|
|
Animals, Monsters, Demons, and
other creatures with unusual attributes
|
|
|
Abraxas.
One of the horses of Helius.
Hyg.Fab.183.
|
|
ACTAEON'S DOGS.
When Artemis in the summertime
was bathing in a stream, Actaeon
sought the same place for cooling himself and the dogs which
he had exercised in chasing wild beasts. He then caught
sight of the goddess, and to keep him from telling of it,
she changed him into a stag. As a stag, then, he was mangled
by his own hounds.
|
|
Aetha.
A mare given to Agamemnon by
Echepolus 2 and yoked by
Menelaus during the funeral
games in honour of Patroclus
1.
Hom.Il.23.295; Pau.5.8.3.
|
|
Aethion 2.
One of the horses of Euneus 1, son of
Jason & Hypsipyle, in the
chariot-race at Opheltes 1's funeral games.
Stat.Theb.6.464.
|
|
Aethiops.
Flaming. One of the horses of
Helius.
Hyg.Fab.183.
|
|
Aethon 1.
One of the horses of Hector 1.
Hom.Il.8.185.
|
|
Aethon 2.
Blazing. One of the horses of
Helius.
Hyg.Fab.183; Ov.Met.2.153.
|
|
Aethon 4.
The horse of Pallas 6, an ally of
Aeneas in Italy.
Vir.Aen.11.89.
|
|
Agdistis.
A demon with two sexual organs, male
and female. The gods cut off the male organ and an almond
tree grew up from it, the fruit of which was taken by
Sangarius' Daughter who became pregnant.
Pau.7.17.10.
|
|
Amalthea.
A Naiad, nurse of Zeus, who owned
a horn which could supply food in abundance. She is also
said to have been a goat or to have owned a she-goat who
suckled Zeus.
Apd.2.7.5; Ara.Phae.162; Cal.Ze.48; Dio.5.70.3;
Hyg.Ast.2.13; Hyg.Fab.139; Nonn.27.298; Ov.Fast.5.115.
|
|
|
ANTS.
These ANTS were transformed into men by
Zeus as
Aeacus was alone in the Island of
Aegina. Thus was Aegina populated.
Apd.3.12.6.
|
|
Argus 1.
The All-seeing.
|
|
|
Argus 6.
This is Odysseus' old dog
which was able to recognize his master after his long
absence.
Hom.Od.17.292ff.
|
|
Arion 1.
This dark-maned horse is the offspring of
Poseidon &
Demeter, or of
Gaia, or of
Zephyrus 1 & Podarge.
It is said that when Demeter
was looking for her daughter Persephone, she was followed by
Poseidon, and in order to avoid
him she turned into a mare. However,
Poseidon changed himself into a
stallion and enjoyed Demeter, who
gave birth to the horse Arion 1. This happened in Thelpusian
territory in Arcadia, which
belonged to Oncius, son of Apollo.
When later Heracles 1 waged war
against Elis, he asked the horse to
Oncius and was carried to battle on its back when he took
Elis. Afterwards the horse was given
by Heracles 1 to
Adrastus 1.
Adrastus 1 survived the war
against Thebes [see
SEVEN AGAINST THEBES], saved
by his own horse Arion 1.
Apd.3.6.8; Pau.8.25.9; Prop.2.34.37; QS.4.569;
Stat.Theb.4.43, 6.424ff.
|
|
Aschetos.
One of the horses of
Amphiaraus in the chariot-race
at Opheltes 1's funeral games.
Stat.Theb.6.463.
|
|
Ass.
The saddle-ass of Silenus.
Contended with Priapus on a
matter of physique, or by giving out an ill-timed roar,
prevented Priapus from making
love to Lotis.
Hyg.Ast.2.23; Ov.Fast.1.433.
|
|
ASSES 1.
The two asses who carried
Dionysus 2 when he wanted to
reach the temple of Zeus in order to
recover his sanity.
Hyg.Ast.2.23.
|
|
ASSES 2.
The asses who rode the SILENS and the
SATYRS when they came to assist
Zeus in his war against the
GIANTS. These asses were so
terrified that they let out a braying such as the
GIANTS had never heard, thus
frightening them.
Hyg.Ast.2.23.
|
|
ASSES 3.
The asses who devoured Lycius 2. This Lycius 2, son of
Clinis & Harpe 1, wished, along with his brother
Harpasus, sacrifice asses against
Apollo's will. He was devoured by
his father's asses and turned into a white raven that became
black at once.
Lib.Met.20.
|
|
Balius 1.
One of Achilles' immortal
steeds, the other being Xanthus 1. It served
Poseidon first, and next
Peleus,
Achilles and
Neoptolemus. This horse is
the offspring of Zephyrus 1 (the
West Wind) & Podarge (one of the HARPIES).
These horses were the reward that Dolon 1 wished to
receive for spying in the Achaean camp during the
Trojan War.
Apd.3.13.5; Eur.Rhe.184; Hom.Il.16.150; QS.3.755ff.
|
|
Bear.
This is the bear, which Polyphonte, inspired by
Aphrodite, fell in love with.
From their union the giants Agrius 6 and Orius 3 were born.
Lib.Met.21.
|
|
BIRDS.
All birds. [See Myths of
Creation.]
Ari.Birds.683ff.
|
|
BIRDS STYMPHALIAN.
Man-eating birds who used their feathers as arrows. They
were chased away by Heracles 1.
Some of them were also found by the
ARGONAUTS [see
LABOURS].
Apd.2.5.6; Hyg.Fab.20; Pau.8.22.4; QS.6.227.
|
|
Boar 1 Erymanthian.
