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!