Greek Mythology · monster

Cerberus

Κέρβερος
monsterthe guardian of the underworld

The three-headed hound that guards the gates of the underworld, preventing the dead from leaving.

CE
The account

Who they are

Cerberus is the three-headed hound that guards the gates of the underworld, preventing the dead from leaving and the living from entering unbidden [S1]S1 · Hesiod, Theogonyc. 700 BCEtextOpen source ↗[S3]S3 · Homer, Odysseyc. 725 BCEtextOpen source ↗[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text. Son of the monsters Typhon and Echidna (and sibling to the Hydra and the Chimera), he is one of the great 'impossible' creatures of Greek myth [S1]S1 · Hesiod, Theogonyc. 700 BCEtextOpen source ↗[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text. His capture is the final (twelfth) labor of Heracles, who wrestled him down and brought him to the surface without killing him [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
Worth knowing
  • Three-headed; guards the gates of the underworld [S3]S3 · Homer, Odysseyc. 725 BCEtextOpen source ↗[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
  • Captured by Heracles as his final labor [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
  • Son of Typhon and Echidna [S1]S1 · Hesiod, Theogonyc. 700 BCEtextOpen source ↗.
Relationships (3)

Connections

Family & kinship

PARENT_OFTyphon — Typhon (with Echidna) is the parent of Cerberus.[S1]
PARENT_OFEchidna — Echidna (with Typhon) is the parent of Cerberus.[S1]

Conflict & enmity

KILLEDHeracles — Heracles captured Cerberus (his final labor).[S5]
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Their corner of the divine world

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FocusCerberusGreek
GREEK · 41variantvariant♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥AegisHelmet of HadesCaduceus of Her…Trident of Pose…Thunderbolt of …Alcmenamortalthe mortal mother of Heracles1 relationsAndromedamortalthe rescued princess2 relationsAphroditedeitylove7 relationsAtlasdeitythe sky (bore)1 relationsChaosprimordialorigin2 relationsDanaemortalthe mortal mother of Perseus1 relationsDemeterdeityharvest6 relationsEchidnamonsterthe monster-mother2 relationsGaiadeityearth6 relationsHadesdeitythe dead7 relationsHeradeitymarriage8 relationsHestiadeityhearth1 relationsLetodeitymotherhood (as mother of Apollo/Artemis)2 relationsMedusamonsterthe Gorgon3 relationsMetisdeitycounsel2 relationsOceanusdeitythe great world-river1 relationsOdysseusherocunning2 relationsPenelopemortalthe faithful wife of Odysseus2 relationsPoseidondeitythe sea6 relationsRheadeitymotherhood2 relationsSemelemortalthe mortal mother of Dionysus1 relationsTethysdeitythe primordial sea1 relationsTyphonmonsterthe great monster7 relationsCerberusmonsterthe guardian of the underworld3 relationsErosdeitylove2 relationsHebedeityyouth2 relationsHephaestusdeityfire6 relationsMaiadeitythe nymph2 relationsUranusprimordialsky6 relationsPersephonedeitythe underworld2 relationsTelemachusmortalthe son of Odysseus2 relationsCronusdeitytime (later association)9 relationsZeusdeitysky29 relationsApollodeitysun (later)4 relationsAresdeitywar (violence, bloodshed)3 relationsArtemisdeitythe hunt3 relationsAthenadeitywisdom4 relationsDionysusdeitywine3 relationsHeraclesherostrength7 relationsHermesdeitymessengers5 relationsPerseusheroheroism8 relations
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Myths featuring Cerberus

1 story

The Twelve Labors of Heracles

Driven to madness by Hera, Heracles killed his children and was set to perform the twelve labors for Eurystheus as penance — including the Nemean lion, the Lernaean Hydra, and the capture of Cerberus. After his death he was raised to Olympus [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.

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