This Boar ravaged Psophis, and was trapped by
Heracles 1 and brought to
Mycenae.
Apd.2.5.4; QS.6.220; Soph.Tra.1097.
|
|
Boar 2 Calydonian.
This Boar, offspring of the Sow Crommyonian, had great
size and strength. Artemis, in
her wrath, sent it to prevent the land to be sown, and
destroy cattle and people. It was killed by
Atalanta who shot it first,
Amphiaraus who next shot it in
the eye and Meleager who killed
it by a stab in the flank [see
CALYDONIAN HUNTERS].
Apd.1.8.2; Hes.CWE.98; Hom.Il.9.543; Strab.8.6.22.
|
|
|
Boar 3.
This is the Boar which killed Idmon 2 (one of the
ARGONAUTS) in the land of the
Mariandynians; it was killed by Idas 2.
Apd.1.9.23; Arg.2.830.
|
|
Boar 4.
Killed Adonis.
Apd.3.14.4.
|
|
Boar 5.
Sent by Zeus. Killed
Attis.
Pau.7.17.10.
|
|
Boar 6.
Killed Hyas, son of Atlas,
during a hunt [see also
CONSTELLATIONS].
Hyg.Fab.192.
|
|
Boetis.
A she-goat with wich Zeus
consorted and Aegipan 2 was born.
Hyg.Fab.155.
|
|
Bronte.
Thunder. One of the female horses of
Helius.
Hyg.Fab.183.
|
|
Bull 1.
Sent to Minos 2 by
Poseidon. Pasiphae had
intercourse with this bull and the
Minotaur was born [see also
Heracles 1].
Apd.2.5.7, 3.3.3-4; Hyg.Fab.38; Pau.1.27.10.
|
|
Bull 2.
This bull is Zeus.
Zeus turned himself into a bull,
mounted Europa on his back and
conveyed her through the sea to
Crete.
Apd.3.1.1; Hyg.Ast.2.21; Ov.Fast.5.605.
|
|
Bull 3 Marathonian.
Killed Androgeus, son of Minos
2. This could be the same as Bull 1.
Apd.3.15.7; Apd.Ep.1.5; Dio.4.59.6; Hyg.Fab.38;
Pau.1.27.10.
|
|
Bull 4.
Ravaged Arcadia. Killed by
Argus 1.
Apd.2.1.2.
|
|
Bull 5 (and 6).
A gift of Hephaestus to
Aeetes. They were brazen-footed
and puffed fire from their mouths.
Aeetes promised
Jason, Captain of the
ARGONAUTS, to give him the
Golden Fleece if he could yoke them and sow Dragon 2's
teeth, half of which he had got from
Athena.
AO.870; Apd.1.9.23; Hyg.Fab.22; Pin.Pyth.4.224ff.;
Val.7.547ff.
|
|
Bull 7.
Provoked the death of Hippolytus 4, son of
Theseus.
Apd.Ep.1.19.
|
|
Bull 8.
Sacrificed in Aulis. A young bull that
Artemis produced to be sacrificed
instead of Iphigenia [see also
Deer].
Lib.Met.27.
|
|
Bull 9's hide.
This bull had been sacrificed by Hyrieus when he received
Zeus,
Hermes and
Poseidon. As Hyrieus was
childless and asked the gods for children, they urinated in
the hide of the sacrificed bull, buried it in the earth and
from it Orion was born.
Hyg.Fab.195; Ov.Fast.5.535.
|
|
Bull 10.
This bull is Zeus.
Zeus in the likeness of a bull mated
with Io who had been transformed into
a cow by Hera.
Aes.Supp.300.
Bull 11
The Bull that, chased by gadflies sent by
Selene, became infuriated and
threw Ampelus off his back, thus causing his death.
D:Nonn.11.197ff.
|
|
Cacus.
A fire-breathing half-human creature
who ate human flesh and nailed the heads of men in the doors
of his cave. Offspring of Hephaestus. Was killed by Heracles
1.
DH.1.39.4; Ov.Fast.1.577; Prop.4.9.16; Vir.Aen.8.195ff.
|
|
Caerus 1.
Offspring of Gaia. One of the
horses of Adrastus 1. Was one
of the horses of Amphiaraus in
the chariot-race at Opheltes 1's funeral games.
Pau.8.25.9; Stat.Theb.6.524.
|
|
Campe.
The jaileress in Tartarus
of the CYCLOPES and the
HECATONCHEIRES.
Double-shaped, she appeared a woman to the middle of her
body, with clusters of poisonous serpents for hair. Her
giant form, from the chest to the parting-point of the
thighs, was covered with sea-monster's scales. The claws of
her hands were curved like a crook-talon sickle. Over her
shoulders a scorpion coiled upon itself. Zeus killed her
when he needed the help of the
CYCLOPES and the
HECATONCHEIRES in his
fight against the TITANS.
Apd.1.2.1; Nonn.18.237.
|
|
CENTAURS.
Hybrid creatures.
|
|
|
CENTAURS CYPRIAN.
Horned generation of CENTAURS. Once
Zeus chased
Aphrodite but could not catch
her. Instead of her bed, he dropped his seed on the ground,
and they grew out of the earth.
Nonn.14.193ff., 32.72.
|
|
CENTAURS HORNED.
Offspring of the NYMPHS LAMUSIDES. Because of an
enchantment they became creatures with long ears, and a
horse's tail sticking out straight from the loins; from the
temples cow's horns sprouted out, long teeth grew out of
their jaws and a strange kind of mane covered their necks
with rough hair.
