CERBERUS
Cerberus was the guardian of Hades, the underworld, domain
of the dead. He was the child of Echinda, a half-woman,
half serpent, and Typhon, a fire-breathing giant. With three
heads, and (some say) a serpent for a tail and snake's heads
on his back, Cerberus had a double task - he would not allow
any creature still living to enter earth's realm, and he
would allow none to leave, whether alive or dead.
Only a few were ever able to get past Cerberus. One of
these was Persephone, goddess of innocence and mistress
of the underworld. She was the child of Demeter, goddess
of the harvest, and Zeus, ruler of the gods. The ruler of
Hades kidnapped Persephone to rule with him, but after Demeter
threatened that nothing would ever grow again, the gods
arranged that she would spend half the year in Hades, and
the other half on earth, giving us winter and summer. Cerberus
allows Persephone to pass each time the seasons change.
Another who got past was Orpheus, a musician. He played
the lyre, a kind of harp. When his wife, Eurydice, died,
he went to Hades to get her back. He played his lyre with
such grace and skill that it lulled Cerberus to sleep. Orpheus
was able to bring Eurydice to the gates of Hades, but in
the growing light, he looked back to see if she was behind
him (which he had been forbidden to do until they were both
safely among the living), and she was returned to her place
among the dead.)
Hercules, however, was the most famous to best Cerberus.
As the last of his twelve labors, Hercules had to bring
Cerberus to the king Eurystheus. Hercules went to the ruler
of the underworld, who said that if Hercules could take
Cerberus without the use of any weapons, Hercules would
be allowed to leave the underworld with the beast and to
return to the land of the living. Cerberus is one of the
few monsters who ever met Hercules and survived.
PRONUNCIATION:
Cerberus: SIR- ber- uss
Echinda: eh- KIN- duh
Typhon: TIE- fon
Persephone: per- SEFF- uh- nee
Demeter: duh- MEE- ter
Zeus: ZOOSE
Orpheus: ORFF- ee- uss
Eurydice: you- RID- ih- see (that third syllable is the
short "i", like in "sit".)
Hercules: HER- kyoo- leez
Eurystheus: you- RISS- thee- uss
