Geryon
Domains:
Giant
Category:
5E Alignment:
5E Domains:
5E Symbol:
Greek Name | Transliteration | Latin Spelling | Translation |
Γηρυων Γηρυονης | Gêryôn, Gêryonês | Geryon, Geryones | Earth (gê) |
GERYON was a three-bodied, four-winged giant who lived on the island of Erytheia in the westernmost reach of the earth-encircling river Okeanos (Oceanus). He possessed a fabulous herd of cattle whose coats were stained red by the light of the sunset. Herakles was sent to fetch these as one of his twelve labours.
The hero reached the island by sailing across the Okeanos in a golden cup-boat borrowed from the sun-god Helios. There he encountered and slew the cattle-herder Eurytion, the two-headed guard dog Orthros (Orthus), and finally three-bodied Geryon himself. With this task complete the hero herded the cattle into his boat and led them back to the Greek Peloponnese.
Geryon may have originally been associated with the constellation Orion, his two-headed dog Orthos with the adjacent canines Canis Major and Minor, and his cattle with Taurus the bull. His father's name Khrysaor ("Golden Sword") was an appellation of the constellation Orion and most of Herakles other labours are connected with star groups.
The meaning of his name is unclear. It may be connected with the ancient Greek word gê (earth) or gêryô (singing).