The Horned Centaurs were: Aesacus 2, Amphithemis 2,
Ceteus 2, Eurybius 3, Gleneus 2, Nomion 3, Orthaon, Petraeus
3, Phanes 3, Phaunus 2, Riphonus, Spargeus.
Nonn.14.168ff.
|
|
Cerberus 1.
Hound of Hades [see
Heracles 1,
HERACLES 1's LABOURS, and
Underworld].
Apd.2.5.12; Eur.Her.25, 611; Hes.The.310ff.;
Hom.Od.11.617ff.; QS.6.261; Stat.Theb.2.27, 8.56,;
Strab.8.5.1.
|
|
|
Charybdis.
Sea-monster.
|
|
Chimera.
Hybrid monster [see
Bellerophon].
Apd.2.3.2; Hes.CWE.7; Hes.The.319ff.; Hom.Il.6.179;
Hyg.Fab.151; Pin.Oly.13.90.
|
|
Cow 1 Delphian.
Led Cadmus to the place in
which he settled founding Thebes.
Was sacrificed by Cadmus. (See
also Ox.)
Arg.3.1179; Nonn.5.5.
|
|
Cow 2 Ilian.
Ilus 2 went to Phrygia finding
games held there by the king. And as a prize for having been
victorious in wrestling the king gave him also a cow and
bade him found a city wherever the animal should lie down.
And when she was come to the hill of the Phrygian Ate, she
lay down; there Ilus 2 built a city and called it Ilium
(Troy).
Apd.3.12.3.
|
|
Crab.
Helped the Hydra and was killed by
Heracles 1. It was promoted by
Hera to the rank of a constellation
[see also CONSTELLATIONS].
Apd.2.5.2; Hyg.Ast.2.23.
|
|
Crow 1.
This crow had to guard Coronis 2 and told
Apollo that she had wedded Ischys.
Cursed by Apollo, became black
instead of white.
Apd.3.10.3; Hes.CWE.89; Hyg.Ast.2.40; Hyg.Fab.202.
|
|
Crow 2.
Athena gave the babe
Erichthonius 2 in a chest to the daughters of Cecrops 1 to
guard, but the girls opened the chest and this crow gave the
secret away. The girls, driven mad by the goddess, threw
themselves into the sea.
Hyg.Fab.166.
|
|
Crow 3.
This Crow that had to fetch water and bring it to
Apollo, but returned without it
and with a lying tale about a Serpent (Serpent 16) that had
prevented him from filling the Bowl with water. Since then
these three constellations are seen together.
Ov.Fast.2.243ff.
|
|
CYCLOPES.
One-eyed creatures.
|
|
|
Cydon 5.
One of the horses of Hippodamus 2 in the chariot-race at
Opheltes 1's funeral games.
Stat.Theb.465.
|
|
Cygnus.
One of the horses of
Amphiaraus in the chariot-race
at Opheltes 1's funeral games.
Stat.Theb.6.463.
|
|
Deer.
Was sacrificed in Aulis instead of
Iphigenia [see also Bull 8].
Apd.Ep.3.22; CYP.1; Hyg.Fab.98.
|
|
Delphyne.
She-Dragon, a half-bestial maiden, who guarded the sinews
of the hands and feet of Zeus which
Typhon had severed. Killed by
Apollo.
Apd.1.6.3; Arg.2.706; Nonn.13.28.
|
|
Dolphin.
Persuaded Amphitrite to marry
Poseidon.
Hyg.Ast.2.17.
|
|
Dragon 1. (See Ladon 4.)
|
|
Dragon 2.
Guarded the spring of Ares.
Cadmus sowed its teeth which rose
from the ground as armed men and were called the
SPARTI.
Apd.1.9.23, 3.4.1; Nonn.4.358ff., 4.415, 4.421ff.;
Val.7.610.
|
|
Dragon 3.
Guarded the Golden Fleece, but was lulled to sleep by
Medea.
Apd.1.9.23; Arg.2.1209; Pin.Pyth.4.244ff.; Val.8.70ff.
|
|
Dragon 4.
Devastated Thespiae. Youths should be offered to it every
year. Killed by Menestratus.
Pau.9.26.7.
|
|
Dragon 5.
Devoured Opheltes 1. Killed by
Adrastus 1. (See also Serpent
10.)
Hyg.Fab.74.
|
|
Dragon 6.
The GIANTS threw it against
Athena. Fixed in the stars by
Athena.
Hyg.Ast.2.3.
|
|
DRAGONS 1.
Yoked to the car of
Triptolemus.
Pau.7.18.3.
|
|
DRAGONS 2.
Yoked to the chariot of Medea.
Born from the TITANS' blood.
Ov.Met.7.398.
|
|
Eagle 1 Caucasian.
Offspring of Typhon & Echidna or perhaps fashioned by
Hephaestus. Devoured the liver
of Prometheus 1. Killed by
Heracles 1.
Apd.2.5.11; Dio.4.15.2; Hes.The.527; Hyg.Ast.2.15;
Hyg.Fab.31; QS.10.200.
|
|
Eagle 2.
Snatched Ganymedes.
Apd.3.12.2; Hyg.Ast.2.16.
|
|
Eagle 3 Omen.
Was seen by Zeus as an omen for
attacking the TITANS.
Hyg.Ast.2.16.
|
|
Eagle 4.
Took Aphrodite's sandal to
Hermes.
Hyg.Ast.2.16.
|
|
Eagle 5.
This Eagle is Zeus who took this
form to approach Aegina.
