stories/v24.html>.

“Ibis.” Occultopedia. 13 January 2004. <http://www.occultopedia.com/i/ibis.htm>.

“Stymphalian Birds.” Encyclopedia. 2003. 10 January 2004.

<http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Stymphalian-Birds >.

“The Birds movie poster.” Movie Goods. 2000. VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever. 11 January 2004. <http://www.moviegoods.com/movie_product.asp?sku=170933&master%5Fmovie%5Fid=11721>.

Works Cited Continued

“The sixth Labor: The Stymphalian Birds.” The Birds. 09 January 2004. <http://people.uncw.edu/deagona/herakles/children/birds.htm>.

“The Sixth labour :Stymphalian birds.” Gallery Serendipity featuring the works of Eric Morris. 1998. 08 January 2004. <http://home.swipnet.se/~w-54567/hera/06.htm>.

“Y2K European Trip” Tiny Stymphalia, Ancient Styphalos and Kiato. 2000. 15 January 2004.<http://www.dragonridge.com/y2k/stymphalia.htm >.