Cerberus

Cerberus is the dog monster that guards the entrance to Hades, which is the mythical Greek underworld. The creature’s function is to keep the souls of those who have crossed the river Styx from ever leaving the Underworld, and also to prevent living mortals from entering into Hades.

However, portrayal of Cerberus was not limited to myth or religion, but was extended to other mediums as well, including sculptures, paintings, murals and literature. It’s worth mentioning, for example, that Cerberus has been mentioned in the works Plato, Virgil, Homer and Thesiod.
In ancient ruins, one can even find extensive works of art that feature Cerberus right next to important mythical characters from Greek mythology. A Laconian vase from 560 BC, for example, portrays Cerberus as having three heads with a body surrounded by snakes. Also, in various murals and sculptures, Cerberus is presented as a creature of varying proportions, but always presented in the context of either the underworld or the Heraclean myths.

Cerberus in Roman and Greek Myth
Cerberus, or Kerberos as it was originally called, plays a prominent role in Greek and Roman mythology, particularly those relating to the trials of Hercules and the various struggles of the Gods.

There are conflicting accounts about the number of heads which can be found on Kerberos. Some sources indicate that Kerberos only had one or two heads, while other sources point to 10 or more.
According to both Greek and Roman mythology, Cerberus was the offspring of Echidna and Typhon, both of whom were also prominent primordial beings in both Roman and Greek mythology. One of Kerberos’ siblings was Orthrus, a two headed dog which shared much of its ferocity.
Aside from Kerberos’ role as guardian of the underworld, it was also portrayed as a ravenous monster with an exclusive diet of live meat. In sources where Kerberos is represented as having three heads, Cerberus takes on a special symbolism. Like the sisters of fate, the Moirai, Cerberus’s three heads also have a special significance. Some sources say that the heads represent the creature’s ability to see into eternity, and that three heads represent the past, the present and the future. Other sources claim that the three heads represent birth, youth and old age.

Whatever the case may be, Cerberus is a prominent archetype in the Greco-Roman idea of the underworld.
It’s worth mentioning, for example, that along with Charon, Hades and other prominent entities, Kerberos, according to some sources, judges some of the souls that pass through into the underworld. This is strangely similar to the role played by the Jackal headed god, Anubis in Egyptian mythology.
Despite its role however, Kerberos remains a mythological creature, an entity that symbolizes the primal human fear of death. Also, considering how it is a child of other Greek monster deities proves – to some extent – that Cerberus may have been inspired by non-Greek origins.

Cerberus and Heracles
Although references to Cerberus can be found in dozens of Greek and Roman literary and religious sources, the most prominent source of all is the Twelve Labors of Heracles. In order to redeem himself, Heracles (or Hercules, as he was known in Roman civilization) was given twelve tasks which will acquit him of his sins against the gods.
One of these tasks was given to him by King Eurytheus, and the task involved capturing Cerberus from Hades. According to Greek mythology, Heracles, despite being alive, entered the Underworld with the help of various gods. Once he was there, he personally asked permission from Hades, the god of the underworld, to take the three headed monster back to the surface and show it at Eurytheus’ court.
Hades’ agreed to Heracles’ request but only on the condition that he would subdue Kerberos without the use of any weapons. Heracles was able to meet Hades’ conditions and carried the unconscious hound over his shoulder back to the land of the living. When Heracles showed the monster to King Eurytheus, the king was stricken with fear and ordered Heracles to return the creature back to the underworld.

Explanations About the Inspiration for the Myth of Cerberus
Throughout the Greco-Roman world, various intellectuals and scholars attempted to explain the origins of the depiction of Cerberus. Various interpretations and explanations have been put forward by different people from different eras on the nature and origins of the Kerberos.
One such explanation was made by Heraclitus the paradoxographer, who claimed that Cerberus was not – in fact a three headed dog monster – but one very large dog, with two very attentive puppies or companions. Heraclitus’ argument was that, given how the three dog were always close together, the artists simply began portraying the creature as a single dog with three heads. On the other hand, modern historians and scholars are considering the possibility that Kerberos by have had its origins from Proto-Indo-European myths. This theory is based on the idea that in various Sanskrit legends, “Sarvara” was the name given to the dogs of Yama, the God of Death in early Vedic mythology.

Another possible explanation comes from Norse Mythology, where Cerberus is believed to have been inspired by the dog, Garmr, a blood stained wolf-like dog that guard’s Hell’s gates. Whatever the truth may be about the origins of Cerberus, it’s quite obvious that the guardian dog of hell archetype is not exclusive to the Greeks.

Cerberus in Modern Culture
Aside from the extensive portrayal of Cerberus in Greek and Roman culture, the creature remains quite popular in contemporary times. One can even say that the archetypal hell-hound used in modern horror and adventure movies are actually based on Kerberos.
A quick observation of certain movies and books with themes centered around magic and mystery will reveal that the hell-hounds used on such stories are actually modern day replicas of Kerberos from Greek myth. In the Harry Potter series as well as the Resident Evil video games, for example, certain dogs and monsters match the descriptions of Kerberos. So even in this day and age, Cerberus still guards the gates to our imaginations.