Cyclopes
The Cyclopes were gigantic one eyed monsters. The most famous is Polyphemus, the Cyclops blinded by Odysseus. Arges (thunderbolt), Steropes (lightning), and Brontes (thunder), obviously storm gods.They were born to Gaea and Uranus. They were also the first smiths. When Cronus came to power he imprisoned the Cyclopes in Tartarus. The were released by Zeus and fought with him against the Titans. As a reward for their release the Cyclopes gave Zeus his weapons of lighting and thunder. They continued as his workers at Mount Olympus forging his thunerbolts
Arges was killed by Hermes while he guarded Io for Hera. Hera, saddened by the death of her loyal guard removed all his eyes and placed them on the tails of her favourite bird, the peacock.
Giants
The Giants were generated from Uranus blood resulting from his castration by Cronus. They became powerful enough to try to unseat Zeus and the Olympians early in their rule. When the gods won they imprisoned the Giants in Tartarus.
Ceberus
ceberus is a three-headed dog and is the guardian of the gate of hell. He lets the souls to come in but never to leave as ordered by his master Hades.
He was captured by Heracles for one of the twelve labours.
Typhoeus
Typhoeus, was a fire breathing dragon with a hundred heads that never rest. It was birthed by Gaea as a last ditch effort to keep the Olympians from defeating her children the Titans. It came close to succeeding, setting most of the gods to flee from battle field and capturing Zeus. Hermes was able to free Zeus who was then able to dispatch Typhoeus with his lighting bolts. Typhoeus is believed to be buried under Mount Etna in Sicily.
Medusa
The Medusa was the daughter of Phorkys and Keto, the children of Gaia and Okeanos (Ocean). She was one of the three sisters known as the Gorgons. The other two sisters were Sthenno and Euryale. Medusa was the only mortal out of the three. She was once very beautiful and lived far in the north were the sun didn't visit. Being very curious, she wanted to see the sun, and asked the Goddess Athena for permission to visit the south. Athena refused to allow her to visit. The medusa got angry and dared to say that Athena hadn't given her permission because she was jealous of her beauty. that was it! Athena was angered and punished her by turning her hair into snakes and cursing her by making her so ugly that who ever lookes at her eyes would turn into stone.
She was then killed by Perseus by being beheaded.
The Centaurs
The Centaur's are half man, and half horse. They have the body of a horse but, in place of the horse's head the have the torso, head and arms of a man. Most are wild and savage, known for lustfulness and drunkeness. The exception is the wise Centaur Chiron.
Pegasus
Tegasus was a winged horse and good flyer. The Pegasus was the result of the ill fated mating of Medusa and Poseidon. It was born from Medusa when her head was cut off by Perseus. Tamed by Bellerophon it served as his mount during his adventures including his slaying of the Chimaera. When Bellerophon attempted to fly Pegasus to Mount Olympus he was dismounted by Zeus. Pegasus continued on and made it to Mount Olympus. Here Pegasus spent his days carrying lighting bolts for Zeus and the reward for his hard work, Zeus made a constellation for him.
Hydra
The Hydra was a nine-headed monster. Everytime one head was cut off, two would grow from it. The only Hero who succeeded in killing it was Heracles.
Minotaur
The Minotaur was a monster with a human body but with a bull's head. King Minos made an annual sacrifice of 15-17 young greeks to the monster. He keeped it because it frightened his enemies. Hero Theseus was the one who killed it with the help of Arianne, Minos's daughter.
Sirens
Beautiful half-woman, half-birdlike creatures who sang such sweet songs that listeners forgot everything and died of hunger. The Sirens are sisters who lure sailors to their death. The song of the Sirens is irrestable but, the they reside beyound unpassable reefs which destroy the sailors boat when they try to reach the Sirens. Among those tempted were Jason on the Argo and Odysseus. Odysseus escaped from them by filling his crew's ears with wax while he tied himself to the ship's mast. The Argonauts were saved by Orpheus' music which was much more beautiful than the sirens' music.
