Mythological Creatures. Ancient Greece. Mythological Creatures.
Fabulous animals or terrible monsters? Greek myth and legend is filled with a wide variety of monsters and creatures ranging from Dragons, Giants, Demons and Ghosts, to multi-formed creatures such as the Sphinx, Minotaur, Centaurs, Manticores and Griffins.
The Basilisk Extremely deadly serpent Touch alone could wither plants and kill a man. The creature is later shown in the form of a serpent-tailed bird.
Stymphalian Birds Flock of man-eating birds Haunted Lake Stymphalis in Arkadia. Herakles (Hercules) destroyed them as his sixth labour
The Erymanthian Boar A gigantic boar. One of Herakles Twelve Labours. After capturing, brought it back alive to the king, who, terrified at the sight of the deadly boar, leapt into a buried pithos jar for safety.
The Centaurs Tribe of half man, half horse savages Inhabited the mountains and forests of Magnesia. Homes in mountain caves, hunted wild animals for food and armed themselves with rocks and tree branches.
Cerberus Gigantic hound which guarded the gates to Hades. Job is to prevent ghosts of the dead from leaving the underworld. Three-headed dog with a serpent's tail, a mane of snakes, and a lion's claws.
The Chimera Monstrous beast with the body and maned head of a lion, a goat's head rising from its back, a set of goat-udders, and a serpents tail. Could also breath fire. The hero Bellerophon rode into battle to kill it on the back of the winged horse Pegasus.
The Cyclops Tribe of one-eyed Giants who lived in caves and herded flocks of sheep on Sicily. It was there that Odysseus met the Cyclops Polyphemos. He was the strongest and biggest of these giants and was also a son of the god Poseidon.
The Gryphon (or Griffin) Beast with the head & wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. A tribe of the beasts guarded rich gold deposits in certain mountains.
The Harpies Spirits of sudden, sharp gusts of wind. Known as the hounds of Zeus and were sent by the god to snatch away people and things from the earth. Depicted as winged women, sometimes with ugly faces, or with the lower bodies of birds
Hydra Gigantic, nine-headed water-serpent. One of Hercules’ twelve labours Each of her heads that he decapitated, two more sprang forth
Hydra
The Minotaur Bull-headed monster . Lived in the twisting maze of the labyrinth He was offered a regular sacrifice of youths and maids to satisfy his cannibalistic hunger. Destroyed by the hero Theseus.
The Gorgons Three powerful, winged daemons named Medusa, Sthenno and Euryale. Only Medusa was mortal, and so it was her head which the King commanded the young hero Perseus to fetch.
Medusa Medusa, some times known as the Gorgon, was a monstrous female character, whose gaze could turn on-lookers to stone. She lived on an island at the end of the world. Perseus used Hades's clap of invisibility, winged sandals from Hermes, a sword and a mirrored shield to kill her.
Pegasus Immortal, winged horse which sprang forth from the neck of Medusa when she was beheaded by the hero Perseus. Pegasus was tamed by Bellerophon, a hero, who rode him into battle against the fire-breathing Chimera. Later, after the hero attempted to fly to heaven, the gods caused the horse to buck, throwing him back down to earth. Pegasus continued to wing its way to heaven where it took a place in the stables of Zeus.
The Phoenix Golden-red feathered bird whose body emitted rays of pure sunlight. The creature lived for at least five hundred years. At its time of death a new-born Phoenix emerged fully-grown from its body.
The Sirens Three sea nymphs who lured sailors to their death with a bewitching song. The Sirens are seen as birds with either the heads, or the entire upper bodies, of women.
Fabulous animals or terrible monsters? Now you have a good idea of a number of ancient Greek creatures. Create your own creature Be sure to include: The species name Characteristics/attributes Origin Paragraph depicting their background/story