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From the deadly Scylla and Charybdis, to the beautiful but dangerous Sirens, to the many-headed Hydra and the giant sea monster Cetus, these mythical creatures struck fear into the hearts of sailors and adventurers who braved the treacherous waters of the ancient world.
- Cetus
- Scylla and Charybdis
- The Sirens
- Kraken
- Calypso
- Circe
- Lernean Hydra
In the myth of Perseus and Andromeda, Perseus was on his way home from beheaded the Gorgon monster, Medusa, when he saw a beautiful woman chained to a rock and facing imminent death from being eaten by Cetus. Cetus was a sea monster that Poseidon sent to bring terror to the land of Aethiopia. Andromeda was the beautiful daughter of the king and que...
Scyllawas a six-headed sea monster who lived under a rock in the straits of Messina. Charybdis was the whirlpool that would devour the ships of sailors who may have escaped the wrath of Scylla during their journey.
Not all sea monsters are ugly, and not all sea monsters look threatening. This is what makes the Sirens so dangerous. Sailors would be lured by the beautiful looks and singing voices to cause sailors to wreck their ships along the rocky coast of the Sirens.
In Norse mythology, the Kraken is a giant Octopus that brings terror upon those sailors who sail in the waters where it lives. The Kraken would wrap its large tentacles around the ships and pull the ships to the bottom of the sea, devouring them along the way.
In The Odyssey, Odysseus is on his journey home when he is imprisoned by Calypso for seven years. Calypso is a sea nymph who wanted to turn Odysseus into an immortal and marry him. Odysseus is married to Penelope, who he is trying to return home to. While on Calypso’s island, Athena asks Zeus to release Odysseus from Calypso, to which Zeus complies...
Another mythical sea creature in The Odysseyis Circe. Circe is a goddess and is also the daughter of the god of the sun, Helios. Circe turned Odysseus and his men into swine while on their journey home.
The Lernean Hydra was a nine-headed serpent that lived on the coast of Lerna. If one of the hydra’s heads were cut off, two more would grow back in its place. The Lernean Hydra also lived near the entrance of the underworld. In one of the 12 labors of Hercules, he had to slay the Lernean Hydra. To do this, Hercules had the help of his nephew. When ...
Sep 11, 2024 · The hippocampus or hippocamp, also hippokampos (plural: hippocampi or hippocamps; Ancient Greek: ἱππόκαμπος, from ἵππος, "horse" and κάμπος, "sea monster"), often called a sea-horse in English, is a mythological creature shared by Phoenician, Etruscan, Pictish, Roman and Greek mythology, though its name has a Greek origin.
Mar 15, 2021 · The ancient Greeks believed that many mysterious and possibly dangerous creatures lived in the depths of the sea. Read on to learn about some of the legendary water creatures that appeared in Greek mythology!
Oct 26, 2022 · One of our favorites are the sea creatures from Greek mythology. These creatures were often used to explain natural phenomena, such as storms, tidal waves and earthquakes. Although many of these mythical sea creatures are considered evil, some cultures believe them to be beautiful and harmless.
Sep 20, 2024 · In the vast expanse of Greek mythology, Poseidon stands as a formidable figure, reigning as the God of the Sea. His dominion over oceans, rivers, and all aquatic life embodies both the beauty and terror of the sea.
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Meet the monsters of Ancient Greek mythology here at Nat Geo Kids. We explore the tales of Medusa, the Minotaur, the Chimera and other Greek myths...
