Ophiotaurus facts for kids

The Ophiotaurus is a strange and powerful creature from Greek mythology. It is part bull and part serpent. This unique animal is mentioned in ancient stories and has even appeared in popular modern books.

What is the Ophiotaurus?

The Ophiotaurus is a creature from old Greek myths. It has the body of a snake and the front part of a bull. The Roman poet Ovid wrote about it. His poem, called Fasti, is the only ancient text that mentions this creature.

The Ancient Myth

In Ovid's poem, the Ophiotaurus held a great secret. It was said that if someone burned the inside parts of this creature, they would gain the power to defeat the gods. This made the Ophiotaurus a very important and dangerous animal in mythology.

The Ophiotaurus in Modern Stories

The Ophiotaurus also appears in the popular "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" book series. It shows up in the third book, The Titan's Curse. In the story, Percy Jackson first meets the creature and thinks it is a girl. He gives it the nickname "Bessie."

Bessie, the Ophiotaurus, later appears in other books in the series. You can find it in The Battle of the Labyrinth and The Last Olympian. In these stories, the Ophiotaurus is a friendly creature that Percy tries to protect.

Images for kids

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  Ophiotaurus Mosaic, Yorkshire Museum, York (Eboracum)