Concept in Definition ABC

Cerberus, sometimes known as Cerberus, was a monstrous-looking dog with three heads and a serpentine tail. In Greek mythology this creature of appearance fierce fulfilled a very specific function: to protect the gates of the underworld or kingdom of Hades.

In this way, no one without permission could enter Hades and no spectrum he could get out of it, for Cerberus was chained at its doors.

Cerberus was one of the children of a monstrous sea nymph named Echidna and of a winged monster god named Typhon. Cerberus is the brother of other equally sinister beings, such as the Hydra of Lerna, Ortro and the Chimera.

In the history of art he is usually depicted with blood-colored eyes, with a very fierce appearance and an intense black color.

Cerberus in the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice

In Greek mythology Orpheus was the son of Apollo and Calliope. Orpheus contracted marriage with a beautiful nymph named Eurydice. One day Eurydice accidentally stepped on a poisonous snake when she was running away from one of Apollo's sons who was pretending to possess her. She died and Orpheus was deeply saddened.

To rescue his beloved from the world of the dead, he decided to go to the underworld. There he met Cerberus and to calm the fierce dog with three heads he began to play with his lyre a beautiful melody until he got the beast to sleep peacefully. With this ingenious trick Orpheus could now reach her beloved and rescue her from her.

Moved by the love From Orpheus, the gods allowed them to go out together, but they imposed one condition: Eurydice had to follow Orpheus on the way to the light and he could not turn to look at her.

Orpheus couldn't resist the temptation and turned back to see if his beloved wife was following him. At that moment Eurydice disappeared forever and Orpheus was deeply heartbroken until the end of his days, with the only company of his lyre and some beasts that came to him to hear its music.

Cerberus and the twelve labors of Heracles

The god Zeus posed as Alcmena's husband and made her pregnant. As a result of this encounter, Heracles (also known as Hercules in Roman mythology) was born.

Hera, the true wife of Zeus, felt humiliated by her husband's infidelity and directed her resentment towards Heracles.

The vengeful Hera made Heracles have to face all kinds of tests, known as the twelve labors of Heracles. The last of them consisted precisely in facing the three-headed dog that guarded the gates of the underworld.

Despite his fierceness, Cerberus was defeated by the immense force of Heracles.

Photo: Fotolia - Euichul