Monster of the Day

Bell Ringers for Mythology Unit

Harpies• Winged monsters – half birds and half women,

armed with sharp claws and leaving a stench behind whatever they touch. They are best known as “the hounds of Zeus.”

Griffin/Gryphon

• A fabulous animal with the body of lion and the head and wings of an eagle. Guarded the gold of the North.

The Phoenix• The phoenix was a bird thought to be the

servant of the sun god. When the phoenix knew it was about to die, it built a nest and set it on fire, allowing the flames to consume it. A new phoenix would then spring from the ashes. It symbolizes immortality, resurrection, and life after death.

Pegasus

Grendel

• Grendel is a monster in the ancient poem Beowulf. Humanoid in shape, he is sometimes associated with the Yeti, Bigfoot, or Sasquatch.

Cyclops/Cyclopes

• Creatures with one circular eye in the center of their foreheads, of whom Homer speaks as a gigantic and lawless race of shepherds in Sicily, who devoured human beings.

Sphinx• A monster, waylaying the road to Thebes, and

demanding solutions to riddles of all passersby on pain of death for wrong guessing. She killed herself in a rage when Oedipus answered correctly.

Gorgons• Three monstrous females with huge teeth,

brazen claws, and snakes for hair, the sight of whom turned people to stone; Medusa, the most famous, was slain by Perseus. From her blood sinking into the earth, the winged Pegasus was born. Her head was then placed on Zeus’ shield.

Cerberus

• A three-headed, dragon-tailed dog that guarded the gate of Hades. Her permitted all spirits to enter, but none to leave. He was easily persuaded to turn his heads with a bribe of cake.

Chimaera (Ki mae ra)

• A fire-breathing monster of divine origin. It was part lion, part goat, and part dragon. It dwelled in Lycia and was finally killed by Bellerophon, riding on the back of Pegasus.

Minotaur• A monster, half bull and half man, offspring of

a bull sent by Neptune. Lived on the island of Crete and housed in the labyrinth built by Daedalus (father of Icarus) and fed human bodies exacted as a tribute from the Athenians. He was killed by the hero Theseus.

Centaur• The centaurs were demi-gods who taught heroes

to ride and use bows and arrows. Trusted as wise advisors, they were patient and brave, but often drank too much. They had the upper bodies of a human male and the lower bodies of a horse. Chiron was originally the only immortal centaur.

Furies (Greek)/Eumenides (Roman)• The Furies, three stern, winged women with blood

dripping from their eyes, were the daughters of Uranus, born from the blood he shed on Gaea. In addition to the serpents in their hair, more crawled all over their bodies. They had the task of chasing and punishing the sinners for crimes not within the reach of human justice. These creatures lived in the Underworld, tormented evil-doers in Tartarus, and put curses on sinners on earth.

Hydra (hi dra)• A monster with nine heads – one of which was

immortal. To kill it was one of the Twelve Labors of Hercules. As soon as he struck off one of his heads, two shot up in its place. It is often used as a symbol today for problems that seem to multiply when tackled.

Sirens• Sirens were large birds that had the face of a woman. They lived

on an island called Anthemoessa, in the sea between Sicily and Italy. There they waited until a ship was in sight and started singing. They sang so beautifully that they lured sailors towards them, then the sailors would crash into the rocks and die, or if they ever made it to the Sirens they would be tortured and clawed to death. Odysseus was the only man able to hear the Sirens’ song without being killed. His men tied him to the bow of the ship, and he plugged their ears with wax so they couldn’t be tempted by the song. They were so mad that Odysseus’ ship had beaten them that they leapt into the sea and drowned.

Any more?

• Can you think of more monsters to add to my collection? Bring in the information for additional credit!