Orthrus
thumb|280px|A two-headed Orthrus, with snake tail, lying wounded at the feet of Heracles (left) and the three-bodied [[Geryon (right). Detail from a red-figure kylix by Euphronios, 550–500 BC, Staatliche Antikensammlungen (Munich 2620).]] In Greek mythology, Orthrus (, Orthros) or Orthus (, Orthos) was, according to the mythographer Apollodorus, a two-headed dog who guarded Geryon's cattle and was killed by Heracles. He was the offspring of the monsters Echidna and Typhon, and the brother of Cerberus, who was also a multi-headed guard dog.
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Orthos Staatliche Antikensammlungen 2620.jpg
Sources (1)
via Wikidata · CC0
~7 min read
Article
8 sectionsContents
- Name
- Mythology
- In art
- Similarities with Cerberus
- See also
- Notes
- References
- External links
thumb|280px|A two-headed Orthrus, with snake tail, lying wounded at the feet of Heracles (left) and the three-bodied [[Geryon (right). Detail from a red-figure kylix by Euphronios, 550–500 BC, Staatliche Antikensammlungen (Munich 2620).]] In Greek mythology, Orthrus (, Orthros) or Orthus (, Orthos) was, according to the mythographer Apollodorus, a two-headed dog who guarded Geryon's cattle and was killed by Heracles. He was the offspring of the monsters Echidna and Typhon, and the brother of Cerberus, who was also a multi-headed guard dog.
==Name== His name is given as either "Orthrus" (Ὄρθρος) or "Orthus" (Ὄρθος). For example, Hesiod, the oldest source, calls the hound "Orthus", while Apollodorus calls him "Orthrus".