The name of these monsters means "Hundred-Handed". They were very strong and very large creatures. They helped Zeus defeat the Titons by throwing objects with each of their hundred hands. They are considered monsters because of their terrific strength and the horrible appearance of their 100 hands. These monsters were used by Zeus to defeat his enemies. They weren't not used as a weapon to scare his enemies, but as a weapon to shoot them down.

The name cyclops means "Orb-Eyed". The Cyclopes had only one eye in the middle of their foreheads. They forged lightning and thunderbolts, which helped Zeus to defeat his enemies. They are cosidered monstrous because of their size, their immense strength, and their singular large eye. They have a frightening appearance, and this works against one Cyclops in particular. Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon, is one of the sea progeny. The second Nereid, Galatea, fell in love with Acis, the handsome son of a sea-nymph. To her dismay, she was wooed by Polyphemus. The cyclops tried to mend his savage ways but to no avail. He was unable to get Galatea to see past his horrible appearance. She was just too afraid of him, but who could blame her. Galatea would listen to his love songs, cowering in the arms of her lover Acis. Enraged with jealousy, Polyphemus finally turned on the two lovers. Monsters seem unable to hide their anger; try as they might to learn other things, they just cannot discard their inner rage. Polyphemus made a valiant effort, considering he learned song, but he was eventually overcome by his destructiveness. He pursued Acis and hurled a jagged mass, torn from the mountain, which buried him completely. Polyphemus is used to demonstrate the fact that monsters are monsters; they can try to be different, but in the end their true selves will be known. They are vicious, which defines a monster's nature, and they cannot hide from this fact. Polyphemus is an example of the monsters:he is not too smart, but is very strong and very tough, and he scares humans, whether he wants to or not. Polyphemus was also seen in the Odyssey. Odysseus sailed to the island of Polyphemus . Odysseus and twelve companions waited in the cave of the cyclops, who returned from his herding in the evening and ate two of Odysseus' men; he ate four more the next day. Odysseus gave Polyphemus some of Maron's wine and told him that his name was "Nobody". Then, while Polyphemus lay in a drunken sleep, Odysseus and his companions drove a heated wooden pole into his eye. When the other Cyclopes, hearing the cries of Polyphemus, came to the cave (which was closed by a huge rock) to ask what was wrong, he cried out, "Nobody is killing me," and they left. Next morning Odysseus tied each man to the undersides of three sheep and he himself clung to the belly of the biggest ram. Thus, as the blinded Cyclops felt the sheep when he let them out of the cave (having removed the rock), he could not discover the men, and so they escaped and went back to their ship. As they sailed away, Odysseus shouted out his real name, and Polyphemus tore off part of a mountain and nearly wrecked the ship when he threw it. This story is an example of a monster being used as a test for a hero. Odysseus must overcome a being much more poweful than he and escape from dangerous position. But Odysseus outwits the not-so-clever, yet so-strong monster. Odysseus uses his god-given wits to find his way out of the position and increase his hero status. Polyphemus is a very strong test for Odysseus, because Polyphemus seems to be one of the more clever monsters, and he is extremely strong (capable of throwing mountain tops), yet Odysseus outwits him rather easily.

The name Argus means "all seeing". Argus was appointed as a guard to watch over Io, placed there by Hera, so that her husband Zeus would not be able to lay with Io. Argus was a very good choice to watch over Io, since he had many eyes (perhaps as many as one hundred). Zeus eventually rescued Io by sending Hermes to lull Argus to sleep and cut off his head. Henceforth Hermes was given the title ("slayer of Argus"). Hera set Argus' eyes in the tail of a peacock, her favorite bird. Here, the monster is used as a guard by the gods, but also as a measure of the power of Hermes. Hera uses the monster Argus, a monster because of his horrifying appearance due to the numerous eyes all over his body, as the ultimate watchman, to suit her own purposes. But Hermes is up to the task and easily defeats Argus, henceforth proving, is fighting ability and winning himself some grandeur.

