Monsters had many uses in greek mythology. Monsters were usually used to terrorize normal humans. They would wreak havoc among the population until the hero who was destined to defeat them appeared. Sometimes the person who killed them wasn't even classified as a hero before he challenged the monster, but upon defeating the beast, he was elevated to hero status. Monsters were the method by which heroes were created. Most Greek people who became heroes had to defeat a blood-thristy monster, either by brute force, help from a god, or outwitting it at least once in his lifetime. The slaying process was needed to achieve true heroism. Monsters seemed to be specifically designed in mythology to create a foil for the great heroes. Every great hero needs someone difficult to defeat, an antithesis of all that the hero portrays, and in many myths and stories vicious monsters provided the opposition. What can be more challenging than defeating a monster that is destroying one's people, and that beats one on every level? What better way to prove one's power?

Monsters were also used in various ways by the gods themselves, who were thereby able to reinforce the power that they had. This was the method that they used often to show the mortals just how poweful and vengeful they could be. Not only would gods easily vanquish a monster or manipulate a human into defeating one, but the gods could morph a normal, average human being into a titanic, gruesome monster. Upon seeing some of these acts, mortals would rethink their actions before considering crossing a god's path. Monsters were used basically as disciplinary tools, a way to teach mortals how to act. Mortals learned to watch their actions and not get in the way of what a god wanted, lest they become some deformed creature. Monsters were used directly in many ways by the gods. They were used as guardians for various important objects or places. The fear alone of these great beasts kept many away. Only those fated to do so could vanquish the monsters the gods placed. Monsters were also used as tests to see how worthy a person was of the god's favor. The good faith of the gods can't be placed in just any mortal, but only one who is worthy of their good attitude, and the best way for a human being to prove his work was for him to take down a much greater foe. Gods also used monsters to control humans' actions. In the constant fear that they would more easily be turned into a monster or be slain by one, humans learned to watch their actions. The gods could control them more easily this way, with much less hands-on work. But gods weren't the only ones who took advantage of monsters; humans in powerful places (like kings or warlords) used monsters to their own advantage. Kings used monsters to kill those who would take over their leadership. There are many instances in which Kings sent heroes on missions to defeat monsters just so the hero would be defeated (although these are usually the times the heroes proved their fortitude). Powerful people also used the monsters to obtain their position of power, usually by defeating them to attain a kingship or other power. Many times heroes defeated a monster in a specific area, only to become leader of that area upon completion of the task.