The Greek and Roman underworld was a place that nobody wanted to go but everyone was curious about. Heroes in particular were often required to go there on the orders or requests of others, or for other reasons.

Dante, for example,although from an era considerably distant from the 'ancients', gave us one of the best guided tours of Hell and environs we could ever hope for, and in his account he too encounters that great dog 'Cerberus'.

As we learn from many sources, curiosity seekers and 'after-life' investigators were discouraged from visiting Hades in Greek mythology, by the great dog who stood guard at the gates to the nether-regions and prevented anyone unauthorized from entering.

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The dog had weaknesses, however, which heroes were quick to exploit--for example Aeneas tempted the canine with honeycake, and in another myth the dog was sent to sleep with a musical lullaby.

But these were exceptions, as Cerberus was generally a dog-with-a-temper-problem and quick to anger if anyone attempted to breach his guard-post.

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The great dog came from a significant parentage in that his mother was Echidna--a she-devil of a woman who is described this way in the "Theogony":

"...the goddess was nasty who is half a nymph with glancing eyes and fair cheeks, and half again a huge snake, terrible smelling, with greasy skin, eating raw flesh beneath the secret parts of the holy earth. And there she has a cave deep down under a hollow rock far from the deathless gods and mortal men. There, then, did the gods appoint her a glorious house to dwell in: and she keeps guard in Arima beneath the earth, grim Echidna, a nymph who dies not nor grows old all her days..."

Hercules, the renowned Greek hero of myth and legend, was given the task, (the final task of his famous Twelve Labors ) to kidnap, or rather 'dognap' the monsterous dog, which he was able to achieve after having being given an edge by his participation in the Elusinian Mysteries. These Mystery Rites are, to this day, shrouded in speculation and theories by experts, confirm that they were certainly mysteries of fertility and death, but of which there is notable lack of good evidence as to details. At any event, Hercules was able, after a number of exciting adventures, to snatch Cerberus and complete his even dozen.

Cerberus may have been down, but he was by no means out. His nasty temper and dangerous abilities (such as the power to produce poison from his spittle) were still part and parcel of his capabilities even after Hercules smuggled him out of Hades.

Eventually he was returned to his former post in the underworld and resumed his sentinel duties which, we might assume, he continues to this day. The awe and admiration of his importance to Greeks and later Romans alike is well-attested in the multiplicity of temple art works which bear the great dog's image.