In the age of iron, Zeus took the form of a man to find out whether reports of the great wickedness of mortals were true. He visited the home of Lycaon, and announced that a god was present, but Lycaon, an evil tyrant, only scoffed and planned to kill Zeus during the night to prove that he was not a god. Lycaon even went so far as to slaughter a man and offer human flesh as a meal for Zeus, who in anger brought the house down in flames. Lycaon fled but was turned into a howling, bloodthirsty wolf, a kind of werewolf in fact, since in this transformation he still manifested his human, evil looks and nature. Zeus here shows the power that the gods have, by transforming a human into a monstrous werewolf. Lycaon is a monster because of his savagery and his werewolf appearance. Zeus uses Lycaon as an example to other mortals who would think consider not following, disobeying, or not listening to the will of the gods. If they dont listen to the will of Zeus, one dishonor him, this is what happens, you becomes a hideous monstrosity.

Poseidon made advances to Scylla (a granddaughter of Pontus). Amphitrite was jealous and threw magic herbs into Scylla's bathing place, which turned her into a vicious monster, encircled with a ring of dogs heads. She lived in a cave in the stormy Straits of Messina between Sicily and Italy. With her was Charybdis, daughter of Poseidon and Gaia, an equally formidable ally, who drew in mountains of water and spewed them out again. Scylla and Charybdis were a menace to heroes such as Odysseus. Both Scylla and Charybdis are monstrous progeny of the sea, showing that many fearsome creatures originate from there. Scylla is monstous because of her large size and her numerous dog's heads, each one terribly vicious. Scylla was used by the gods (namely Amphitrite) to show humans what happens if they interfere in the romances of the gods. The vengeance that is wreaked by Amphitrite on Scylla would make a mere mortal think twice about laying with the husband of a vengeful goddess. The fear factor is very important here. Also, Scylla is used as a means to show the power of Odysseus; if he his great enough to live through a battle with Scylla then he must be a great hero indeed. The same can be said of Odysseus if he is powerful enough to escape Charybdis, whose size and descructive ability show her monstrous nature.

Typhon was a horrific monster that opposed Zeus. Typhon is classified as a monster due to his fierce fighting strength, and horrific appearance due to his 100 snake heads and dragon body. He also had a monstrous voice that would easily frighten any mortal. Using his lighting bolts, Zeus defeated Typhon and thrust him down towards the earth. This shows the tremendous heroic ability of Zeus. The fact that he was able to defeat such a tremendous beast shows just how powerful he truly is. If Zeus is able to take down the most powerful of the Monsters, he must be the most powerful of beings. Typhon is a snake like dragon being, which anyone, mortal or immortal should be afraid of, yet Zeus takes him on and wins. Zeus needs to show that he is worthy of being the king of the gods, and he proves his worth by defeating Typhon.

Python was a dragon that was defeated by Apollo. Travelled up in Greece until he found the proper place for the foundation of his oracle, Crisa, under Mt. Parnassus, Apollo laid out his temple. Then he slew the dragon named Python, and thus the site was called Pytho. Apollo was given the epithet Pythian, and a prophetess of Apollo received the name of Pythia. Originally at this site there had probably been an oracle of the great mother-goddess Gaia, and the slaying of the dragon may symbolize conquest by the Hellenes and their god Apollo, who thus becomes yet another to add to the long list of heroic dragon-slayers. Python is a monster because of the fact that he is a huge dragon, and there aren't many creatures more monstrous than dragons. Since Apollo was able to defeat this monstrous entity he more than showed his tremendous fighting skill. He proved that he is a great warrior, capable of taking down a fierce dragon with grace and skill. Apollo thus proved his heroic nature.

Thebes was suffering from the Sphinx ("strangler"), a monster that was part woman, part lion, and part bird. It killed those who could not answer its riddle, "What has one name that is four-footed, two-footed, and three-footed?" Oedipus answered "Man, who as a baby crawls on all fours, in his prime he walks on two feet, and in old age he uses a stick as a third foot." The Sphinx hurled itself to its death, and Oedipus became king of Thebes in place of the dead Laius, and took the widowed queen, Jocasta, as wife. The Sphinx was considered a monster because of its awful appearance (a mix of woman, lion, and bird) and because it killed many people. The Sphinx showed Oedipus herioc nature. Oedipus showed his quick witis solving the monster's riddle, which none before him was able to do. Oedipus thus proved how heroic he was, saved his people, and sealed his fate. The monster was used by fate to obtain Oedipus to fulfil his destiny.

