Cerberus
In the Greek Mythology, Cerberus wire of Typhoon and Échidna, is a Chien monstrous with three heads (50 following Hésiode, 100 at Horace). Of a colossal aspect, it had a roughcast neck of snakes and its bites were poisonous.
Myth
Cerberus, guard of the entry of the hells, posted close to the Styx (one of the rivers of the hells), is equipped with terrible teeth, and venom in the place of saliva.
It prohibits the entry of the hells to alive, and prevents deaths from leaving there.
Monstrous and terrifying, Cerbère is an inflexible guard.
Several Héros however manages to thwart its vigilance, to even overcome it.
Orphée, decided to leave the hells his wife Eurydice, died of a bite of viper, manages to charm it while singing and while playing of its quadrant.
Héraclès, charged to bring back the terrible dog to Mycènes (it is the last of its twelve work), obtains from it the authorization of Hadès, god of the Hells, provided that it can overcome it without using any weapon. In fact, Héraclès manages to capture Cerbère with naked hands. Arrived to Mycènes, the monster contaminates its poisoned saliva of the plants, that the witches will use then for their malefic properties. Cerberus is returned to her task of guard of the hells some time later.
In Roman mythology, Psyché, which must go on the Venus orders near Proserpine (queen of the hells), persuades Cerbère to enter, then to leave, using a cake with honey. Énée, him, deadens it thanks to a soporific paste which was offered to him by the sibyl of Cumes, Déiphobe.
Representations
If one allots sometimes fifty to him, even hundred heads, Cerbère more generally is represented equipped with three heads. Snakes roughcast its back and its neck, and it can have a tail of dragon.
External bonds
Simple: Cerberus
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