Mythical Beasts Stories about mythical creatures are found all over the world. Native Americans say that monsters used to populate the earth in the beginning of time, but they were all defected by humans Ancient Greece is a uniquely preserved culture we know much about through study and research. Greek mythical figures and beasts played a pivotal role in Greek society and folklore at that time. The Mythical Figures and Beasts of Ancient Greece While gods and goddesses may have been the most important beings in Greek mythology, there were many other characters that were essential to these tales. Mortals were very important in Greek myths; without them, there would be no one for the gods and goddesses to “play with”. Also integral were Greek mythical figures – these fantasy animals and partially human beings served a vital role in the myths that were told during this time. One of the most talked about mythical figures of all time has to be Medusa. Depicted as a woman with snakes on her head instead of hair, the story of Medusa begins with a mortal woman. It is said that Medusa was so beautiful as a young girl; her looks enchanted Poseidon, and turned his attention away from Athena. This angered Athena so much that she changed Medusa into a gorgon, a mythical beast with snakes for hair and a face so hideous that it turned anyone who looked at it into stone. This was not enough revenge for Athena, and later she guided Peruses to find Medusa and kill her. Another of the major Greek mythical beasts was Cerberus, the three-headed dog. This animal was the offspring of Typhoons (an immortal storm giant) and Echidna, a monster that was half human and half snake. Cerberus had three dog heads, a snake's tail, and snakes protruding from its monstrous back. Cerberus's position was at the entrance to the underworld, where he allowed the dead to enter but not to leave. Only a few living mortals were ever able to get past Cerberus, including Orpheus, who charmed him to sleep with music. A final look at Greek mythical beasts comes up with Hecatoncheires, literally translated as the “hundred handed”. Three of these existed, named Aegean, Cottas, and Gyges. Born to Gaea and Uranus, they hated their father so much that Uranus was forced to imprison the Hecatoncheires back into Gaea's womb. Zeus later released them, when he was fighting against the Titans; they were able to hurl a hundred boulders at a time at their opponents. There were many lesser Greek mythical figures and beasts as well, and there was a definite hierarchy among the different mythical characters. These animals and sometimes-human hybrids made up the majority of the story lines that went along with the gods and goddess ell Bestiary In the European Middle Ages a bestiary was a series of stories, each based on a description or certain part of an animal, plant, or even stone. The stories presented religious lessons and moral values. Often illustrated, and written the earliest known bestiary dates from the 9th century. The Cyclops The Cyclops was a giant with one eye in the center of its head here is a small myth about it. On one of his ocean voyages Sinbad became shipwrecked with several other crewmembers after a storm. They camped out on the island until a large Cyclops attacked them and stole away the fattest member of their party. They followed in hopes of springing a rescue. The creature brought the poor portly sailor to his lair and roasted him and ate him. This happened to about three more sailors until Sinbad came up with an idea. Sinbad hide high in the rocks and when the creature came by again he stuck a spear in its one eye. The creature was blinded and was then unable to see and hunt any more crew members...eventually the remaining men were able to flag down a passing ship. In some versions Sinbad killed the creature completely. Gargoyles The Gargoyles is a common structure on Medieval European construction and architecture. Many Old Castles and Cathedrals Have gargoyles as decorations. Many people say that these statues were intended to keep evil spirits away from homes and holy places of the Medieval Europeans. Some Gargoyle architecture has also been seen in America and the New World though these more modern Gargoyles are really added and seen for they were nearly added to bring back something old to the new. (END OF GARGOYLES)

PEGASUS In Greek mythology the Pegasus was the great flying horse of Bellerophon. When medusas head was cut of by the Greek hero Persues the horse was born out of her pregnant body it is said that his galloping created the well Hippocrene on the Helicon (a mountain in Boetia). One version of this story tells that when the magical horse was drinking water from the well Pirene on the Acrocotinth, Bellerophons fortress the hero was able to capture the horse by using a golden bridle, a gift given to him from the beautiful and intelligent goddess Athena. The gods then gave Bellerophon the magical horse Pegasus as a reward for defeating the monster Chimera but when he attempted to mount the horse it threw him off and rose to the skies were he became a constellation (north of the ecliptic.) Another version says the Bellerophon defeated the evil monster Chimera while riding the horse Pegasus and then later on he tried to ribe the summit of Mount Olympus, Zeus sent a gadfly to sting the horse and through him off its back. (END OF PEGASUS)

Meduas used to be a beautiful maiden. The most beautiful part about her was her hair. She tried to compare herself to Athena who got really mad and turned medusas beautiful locks of hair into slithering snakes. After that she became a cruel and hideous monster. If you looked at medusa you will instantly turn to stone.