Nonn.33.297.
|
|
Eagle 6.
The eagle who brings back the thunderbolts of
Zeus.
Man.5.486.
|
|
Eagle 7.
This eagle swooped down and carried the spear of
Amphiaraus up to a height and
then let it drop. The spear became fixed in the earth and
turned into a laurel. At that very spot
Amphiaraus was swallowed up
with his chariot, where now is the city called Harma.
Plu.PS.6.
|
|
Echidna.
Hybrid monster, half girl half snake. Daughter of
Tartarus & Gaia, or of Piras 2
& Styx, or of the sea-deities Phorcus & Ceto 1.
Echidna produced a generation of monsters after consorting
with Typhon: Chimera, Ladon 4, Cerberus 1, Orthus,
Sphinx, Hydra, Scylla 1, Lion 2,
Eagle 1, Sow, Gorgon, HARPIES. Others say she had the
Sphinx by Orthus.
Echidna was caught asleep and slain by
Argus 1.
Apd.2.1.2, 2.3.2, 2.5.10ff., 3.5.7; Apd.Ep.1.1;
Hes.The.294ff., 310ff., 326ff.; Hyg.Fab.151; Hyg.Pre;
Pau.8.18.2; Val.4.428.
|
|
Eous.
Orient. One of the horses of
Helius.
Hyg.Fab.183; Ov.Met.2.153.
|
|
ERINYES.
Avenging spirits.
|
|
|
Eripha.
One of the mares of Marmax, the first suitor of
Hippodamia 3, wife of Pelops 1).
Pau.6.21.7.
|
|
Eurynomus 3.
One of the demons in Hades, who eats off all the flesh of the
corpses, leaving only the bones.
Pau.10.28.7.
|
|
Fish.
Rescued Isis [see also
CONSTELLATIONS].
Hyg.Ast.2.41.
|
|
Gadfly.
This gadfly was sent by Hera to
torment Io who had been turned into a
cow.
Aes.Pro.823ff.; Aes.Supp.540ff.; Apd.2.1.3; Ov.Met.1.722.
|
|
Geryon.
Offspring of Chrysaor & Callirrhoe 1. He had the body
of three men grown together and joined in one at the waist,
but parted in three from the flanks and thighs.
Heracles 1 took his cattle away
and killed him [see HERACLES
1' LABOURS].
Aes.Aga.870; Apd.2.5.10; DH.1.39.1; Dio.5.17.4; Hdt.4.8;
Hes.The.287, 979; Hyg.Fab.151; Pau.10.17.5; Vir.Aen.6.289.
|
|
GIANTS.
For their attack against heaven see also
Gigantomachy.
|
|
GORGONS.
Serpent-haired monsters, offspring of Phorcus & Ceto
1.
|
|
|
GRAEAE.
Sisters of the GORGONS and old
women from birth. The three had but one eye and one tooth,
and these they passed to each other in turn. The GRAEAE are:
Dino, Enyo 1, and Pephredo.
Aes.Pro.794; Apd.2.4.2; Nonn.25.63.
|
|
Griffin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Female
griffin suckling her offspring
|
The griffin, gryph, or gryphus, an animal that appears to
have come originally from the east, has been widely depicted
in ancient Greek art and in later times as well. Not seldom
the griffin (a beast like a lion but with the beak and wings
of an eagle), being harnessed by gods or other mythical
figures, is seen driving chariots. The griffin does not
appear very often in ancient literature, but Aeschylus,
Herodotus, Pausanias, Flavius Philostratus, and Strabo are
among those who mention it.
The Issedones are reported to have asserted that the
one-eyed Arimaspians, who inhabited a land near that of the
Scythians, used to steal gold
from the griffins:
"But in the north of
Europe there is by far the most gold. In this matter again I
cannot say with assurance how the gold is produced, but it
is said that one-eyed men called Arimaspians steal it from
griffins." [Herodotus,
History
3.116.1]
and
"Of these too, then, we
have knowledge; but as for what is north of them, it is from
the Issedones that the tale comes of the one-eyed men and
the griffins that guard gold; this is told by the
Scythians, who have heard it from them; and we have
taken it as true from the
Scythians, and call these people by the Scythian
name, Arimaspians; for in the Scythian tongue "arima" is
one, and "spou" is the eye." [Herodotus,
History
4.27.1]
and
"There is also a story
related in a poem by Aristeas son of Caustrobius, a man of
Proconnesus. This Aristeas, possessed by Phoebus, visited
the Issedones; beyond these (he said) live the one-eyed
Arimaspians, beyond whom are the griffins that guard gold,
and beyond these again the Hyperboreans, whose territory
reaches to the sea." [Herodotus,
History
4.13.1]
Similar things are told by Pausanias:
"I have also heard that
the griffins have spots like the leopard, and that the
Tritons speak with human voice, though others say that they
blow through a shell that has been bored. Those who like to
listen to the miraculous are themselves apt to add to the
marvel, and so they ruin truth by mixing it with
falsehood." [Pausanias,
Description
of Greece 8.2.7]
and
"These griffins,
Aristeas of Proconnesus says in his poem, fight for the gold
with the Arimaspi beyond the Issedones. The gold which the
griffins guard, he says, comes out of the earth; the
Arimaspi are men all born with one eye; griffins are beasts
like lions, but with the beak and wings of an eagle. I will
say no more about the griffins." [Pausanias,
Description
of Greece 1.24.6]
Already in old times the griffins were used to adorn
buildings or works of art:
"He had in the city of
the Borysthenites a spacious house, grand and costly (the
same house I just mentioned), all surrounded by sphinxes and
griffins worked in white marble ..." [Herodotus,
History
4.79.2]
and
"The Samians took six
talents, a tenth of their profit, and made a bronze vessel
with it, like an Argolic cauldron, with griffins' heads
projecting from the rim all around; they set this up in
their temple of Hera, supporting it with three colossal kneeling
figures of bronze, each twelve feet high. What the Samians
had done was the beginning of a close friendship between
them and the men of Cyrene and Thera." [Herodotus,
History
4.152.4]
and
"In the temple of
Artemis Alpheionia are very famous paintings by two
Corinthians, Cleanthes and Aregon: by Cleanthes the "Capture
of Troy" and the "Birth of Athena," and by Aregon the "Artemis Borne Aloft on a Griffin." [Strabo,
Geography
8.3.12]
The griffins were to be feared, and this is how
Prometheus 1 warns
Io:
"But now listen to
another and a fearsome spectacle. Beware of the sharp-beaked
hounds of Zeus that do not bark, the gryphons, and the
one-eyed Arimaspian folk, mounted on horses, who dwell about
the flood of Pluto's stream that flows with gold. Do not
approach them." [Aeschylus,
Prometheus
Bound 804].
