Monsters of Greco-Roman myth To have a hero there must be a monster to defeat. Monsters in Greco-Roman mythology are often described as: irrational, nearly impossible to communicate with, often a composite of animal parts or some form of mutation, and are bent on human destruction. “Monsters in the language of mythology were beings of unnatural proportions or parts, usually regarded with terror, as having immense strength and ferocity, which they employed to wound and irritate men” (Bullfinch Pg. 143). Mythological monsters are a way for man to explain what he does not understand. They are an attempt to explain the "why" to things like: storms, droughts and other unseasonal weather phenomena, unexplained deaths, birth defects, illnesses and mental illnesses. Generally these are associated with fear and nothing is scarier than a monster. Yet, on the other hand, there is hope. Man's need to maintain hope gives rise to the creation of heroes. Monsters are essential to the existence of heroes. “[…] the mythical monster is present in numerous forms – Gorgons, Hydras and terrible Chimeras – but they are only there to give the hero his dose of glory” (Hamilton 12). Without a great enemy, there is no need for the greater good. “Myth provides us with absolutes in place of ephemeral values ​​and a comforting perception of the world necessary to make the insecurity and terror of existence bearable” (Morford 4). It was common for cultures that overthrew others to convert the cultures important deities of those they defeated into monstrous figures. Monsters in Greco-Roman mythology tend to appear similar to Egyptian, Sumerian, Babylonian, and other Eastern deities. “Greco-Roman monsters are like Babylonians…half of paper…of wind” (Hamilton 185) to defeat another evil monster, the Chimera. Unlike malevolent monsters which are composed of creatures, in themselves they are dangerous to humans (i.e. lions, snakes, wolves, rams, birds of prey). Centaurs and Pegasus are the noble steeds of man. Works Cited: Books by a single author: Ciuffolotto, Thomas. Myths of Greece and Rome New York: Penguin Books, 1979. Print.Hamilton, Edith. MythologyNew York: Little, Brown and Company, 1942. Print.Rosenberg, Donna. World MythologyLincoln Wood, Illinois: NTC Publishing Group, 1999. Print.Morford, Mark. PO and Robert J. Lenardon. Classical Mythology New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. 2003. Print.Hesiod. Works and Days of Theogony Translated by Stanley Lambardo. Quote from Robert Lamberton Introduction. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1993. Print.