Geryon facts for kids
Geryon is a fascinating character found in both ancient Greek myths and the popular Percy Jackson & the Olympians book series. He's known for his very unusual appearance: he has three bodies joined together! In the books, Geryon appears in The Battle of the Labyrinth and is also mentioned in House of Hades. He was defeated by the hero Percy Jackson using an arrow.
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Who Was Geryon?
In ancient Greek mythology, Geryon was a powerful giant. He was the son of two interesting figures:
- Chrysaor: Born from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa.
- Callirrhoe: An Oceanid, who was a daughter of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys.
Geryon lived on a mythical island called Erytheia, which means "the red one." This island was located far to the west, often thought to be near the edge of the world. Geryon was famous for owning a magnificent herd of red cattle. These cattle were guarded by a two-headed dog named Orthrus (Orthros) and a giant herdsman named Eurytion.
Heracles and the Cattle of Geryon
One of the most famous stories about Geryon comes from the myths of the great hero Heracles (also known as Hercules). Heracles had to complete twelve difficult tasks, called the Twelve Labours, as a punishment. The tenth labour given to him by King Eurystheus was to steal Geryon's red cattle and bring them back to Greece.
The Journey to Erytheia
Getting to Erytheia was a huge challenge for Heracles. It was so far away that he had to travel across vast lands and seas. The sun god Helios was impressed by Heracles' determination. Helios lent Heracles his giant golden cup, which he used as a boat to sail across the ocean to Erytheia.
The Battle for the Cattle
When Heracles arrived on Erytheia, he first faced Orthrus, Geryon's fierce two-headed dog. Heracles quickly defeated Orthrus with his club. Next, the herdsman Eurytion came to defend the cattle, but he also fell to Heracles.
Finally, Geryon himself appeared. With his three bodies, Geryon was a formidable opponent. He was armed with three shields, three spears, and wore three helmets. Despite Geryon's strength and unusual form, Heracles managed to defeat him in a fierce battle. Heracles then gathered the red cattle and began the long journey back to Greece, completing his tenth labour.
Geryon in the Percy Jackson Books
In Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, Geryon is reimagined as a wealthy rancher. He still has his three bodies, but in the books, they are often shown wearing three separate suits. He runs a ranch in Texas, where he keeps his famous red cattle.
Geryon's Role in The Battle of the Labyrinth
In The Battle of the Labyrinth, Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood encounter Geryon. They are looking for a way to enter Daedalus's Labyrinth. Geryon offers them a deal: he will help them if they work for him. However, Geryon is not a trustworthy character. He is involved in shady dealings and tries to trick the heroes.
Percy eventually realizes that Geryon is a dangerous monster who needs to be stopped. In a tense confrontation, Percy defeats Geryon. This shows that even modern heroes like Percy Jackson face challenges inspired by ancient myths.
Images for kids
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A statuette of Geryon at the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon
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Heracles on the sea in the bowl of Helios. Roma, Museo Gregoriano Etrusco, n. 205336.
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Herakles fighting the three-bodied Geryon; the shepherd Eurytion and the dog Orthros are already dead. Kylix in the Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich
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A wood engraving by Gustave Doré of Geryon for Dante's Inferno
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See also
In Spanish: Gerión para niños