It has been said that the griffins could dig up gold and
were—in India—sacred to the Sun. Concerning their
size and strength it is told that they resemble lions, but
since they have wings they have an advantage over them, as
well as over elephants and dragons. Yet they cannot fly more
than birds of short flight. For they have not feathered
wings; instead the palms of their feet, so they say, are
webbed with red membranes which they expand to make a flight
and fight from the air. The tiger alone, because of its
swiftness, could escape the griffin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Griffin
attacking a horse
|
Aes.Pro.804; Hdt.3.116.1, 4.13.1 4.27.1, 4.79.2, 4.152.4;
Pau.1.24.6,8.2.7; Phil.VA.3.48; Strab.8.3.12.
|
|
Hare.
Flees the hunter Orion in the
sky.
Hyg.Ast.2.33.
|
|
HARPIES.
Hybrid monsters called sometimes the hounds of
Zeus. They were bird-bodied and
girl-faced, and snatched away both things and living beings.
They were the children of Thaumas 1 & Electra 1, or of
Typhon, or of Thaumas 1 & Ozomene. The HARPIES were
Aello 1, Celaeno 4, Ocypete 2 and Podarge.
[See also ARGONAUTS and
Phineus 2.]
Apd.1.2.6; Arg.2.234; Hes.The.267; Hom.Od.1.241,
20.61-78; Hyg.Fab.14, 19; Val.4.428; Vir.Aen.3.212.
|
|
HECATONCHEIRES.
The HECATONCHEIRES
(hundred-handed) are Briareus, Cottus and Gyes.
|
|
Hind Cerynitian.
A hind with golden horns captured by
Heracles 1. This hind had
originally been consecrated to
Artemis by Taygete.
Apd.2.5.3; Eur.Her.378; Pin.Oly.3.28; QS.6.223.
|
|
Hydra Lernaean.
Serpentlike monster offspring of Typhon and Echidna. Had
a huge body with countless heads, or with nine heads one of
which was immortal, or with one hundred heads, or only one
head. Killed by Heracles 1 [see
also LABOURS].
Apd.2.5.2; Eur.Her.421; Hes.The.314ff.; Hyg.Ast.2.40;
Hyg.Fab.151; Ov.Met.9.69; Pau.2.37.4; Soph.Tra.1094.
|
|
|
Iris 2.
One of the horses of Admetus 1 in the chariot-race at
Opheltes 1's funeral games.
Stat.Theb.6.461.
|
|
Ladon 4. (Dragon 1.)
Offspring of Typhon & Echidna or of Phorcus &
Ceto 1. Guardian snake with one hundred heads who kept the
golden apples of the
HESPERIDES. Either it was
immortal or was killed by Heracles
1.
Apd.2.5.11; Arg.4.1396; Eur.Her.394; Hes.The.333;
Hyg.Ast.2.3; Hyg.Fab.151.
|
|
Laelaps 2.
The dog of Procris 2. It was
given by Zeus as a guardian for
Europa. Later came to
Minos 2 who gave it to
Procris 2 (or else
Artemis gave her the dog). This
dog was so swift that no beast could escape it. This dog was
turned into stone by Zeus while
hunting a fox, which was so swift that it could outrun all
dogs [see Amphitryon].
EPIG.2; Hyg.Ast.2.35; Hyg.Fab.189; Lib.Met.41;
Ov.Met.7.681ff., 7.755; Pau.9.19.1.
|
|
Lamb Golden.
Atreus once vowed to sacrifice
to Artemis the finest of his
flocks; but when a golden lamb appeared, he neglected to
perform his vow. The lamb was later taken away from
Atreus and given by his wife to
his brother, thus helping Atreus'
brother to gain the kingdom of
Mycenae.
Apd.Ep.2.11.
|
|
Lamia 2. (Sybaris 1.)
A monster devastating the country of the Delphians, to
whom they had to sacrifice a youth, Alcyoneus 2. The monster
was killed by Eurybatus.
Lib.Met.8.
|
|
Lampus 3.
One of the horses of Hector 1.
Hom.Il.8.185.
|
|
|
Lampus 4.
One of Eos' steeds.
Hom.Od.23.246.
|
|
Lion 1 Cithaeronian.
Harried the kine of
Amphitryon and Thespius. Was
killed by Heracles 1 or by
Alcathous 3, son of Pelops 1.
