The Cerberus
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Cerberus was the guardian to the gateway to hades. He was decribed as to
having the body of a great hound, three wolf-like/dog-like heads, and a dragon's tail.
Cerberus was the offspring of the monsters Typhon and Echidna. It was told that Cerberus
had three heads so that he could be ever watchful, for not all heads would ever sleep at
one time. Cerberus' three heads ensured his eternal watchfulness. Cerberus would allow spirits to pass into Hades but would not allow them to leave without orders from the Gods. He would prevent any unauthorized souls from entering the realm of Hades and guard against any living person seeking illegal entry. Only a few Greek heros were ever able to get by him. |
| Hercules once had to bind Cerberus and carry him to the surface alive as one of his 12 labors, but he returned the beast to his Guardianship after that experience. Other heros got past Cerberus by appeasing the creature with a special type of honeycake. |