• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Greek Mythology Articles

  • HOME
  • OLYMPIANS
    • Apollo
    • Ares
    • Artemis
    • Athena
    • Demeter
    • Dionysus
    • Hephaestus
    • Hera
    • Hermes
  • OTHER GODS
  • TITANS
  • BESTIARY
  • HEROES
  • MISCELLANY
    • Gods, Spirits & Monsters
    • Family Tree of Gods
    • Legendary Tribes
    • Legendary Creatures
    • Star Myths
    • Plant & Flower Myths
    • Greek Mythology Articles
  • Gallery
  • Texts

Famous Greek Mythical Creatures Names and Pictures

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Madeleine

In Greek mythology, there are mythical creatures that many Greek heroes have to overcome or kill during their quests. These are the most famous Greek mythical creatures with pictures!

1. Cerberus

In the underworld, Hades had a three-headed dog named Cerberus. Cerberus would keep Hades company as well as guard the entrance of the underworld so that no one could enter to steal souls. Cerberus also guarded the entrance so that no souls of the underworld could ever leave.

2. Minotaur

The Minotaur was a half-man, half bull creature that King Minos kept in a labyrinth on the island of Crete. Each year, King Minos would feed 7 boys and 7 girls from the city of Athens to the Minotaur. The Minotaur was placed in a labyrinth so that anyone who was in the labyrinth with the Minotaur could not find their way out, resulting in always being eaten by the Minotaur.

3. Lernean Hydra

In the swamps of Lerna lived the nine-headed sea serpent called the Hydra. You could not cut off a head of the Hydra without two more growing back in its place. Hercules would have to kill the Lernean Hydra during one of his 12 labors.

4. Trojan Cetus

The Trojan Cetus was a giant sea monster sent to plague the city of Troy by the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. The Trojan Cetus could not be killed, and the only way the beast could be removed from the land would be to offer it the daughter of the king. The king followed the orders and chained his daughter Hesione to the rocks of the shore. Hesione would be saved by Hercules during his 12 labors.

5. Medusa

Medusa was a Gorgon monster who had snakes for hair and could turn anyone to stone who looked into her eyes. She was once a beautiful woman who was cursed by Athena with hideous looks and snakes for hair. This is because Medusa was impregnated by Poseidon while in Athena’s temple. Medusa would turn everyone to stone who looked into her eyes until Perseus was able to behead her.

6. The Cyclops Polyphemus

During his journey back home from the Trojan War, Odysseus comes upon the island of the cyclops. Odysseus and his men enter a cave on the island when the cyclops who lives in the cave returns home. His name is Polyphemus, and he finds Odysseus and his men in his cave. Polyphemus was a giant cyclops, and he immediately ate two of Odysseus’s men. Odysseus and his men spent the night in the cave.

The next morning, Polyphemus ate two more of Odysseus’s men before leaving for the day. Polyphemus rolled a stone in front of the entrance to the cave so that Odysseus and his men could not leave. Odysseus and his men were too small and weak to defeat the cyclops, so they had to outsmart him if they wanted to survive. Odysseus and his men found a large log and sharpened one end of the log into a sharp point and hid the log.

When Polyphemus returned that night, he devoured two more of Odysseus’s men. Odysseus then offered Polyphemus some wine. Polyphemus never had drunk wine, so he became very drunk and fell asleep. As Polyphemus slept, Odysseus and his men got their log and heated the sharpened end in the fire. When it was red hot, they stuck the log into the cyclops eye, blinding him. Odysseus and his men were able to escape on the bellies of the sheep inside the cave.

Related Posts:

  • List of Legendary Mythical Sea CreaturesList of Legendary Mythical Sea Creatures
  • All Greek God Symbols and Names are Here!All Greek God Symbols and Names are Here!
  • What are the Most Famous Greek Mythology Paintings?What are the Most Famous Greek Mythology Paintings?
  • 6 Famous Greek Mythology Locations6 Famous Greek Mythology Locations
  • 10 Best Pictures of Greek Gods and Heroes You Should See!10 Best Pictures of Greek Gods and Heroes You Should See!
  • Hyppolyta and Theseus Greek MythologyHyppolyta and Theseus Greek Mythology
  • Children of Zeus and Hera in Greek MythologyChildren of Zeus and Hera in Greek Mythology
  • Myths about Persephone and Hades in Greek MythologyMyths about Persephone and Hades in Greek Mythology
  • Who was the Strongest Greek God and Why?Who was the Strongest Greek God and Why?
  • The Myth of Perseus and Medusa ExplainedThe Myth of Perseus and Medusa Explained
  • What is the Story of Jason and the Golden Fleece?What is the Story of Jason and the Golden Fleece?
  • Paris Trojan War: Roles and ImpactsParis Trojan War: Roles and Impacts

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: mythical creatures names

Primary Sidebar

RECENT POSTS

  • 5 Greek Mythology Videos for Kids
  • How Did Uranus get its Name as Per Greek Mythology?
  • Who was the Strongest Greek God and Why?
  • 3 Interesting Ares God of War Facts
  • 3 Most Important Characters in Greek Mythology
  • 5 Awesome Greek Mythology Fiction Books for Kids
  • 5 Unbelievable Apollo Greek God Facts
  • Aphrodite Facts: Awesome Facts about the Goddess of Love and Beauty
  • Atlas Holding the World Story
  • Did a Lion-Headed Monster Exist in Greek Mythology?

GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Gods, Spirits & Monsters A - Z

Gods & Goddesses

Olympian Gods

Titans & Titanesses

Daemones (Spirits)

Nymphs

Heroes & Heroines

Bestiary

Giants


© Copyright 2023 Technipages · All Rights Reserved · Privacy