Apd.2.4.9; Pau.1.41.3.
|
|
Lion 2 Nemean.
Offspring of Typhon and Echidna, defeated by
Heracles 1. When
Heracles 1 tracked the lion, he
first shot an arrow at it, but when he perceived that the
beast was invulnerable, he heaved up his club and made after
it. And when the lion took refuge in a cave
Heracles 1 came upon it, and
putting his arm round its neck held it tight till he had
choked it. Later he brought the lion to
Mycenae, but from then on
Eurystheus forbade him to
enter the city and ordered him to exhibit the fruits of his
LABOURS before the gates.
Apd.2.5.1; Eur.Her.153; Hes.The.326ff.; Hyg.Ast.2.24;
QS.6.208; Soph.Tra.1092; Vir.Aen.8.295.
|
|
|
Lion 3.
Monstrous lion subdued without spears, through wrestling,
by Cyrene.
Pin.Pyth.9.25.
|
|
Lion 4 Cyrenaean.
At the sight of this lion, Battus 2, colonizer of Libya
was cured of his stammering, when he was compelled to cry
out in a clear and loud voice.
Pau.10.15.7.
|
|
Lioness 1 Libyan.
Killed Hyas during a hunt.
Hyg.Ast.2.21; Hyg.Fab.192.
|
|
Lioness 2.
Killed Mermerus 1 while he was hunting on the mainland
opposite Corcyra.
Pau.2.3.9.
|
|
Lioness 3 Ambracian.
Was sent by Artemis against
Phalaecus while he was hunting.
Lib.Met.4.
|
|
Maera 2.
The dog of Icarius 2 who led Erigone 2 to her father's
dead body.
Apd.3.14.7; Hyg.Ast.2.35.
|
|
MARES MAGNESIAN.
Mothers of the CENTAURS.
|
|
MARES OF DIOMEDES 1.
Man-eating mares who killed Abderus, and were mastered by
Heracles 1. They were destroyed
on Mount Olympus by the wild beasts [see also
LABOURS].
The names of these mares were: Dinus, Lampon, Podargus 1,
and Xanthus 2.
Apd.2.5.8; Eur.Her.380.
|
|
|
MARES OF LAOMEDON 1.
These horses had been given by
Zeus to Tros 1 in compensation for
the abduction of Ganymedes.
They could run over water and over the heads of standing
grain. Heracles 1 promised to
save Hesione 2, who had been
exposed as a prey to be devoured by Sea-Monster 2, on
condition of receiving from Laomedon 1 these mares. On
Laomedon 1's saying that he would give them,
Heracles 1 killed the monster
and saved Hesione 2. But when
Laomedon 1 would not give the stipulated reward,
Heracles 1 threatened to make
war on Troy. For the sake of these
mares Heracles 1 with only six
ships and a little army sacked the city of
Troy and made waste her streets.
Apd.2.5.9; Hom.Aph.5.202ff.; Hom.Il.5.265ff., 5.638ff.;
Pau.5.24.5.
|
|
Minotaur.
Bull-headed man.
|
|
|
Orthus.
Two-headed hound offspring of Typhon & Echidna.
Watch-dog of the cattle of Geryon. The
Sphinx is the offspring of Orthus
and Echidna. It was killed by
Heracles 1.
Apd.2.5.10; Hes.The.309, 326.
|
|
Ox.
The ox that led Cadmus to the
place in which he settled, founding
Thebes. (See also Cow 1 Delphian.)
Hyg.Fab.178.
|
|
Parthenia.
One of the mares of Marmax, the first suitor of
Hippodamia 3, wife of Pelops 1.
Oenomaus 1 slew the mares after
Marmax, but granted burial to them also.
Pau.6.21.7.
|
|
Pedasus 2.
Achilles' mortal horse killed
by Sarpedon 1 at Troy.
Hom.Il.16.148, 16.467.
|
|
Pegasus.
Winged horse offspring of
Poseidon &
Medusa 1. This horse opened up a
spring on a mountain by striking the rock with its hoof.
Bellerophon mounted it when
he went to kill the Chimera. It is said to have leapt forth
from the teeming neck of the slain
Medusa 1, its mane bespattered
with blood.
Apd.2.3.2; Ara.Phae.218; Hyg.Ast.2.18; Nonn.25.40, 31.20;
Ov.Fast.3.450; Pin.Oly.13.64.
|
|
|
Phaethon 2.
One of Eos' steeds.
Hom.Od.23.246.
|
|
Phlegon.
One of the horses of Helius.
Hyg.Fab.183; Ov.Met.2.154.
|
|
Phoenix the
bird.
Hdt.2.73ff.; Ov.Met.15.391.
|
|
|
Pholoe 2.
One of the horses of Admetus 1 in the chariot-race at
Opheltes 1's funeral games.
Stat.Theb.6.461.
|
|
Podarces 3.
One of the horses of Thoas 9 in the chariot-race at
Opheltes 1's funeral games.
Stat.Theb.6.466.
|
|
Podargus 2.
One of the horses of Hector 1.
Hom.Il.8.185.
|
|
Podargus 3.
One of the mares that
Menelaus yoked during the games
in honour of Patroclus 1.
Hom.Il.23.295.
|
|
Procyon.
Orion's dog [in Canis Minor, see
CONSTELLATIONS].
Hyg.Ast.2.36.
|
|
Pyrois.
One of the horses of Helius.
Hyg.Fab.183; Ov.Met.2.153.
|
|
Python.
The dragon, offspring of Gaia,
which guarded Themis' oracle at
Delphi. Killed by
Apollo.
