Meet with us the legend of Cerberus. Discover the myths about this creature, its origins and the terrible powers it possessed.
Who was Cerberus?
Cerberus, also known as the “hound of Hades” was the multi-headed dog that guarded the gates of the underworld, preventing the dead from leaving and making sure that those who entered never left. Son of Typhon and Echidna, he was part of a monstrous family, which included Orthus, the Hydra Lernea and the Chimera as well. Only on three occasions was Cerberus tricked by visitors from Hades: Heracles did it with his strength, Orpheus with his music and the Sibyl of Cumae with a honey cake.
Origin of Cerberus
According to Hesiod, this creature was the second of the four monstrous sons of Typhon and Echidna, having been born after Orthus, the two-headed hound that guarded Geryon’s cattle. But before Hydra and, quite possibly, Chimera, all of whom had several heads.
Later authors list many other monsters among Cerberus’ brethren, including the Sphinx, the Lion of Nemea, the Caucasian Eagle, the Chromoyonian Sow, the Dragon of Colchia, Ladon, and even Scylla and the mother of the Gorgons. A whole family, in fact!
Representation
As to the number of Cerberus’ heads we have contradictory testimonies. Hesiod, for example, after pointing out that the monstrosity of Cerberus was almost indescribable, also adds that he, “the brazen-voiced hound of Hades,” is a creature “with fifty heads, relentless and strong” that feeds on raw meat. Pindar goes a step further, claiming that Cerberus has twice as many, i.e., one hundred heads.
However, possibly for practical reasons, in art it is shown almost exclusively with three heads, and sometimes even with two or only one. Later authors, trying to reconcile the descriptions, began to claim that Cerberus had three dog’s heads, the rest of which were the heads of snakes that sprouted from his back, with a venomous one that also served as his tail.
Heracles and Cerberus
The last and, therefore, the most difficult of the Twelve Labors of Heracles entrusted to him by Eurystheus was to bring Cerberus out of the Underworld. Hades allowed it, but only on the condition that Heracles would manage to do so without using any kind of weapon.
Although bitten by his snake tail, Heracles managed to strangle the dog and persevere long enough until Cerberus finally passed out. After this, Heracles chained him with firm chains and dragged the hound to Eurystheus, who was so horrified by the sight that he instantly hid in his large jar.
Before leaving the underworld, Heracles also managed to rescue Theseus, who had been bound to a chair of oblivion for daring to help Pirithous abduct Persephone. The earth trembled with fear when Heracles tried to lift Pirithous from his chair as well, so he had no choice but to let him go and leave him bound forever.
Other myths: Orpheus and Aeneas
When Eurydice died, Orpheus went to look for his beloved in the Underworld. Cerberus would not let him pass, but Orpheus captivated him with his music, and the hound, tamed beyond recognition, stepped aside.
When Aeneas visited the Underworld, he had the more than necessary help of the Sibyl of Cumae, who threw Cerberus a honey cake, spiced with few “drowsy essences”. This creature ate it and fell asleep at once. The expression “a tip-off for Cerberus” has its origin in this story: it means to reassure an uncooperative person by giving him a bribe.
Sources
For the lineage and description of Cerberus, see Hesiod’s “Theogony”. In his “Library,” Apollodorus describes in some detail the twelfth labor of Heracles, while Ovid, in the “Metamorphoses,” offers a memorable description of the moment when Heracles brings him to earth and into the light of day for the first time. For the story of Aeneas and the Sibyl, consult the sixth book of Virgil’s Aeneid.
