Strangest Creatures of Greek Mythology

The ancient Greeks are famed for their stories, fables and myths, but which of the creatures are dreamed up by old storytellers are the most fantasical?

First up is the chimera, a fire-breathing beast with the head of a lion, a goat’s head on its back and a snake for a tail. The chimera is thought to have birthed both the Nemean lion and the Sphinx, two more bizarre creatures.

The sphinx had the head of a woman, the body of a lion and the wings of an eagle. It challenged travelers to answer riddles, and they would be killed if they answered incorrectly. The sphinx appears most famously in the legend of Oedipus, who manages to answer the riddle and defeat the monster.

Next up is Medusa, a monster turned to stone by those who looked at her face. Her features were those of a woman, but her hair was made up of writhing snakes. Another strange creature is the Minotaur, which had the body of a man and the head of a bull, while the three-headed hound Cerberus also frightens people stiff.

Perhaps the most terrifying of the ancient Greek creatures is Typhon, known as the Father of all monsters. He had dragon heads for fingers, and was so tall when he stood up his head brushed the stars. Not something you’d want to bump into on a dark night.