Apd.1.4.1; Hyg.Fab.140; Nonn.9.251; Ov.Met.1.438ff.;
Stat.Theb.1.563.
|
|
Ram 1.
The Ram with the Golden Fleece, offspring of
Poseidon & Theophane. Given
to Nephele 2 by Hermes. It bore
Phrixus 1 and Helle through the sky to Colchis. Sacrificed
by Phrixus 1 to Zeus but it was made
immortal. The fleece he gave to
Aeetes who nailed it to an oak in
a grove of Ares. This is the Golden
Fleece which the ARGONAUTS
fetched.
Apd.1.9.1; Hes.CWE.38; Hyg.Ast.2.20;Hyg.Fab.3.
|
|
|
Ram 2.
Led Dionysus 2 's soldiers
when he was attacking Africa, to the place in which there
was an abundant supply of water.
Hyg.Ast.2.20.
|
|
Rhaebus.
The horse of Mezentius; killed by
Aeneas.
Vir.Aen.10.862ff.
|
|
Scorpion.
Killed Orion. Was sent by
Gaia or
Artemis to kill him. Put in the
sky by Zeus.
Ara.Phae.634ff.; Hes.Ast.4; Hyg.Ast.2.26.
|
|
Scylla 1.
Sea-Monster.
|
|
|
Scythian Monster.
Half damsel and half serpent. She would not restore the
cattle of Geryon to Heracles 1
unless he had intercourse with her.
Hdt.4.9-10.
|
|
Sea-Monster 1.
Sent by Poseidon to take
Andromeda as prey, for which
purpose she was bound to a rock by her father. This monster
was destroyed by Perseus 1.
Apd.2.4.3; Hyg.Ast.2.31; Man.5.612.
|
|
|
Sea-Monster 2.
Sent by Poseidon to devour
Hesione 2. Killed by
Heracles 1 and Telamon.
Apd.2.5.9; Dio.4.42.3ff.; Hyg.Fab.31, 89; QS.6.290.
|
|
Sea-Monster 3.
Sent by Poseidon to destroy
the Teucrians during the time of Hierax 2.
Lib.Met.3.
|
|
Serpent 1 (and 2).
Sent by Hera to destroy
Heracles 1 when he was eight
months old, or put on his bed by Amphytrion to see which of
the twins was his own. Heracles
1 killed them both.
Apd.2.4.8; Dio.4.10.1.
|
|
Serpent 3 (and 4).
Killed Laocoon 2 and his
sons. Apollo sent them from
Tenedos or else they were sent by
Athena.
Hyg.Fab.135; QS.12.447ff.; SI.1.
|
|
Serpent 5.
Killed Orestes 2 at Oresteum
in Arcadia.
Apd.Ep.6.28.
|
|
Serpent 6.
Offspring of Medusa 1's Blood.
Killed Mopsus 1 in the desert.
Arg.4.1502ff.; Ov.Met.4.618.
|
|
Serpent 7.
Killed Aepytus 3.
Pau.8.4.7, 8.16.2.
|
|
Serpent 8.
Was followed by Antinoe 1, when she established a new
settlement in Arcadia. It could
have been a dragon.
Pau.8.8.4.
|
|
Serpent 9.
Gave the name of the Snake's Head to a place between
Thebes and Glisas.
Tiresias cut off its head.
Pau.9.19.3.
|
|
Serpent 10.
Killed Opheltes 1. Was killed by
Adrastus 1 or by Capaneus [see
also Dragon 5].
Apd.3.6.4; Stat.Theb.5.566ff.
|
|
Serpent 11.
Glided between Auge 2 and
Telephus when she was about to
kill him, thus preventing her from doing it.
Hyg.Fab.100.
|
|
Serpent 12.
The tutelary snake of Chryse 2 which bit
Philoctetes [see also
Water-Snake].
CYP.1; Soph.Phi.1326.
|
|
Serpent 13.
Was coiled about the babe Erichthonius 2, whom
Athena gave in a chest to the
daughters of Cecrops 1 to guard. When the girls, against
instructions, opened the chest they were destroyed by the
serpent (which could have been two in number).
Apd.3.14.6; Eur.Ion.20ff.
|
|
Serpent 14.
Killed Asterope 1, whom Aesacus 1 loved, when she tried
to escape him.
Ov.Met.11.771.
|
|
Serpent 15 Salaminian.
A serpent of huge size that ravaged Salamis, destroying
the inhabitants of the island. Was killed by Cychreus, who
became king and acquired Fame
because of having killed it.
Apd.3.12.7; Dio.4.72.4.
|
|
Serpent 16.
The Serpent that according to the lying tale told by Crow
3, was the cause of his delay in bringing water to
Apollo. In memorial of this
incident the constellations of the Serpent, the Bowl and the
Crow sparkle side by side.
Ov.Fast.2.243ff.
|
|
Serpent 17.
This serpent killed Tylos and was killed by Damasen. But
it was restored to life by its female partner Serpent 18
with the help of a lifegiving herb.
Nonn.25.455ff., 25.514ff.
|
|
Serpent 18.
With the help of a lifegiving herb she restored to life
her male partner Serpent 17 which had been killed by
Damasen.
Nonn.25.514ff.
|
|
Serpent 19.
The serpent that protected Chalcomede when Morrheus 1 was
about to seize her.
Nonn.35.204ff.
|
|
Serpent 20.
Killed Munitus when he was hunting at Olynthus in Thrace.
Parth.16.4.
|
|
Serpent 21.
