Cerberus
Multi-headed hound guarding Hades, mastered under a condition and returned after the labour.
Overview
Pseudo-Apollodorus describes Cerberus as the guardian of Hades with three dog heads, a dragon-like tail and serpent heads upon his back. Heracles’ labour is not a permanent theft. Hades first sets the condition that no carried weapon may be used; the hero finds the creature by the gates of Acheron, uses the lion skin against the biting tail and subdues it with his arms. Cerberus is displayed above and then returned to Hades.
Relationships
- Heracles Descends to Hadesis the labour’s guardian target
Cerberus is the guardian Hades conditionally permits Heracles to take.
- Heraclesmasters without weapons
Protected by the lion skin, Heracles masters Cerberus with his arms.
- Acheronmastered by Acheron
The selected source places the weaponless mastery of Cerberus beside Acheron.
Story appearances
- Gates of the UnderworldGuardian conditionally taken, displayed and returned
Guardian conditionally taken, displayed and returned, part of the Underworld story's crossings, losses, judgments or guarded spaces.
- The Labours of HeraclesCerberus in the Labours
Cerberus enters this story through Heracles' labours; when other stories return to the figure, they follow that later setting.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.