Jon Solo Sebastian 02/24/2025:
Hesiod, Theogony 310 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) :
“Typhaon [Typhoeus] . . . was joined in love to her [Ekhidna (Echidna)] . . . And next again she bore the unspeakable, unmanageable Kerberos (Cerberus), the savage, the bronze-barking dog of Haides, fifty-headed, and powerful, and without pity.”
Cerberus: A child of Typhon and Echidna, a brother to Orthrus, the Lernean Hydra, the Chimera, and many others. I’ve said it before, but Typhon and Echidna are like Mike and Carol Brady of the Brady Bunch in Greek mythology. The Brady’s didn’t have any powerful monstrous children, but they were quite the dramatic family. Maybe Hollywood needs to start going way outside the box and deliver us a Sitcom based on the family of Typhon and Echidna. Maybe not?
Who is Cerberus?
In the quote above, the poet, Hesiod claimed Cerberus to be a fifty-headed hound, but most depictions state the hound to have three heads. Like most myths, legends, and folktales, the descriptions vary.
The following is how he is typically described to look like:
He’s a giant three-headed hound-like beast with shaggy black fur. He has paws and claws that are more like a lion than a dog. He is believed to have a lion-like mane made up of snakes, snakes protruding from his back, and a venomous snake for a tail. I think this is where Hesiod came up with the nearly fifty heads—he included the serpent heads in the tally.
In Greek mythology, Cerberus, the hellhound, is the furry companion of Hades, and the guardian of the underworld. Much like Garmr of Norse mythology, Cerberus holds his position at the gates of the underworld to ensure the dead don’t leave, and the living do not enter. He does his job well, but no one is perfect, and some have been able to slip by; most notably were Hercules, Orpheus, and Aeneas.
Hercules
Cerberus was the final labour of the Twelve Labours of Heracles, and was the most difficult one. He had to bring Cerberus up from the underworld. Hades allowed Hercules to do this, but he wasn’t going to make it easy for him. He had to do it without killing him and without using any weapons.
During the fight, Hercules was bitten by the serpent tail, but he persevered. At the end of the battle, he went back to a move he used against the Nemean Lion during his very first labour—the choke hold. He knocked out the mighty beast, chained him up, and dragged him to Eurystheus, who was so horrified by the hound, he demanded Hercules take Cerberus back to the underworld immediately.
Orpheus and Aeneas
Looking at the images of Cerberus, and considering his home is the underworld, you would think he has to be aligned with evil, right? I would disagree with that, and give this point of view: He is meant to be feared, but feared by the living who would dare disturb the dead. He’s just doing his job as a guard, and weather the dead reside in heaven or hell, they don’t want to be disturbed. So in that sense, he’s a protector of peace. He’s a symbol of strength and honor, as well. Though he looks like a monster, he’s just a good boy who deserves a treat and some pets on the heads or snoot—just don’t get close to his tail.
I wish there were more stories about Cerberus because he’s an interesting creature. I wonder what a typical day is like for him. Does he get to take breaks? Does Hades take him on walks or play fetch with him? How exactly does he stop the dead from escaping? Is there an extra special place in the underworld for escapees?
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