When the Achaeans were in Aulis, after a sacrifice to
Apollo, this serpent darted from
the altar beside the neighbouring plane-tree, in which there
was a nest; and having consumed the eight sparrows in the
nest, together with the mother-bird, which made the ninth,
it was turned into stone. Calchas
said that this sign was given them by the will of
Zeus, and he inferred from what had
happened that Troy was destined to
be taken in a period of ten years.
Apd.Ep.3.15.
|
|
Serpent 22.
Ravaged Rhodes but was killed
by Phorbas 2.
Hyg.Ast.2.14.
|
|
Serpent 23.
This serpent was sent by
Demeter to plague Triopas 2
towards the end of his life. When he died
Demeter put him among the stars
with the serpent coiling round him.
Hyg.Ast.2.14.
|
|
Serpent 24.
The snake that threatened the life of Phalerus 1 and was
killed by his father Alcon 1.
Arg.1.97; Val.1.398.
|
|
SIRENS.
Malevolent sea-monsters.
|
|
Sow Crommyonian.
Offspring of Typhon & Echidna. Fierce and hard to
master, this sow was a beast that had killed many human
beings. It was bred by Phaea and killed by
Theseus.
Apd.Ep.1.1; Dio.4.59.4; Plu.The.9.1; Strab.8.6.22.
|
|
Sphinx.
Hybrid monster.
|
|
Stag.
Stag of Silvia 1.This stag was kept as a pet by Silvia 1
and her brothers, the boys of Tyrrheus. Because of its death
war broke out. Killed by Ascanius 2, son of
Aeneas.
Vir.Aen.7.483ff.
|
|
Sterope 6.
One of the horses of Helius.
Hyg.Fab.183.
|
|
Strymon 3.
One of the horses of Chromis 6 in the chariot-race at
Opheltes 1's funeral games.
Stat.Theb.6.464.
|
|
Talos 1.
The brazen man.
|
|
|
Therbeeo.
One of the horses of Helius.
Hyg.Fab.183.
|
|
Thoe 4.
One of the horses of Admetus 1.
Stat.Theb.6.462.
|
|
Triton.
Hybrid sea creature, offspring of
Poseidon & Amphitrite. His
body, from the crown of his head, round his back and waist
as far as the belly, was wondrously like that of the gods;
but below his sides the tail of a sea-monster lengthened
far, forking to this side and that. And he smote the surface
of the waves with the spines, which below parted into
curving fins, like the horns of the new moon. He assisted
the ARGONAUTS and on another
occasion blew his shell-trumpet, which he had invented,
against the GIANTS putting them to
flight. When Athena was born she
was brought up by Triton.
Apd.3.12.3; Arg.4.1601ff.; Hes.The.930; Hyg.Ast.2.23;
Pau.7.22.8.
|
|
|
TRITONS.
Sea creatures. Their body is rough with fine scales, and
they have gills and a man's nose, though having a broader
mouth and a beast's teeth. Under the breast and belly they
have a tail like a dolphin's instead of feet. Or else they
have limbs of two kinds, a human shape and a different body,
green, from loins to head, but hanging from the trailing wet
loins a curving fishtail, forked.
Nonn.6.270, 6.294; Pau.9.21.1.
|
|
Turtle.
Ate the passers-by whom Sciron had thrown into the sea.
Sciron was killed by Theseus.
Apd.Ep.1.2.
|
|
Typhon.
Hybrid monster [for his attack against heaven see
Zeus].
Aes.Pro.356ff.; Apd.1.6.3, 2.3.2, 2.5.10ff, 3.5.7;
Apd.Ep.1.1; Hes.The.310ff., 326ff., 822; Hom.Apo.3.307;
Hyg.Fab.151, 152; Hyg.Pre; Nonn.1.155, 2.620; Ov.Fast.4.491;
Pin.Pyth.8.16; QS.5.485; Strab.13.4.6; Val.2.23ff., 4.428.
|
|
Vixen Cadmean. (Fox Teumessian.)
Was so swift that it could outrun all dogs. Owing to the
wrath of Dionysus 2 the beast
was reared to destroy the Thebans. When about to be caught
by the hound given by Artemis to
Procris 2, the fox was turned
into a stone, as was likewise the hound [see
Amphitryon].
Apd.2.4.6; EPIG.2; Hyg.Ast.2.35; Lib.Met.41; Pau.9.19.1.
|
|
VULTURES.
Cycnus 7 asked Phylius to capture them.
Lib.Met.12.
|
|
Water-snake.
Bit Philoctetes and caused
him a wound which would not heal [see also Serpent 12].
Apd.Ep.3.27.
|
|
Wolf 1.
Devoured the cattle that Peleus
wished to give Irus 1 as the price for the death of Eurytion
1. It was transformed into a rock.
Lib.Met.38.
|
|
Wolf 2.
A she-wolf who visited the babes
Romulus and Remus 1 and gave them
suck.
DH.1.79.6; Plu.Rom.2.6.
|
|
Wolf 3.
When the twin children Lycastus 3 and Parrhasius were
exposed this wolf suckled them.
Plu.PS.36.
|
|
Xanthus 1.
One of Achilles immortal
horses, the other being Balius 1.
Hera endowed it with human speech.
It served Poseidon first, and
next Peleus,
Achilles and
Neoptolemus.
These horses were the reward that Dolon 1 wished to
receive for spying in the Achaean camp during the
Trojan War.
Apd.3.13.5; Eur.Rhe.164; Hom.Il.16.150, 19.405ff.;
QS.3.755ff.
|
|
Xanthus 4.
One of the horses of Hector 1.
Hom.Il.8.185.
|