It guards the entrance of the Underworld to prevent those who entered from ever escaping. Although the depiction of Cerberus often differs and varies, they often have the same body and same number of heads.
The most notable difference is the number of its heads in some versions: Most sources describe or depict three heads; others show it with two or even just one; a smaller number of sources show a variable number, or sometimes as many as 50 or even Cerberus is the offspring to Echidna , a hybrid half-woman and half-serpent, and Typhon , a gigantic monster even the Greek gods feared.
It is the sibling of Lernaean Hydra , Orthrus a two-headed hellhound, and the Chimera a three-headed monster. In most works, the three heads each respectively see and represent the past, the present, and the future, while other sources suggest the heads represent birth, youth, and old age. Each of Cerberus' heads is said to have an appetite only for live meat and thus allow only the spirits of the dead to freely enter the underworld, but allow none to leave.
Cerberus was always employed as Hades' loyal watchdog, and guarded the gates that granted access and exit to the underworld. Cerberus was often said to freely move between the land of the living and the underworld. Cerberus featured in many works of ancient Greek mythology and Roman literature and in works of both ancient and modern art and architecture, although, the depiction and background surrounding Cerberus often differed across various works by different authors of the era.
In the Aeneid Cerberus was put to sleep after being tricked into eating drugged cakes and Orpheus put the creature to sleep with his music. The ancient Greeks believed that after a person died, his or her spirit went to the world below and dwelled for eternity in the depths of the earth. The Underworld was the kingdom of Hades, also called Pluto, and his wife, Persephone.
Depending on how a person lived his or her life, they might or might not experience never-ending punishment in Hades. The three-headed dog prevented those were dead from escaping, as well as kept the living from going there without the permission of Hades. Cerberus was very kinds and friendly to the dead, as well as any new spirits who entered the underworld. He would also become savage and would eat any of them who tried to get past him and go back to the land of the living.
Heracles was sent by Euripides, who was the king of Tiryns, to capture Cerberus from the king of the underworld. He wanted the three-headed dog brought back. This is known as the twelfth and final labor of Heracles. The reason this was requested of Heracles by Euripides is that it was believed to be impossible. This is the main reason Heracles wanted to do it. During this task, Heracles had help from the guide of the underworld known as Hermes as well as the goddess Athena.
There are a variety of accounts covering how Heracles captured Cerberus. Hades was the god of the underworld. In the most popular account, Heracles was told by Hades he could have Cerberus if he defeated the animal using only the weapons he carried with him.
Cerberus then submits to Heracles. According to this myth, Hades still opposed Heracles taking Cerberus, so he shot Hades with a stone point arrow.
In another account, Heracles does battle with Hades and wins. There are a few accounts covering what happened when Heracles brought Cerberus back from the underworld. Some say that Heracles paraded the three-headed dog through Greece.
It is said that women and children looked at Cerberus with fear and amazement. Other accounts say that Heracles exhibited Cerberus and was met by crowds who gave him a laurel wreath and sang songs about him. Some believe after a period of time Cerberus was taken back to the underworld by Heracles. Others claim that Cerberus escaped and returned to the underworld on his own.
Cerberus is featured in many different types of literature.
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