Like a good dog, therefore, Cerberus was not threatening to the souls of the dead. A shepherd’s dog, for example, who was overly violent would be just as likely to attack the sheep it watched over as it would a wolf who tried to steal them. In fact, unrestrained ferocity would be a negative attribute for a guard dog. Like many other guardians, he could be brutal in the execution of his duty but was otherwise non-threatening. This made Cerberus monstrous, but not necessarily evil. Whether watching over the Underworld, like Cerberus, or a hostage, like Argus, many eyes were thought to ensure that one could always be on the lookout for potential trouble. Having many heads or eyes was a common trait for supernatural guardians in Greek mythology. Whether in the home or among the flocks and herds of the farm, it was a dog’s job to be watchful.Īlthough Cerberus appeared terrifying, he was in many ways an exaggerated version of the characteristics necessary for a good guard dog. The most common duty of a dog was to be a guardian. They were working animals who were bred and trained to assist their human owners. The characterization of Cerberus is not that of a vicious monster, but of a loyal guard dog.ĭogs in the ancient world were more than just pets. According to most accounts, the dog was so devoted to his duty that he immediately ran back to the River Acheron the moment he was released. The only time Cerberus ever left his post was when Hades reluctantly allowed Hercules to overcome the beast and take him to the surface to complete the last of his twelve labors. Some writers went so far as to say that he was friendly toward the souls of the dead under his charge, provided that none try to escape the Underworld. Many monsters had serpentine qualities to emphasize their deadliness and connection to the land of the dead.ĭespite his monstrous appearance and frightening duty, Cerberus was not described as an inherently evil or violent creature. ![]() Snakes, like dogs, were animals often associated with the Underworld and death. It also displayed the hell-hound’s function and power. Such a depiction was meant to do more than frighten. He had great claws, a shaggy mane, or a more lion-like face in later Greek and Roman images. Later images gave the dog qualities of a lion as well. Some accounts also said he had a snake in place of a tail, and several more serpents protruding from his back, neck and joints. So many eyes meant that he could stay on watch at all times.Ī giant animal, he towered above the gates he watched. While he is usually depicted with three heads, some writers gave him as many as fifty. While few dared to go to the realm of Hades of their own accord, the dead were eager to escape and cause trouble on earth.Īs the guardian of one of the Underworld’s most important entrances, Cerberus was eternally watchful. In the Greek view of the afterlife, keeping the souls of the dead in the Underworld was far more important than keeping the living away. More importantly, the only way the souls of the dead could get out of their realm was to go past the dreadful dog. When a soul was ferried across the river by Charon, Cerberus watched as they made their way to be judged by the mortal kings who oversaw the division of souls. ![]() He stood watch at the River Acheron, one of the main entryways to the realm of Hades. ![]() Cerberus the Hell-HoundĬerberus was a monstrous god who guarded the gates of the Underworld. On the one occasion that he was forced to leave his post, he immediately returned as soon as he was able.Ĭerberus represented many aspects of death, danger, and the Underworld but more than anything he could simply represent the ideal guard dog. ![]() Instead, the guard god of the Underworld is shown as diligent, watchful, and dutiful.Ĭerberus was said to attack if one of the souls he watched over attempted to escape, but for mortals entering the land of the dead he was relatively easy to bypass. While there are many descriptions of the hell-hound’s terrifying appearance, however, there are few stories in which he actually acts as ferociously as he looks. Attributes like a snake’s tail and multiple heads put him in the family of some of the worst beasts of legend. Cerberus, the hound of Hades, has many of the characteristics of a vicious monster in Greek mythology.
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