The Origins of Cerberus, and What the Three-Headed Dog Represents

Hades’ fearsome guard dog lives on, from antiquity to today’s entertainment. Learn more about the origins of Cerberus and what it shows us about Ancient Greeks.

By Katie Liu
Oct 31, 2023 3:00 PM
Cerberus, three-headed dog
Cerberus the mythological three head dog (Credit: allbuyzpics/Shutterstock)

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Ancient Greeks knew that death was the final door they had to cross. After a burial in the Earth, water carried deceased mortals into Hades, the realm of the Underworld. They spent the rest of their existence there until they were ultimately forgotten.

The Greeks’ idea of Hades and what it looked like constantly evolved over time, but one thing was certain: Once you were dead, you could not cross back into the living (and vice versa). The guardian of these barriers between life and the afterlife was none other than the fearsome, three-headed dog-creature we know as Cerberus – Hades’ hellhound.

What Is a Hellhound?

A hellhound is a mythical dog depicted in ancient Greek and Scandinavian mythologies.

Cerberus: The 3 Headed Dog

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