Having returned to Aeaea, Odysseus sailed to meet the dangers of which Circe warned him. First were the Sirens, winged monsters with women's heads, who by their song lured sailors onto the rocks. Odysseus sailed past them by stuffing his men's ears with wax and having himself lashed to the mast. The Sirens were monstrous in appearance with their women's heads and large stature, and they caused many deaths directly through their song. The sirens were another monster used to show Odysseus unbeatable wit. He easily outsmarted the Sirens and passed them as no man before him had. Odysseus once again proved his herioc nature.

Perseus defeated Medusa, who one of the gorgons living on the edge of the world (usually located in North Africa or in the far north, in the land of the Hyperboreans). Two of the gorgons (Stheno and Euryale) were immortal; the third, Medusa, was mortal. Those who looked on their faces were turned to stone. Guided by Athena, Perseus, looking at the Gorgon's reflection in his shield, beheaded Medusa and put her head in the kibisis. The gorgons were monsters in appearance because if their serpent hair, and snake-like bodies, and the fact that any who gazed upon them were immediately turned to stone. This is enough to strike fear into any mortal. The fact that Medusa was defeated by Perseus shows his heroic nature, and proves that his is a true hero. Medusa is a very difficult being to beat, and probably would have been nearly impossible to defeat alone. But through the help of Athena, Perseus is able to win. His defeat of Medusa shows just how much the gods were able to help the mortals, and that all mortals should worship the gods for the chance that they may be helped in a similar fashion.

Theseus' most important myth is the killing of the Minotaur, the monstrous son of Minos and Pasiphaie, which was shut up in the Labyrinth in the palace of Minos at Cnossus. The Minotaur is a very monstous being with his awesome strength, hideous appearance, and his penchant for devouring humans. The Minotaur is used by a King to strike fear into those who oppose him, killing the monster, Theseus' reputation as a powerful and cunning hero.

At Salmydessus the members of the Argo were received by the blind king, Phineus, who was tormented by the Harpies ("snatchers"), winged monsters who snatched away his food and fouled what was left. Zetes and Calais pursued them to the Strophades ("turn-around") Islands, where the Harpies swore never to harass Phineus again. The Harpies were monsters because of their winged appearance and ferocity. They were a means to show the heroic nature of all those aboard the Argo, and also as a means to show how fate works in people lives.

Continuing their voyage, the members of the Argo killed the bronze giant, Talus, who guarded the island of Crete, by opening a vein above one of his ankles, through which his life-supporting ichor (the divine equivalent of blood) leaked out. Talus is a monster with tremendous stature and strength. He is used to show how powerful the Argonaunts are, and how not many beings, even monsters, stand a chance in their path. Apollos' version in which Medea defeats Talus with her thoughts, Talus is used to show how pwerful Media truly is, and show that the Argonaunts would be in trouble without her.

Heracles killed a lion at Nemia by means of a club, skinning it by using the animal's own claws. Henceforth he carried the club and wore the lionskin, his two most prominent attributes in art. The lion was a bloodthirsty beast that destroyed any who came near; he struck fear into any that heard of him.

A nine-headed serpent or Hydra lived in the marshes of Lerna. Each time Heracles clubbed a head, two more grew in its place, while Hera sent a crab to make things even more difficult. Helped by his nephew, Iolaus, Heracles killed both monsters and dipped his arrows in the Hydra's poison. The crab became the constellation Cancer. The Hydras reappearing heads, snakelike body, fierce strength, and large size make for a fierce combination.

Heracles brought back to Eurystheus the monstrous boar that lived on Mt. Erymanthos. The boar was a monster due to its sheer size and fierceness of fighting; it was a truly fearsome creature.

Heracles final labor was to go to the Underworld and bring back the three-headed hound of Hades. Heracles himself said (in the Odyssey) that this was the hardest labor. He brought Cerberus back to Eurystheus and then returned him to Hades. Cerberus is a terrifying monster, since he is a monsterously huge and powerful hound, but he should be since he guards the underworld.

Heracles was entertained by king Evander and killed the fire-breathing monster, Cacus, whos name means "evil one". Cacus is monstrous because of the fire that he can breathe. He is the generic dragon type that most heroes need to defeat to prove that they are the cream of the crop. He is monstrous as all dragons are, with their appearance and fear-inducing fire-breathing ability.

In Libya Heracles wrestled with Antaeus, son of Ge and Poseidon, who could not be beaten so long as he kept contact with the earth, his mother. Heracles held him aloft until he had crushed him to death. Antaeus was a monster because of his sheer strength and near invulnerability.