Monsters of MythologyMyths are stories that establish moral laws and patterns of behavior for the people of a society. They often feature characters who are gods or heroes with supernatural abilities. In mythology, these heroes must overcome great challenges to reach an ultimate goal that is identified by the hero at the beginning of the story. The end goal usually leads to some sort of moral theme that can be applied to everyone. These heroes are generally characterized as very gifted, physically attractive, and very popular in their society. The archetypal hero must overcome several trials on his journey. These trials can take the form of powerful monsters that the hero must fight and defeat. There are several examples in Greek and Roman myths where heroes must fight god-like monsters to achieve their goal. There is a repetitive pattern that can be found with these monsters. Each monster can be classified based on its role in the story and relationship to the hero. In Greek and Roman mythology, monsters often represent the internal struggle that the hero must overcome to complete his mission. Monsters are sometimes depicted as servants of gods and heroes. In Jason and the Gold Fleece, Argus built the Argo for Jason and the Argonauts. He also guarded Hera in an unrelated story. This demonstrates a more obedient, slave-like monster who can still compete with the heroes. Cerberus was the three-headed dog who guarded the entrance to the underworld for Hades. In The Twelve Labors of Heracles, Heracles was ordered to capture Cerberus alive without the use of a weapon for his final task. This proves to be his greatest test, which he overcomes to complete his mission. Monsters can take on many roles and challenge… middle of paper… a labyrinth in Knossos on the island of Crete. He would use the beast to scare his enemies. The Minotaur fought just like a human warrior and was burdened with human flaws. Ultimately, the Minotaur was killed by Theseus. This shows how monsters can be similar to humans, but still serve their basic purpose of antagonizing the hero. By defeating the monster, the hero is overcoming a barrier of humanity thus separating him from the rest of humanity. Monsters are designed to be epically powerful in order to instill fear in most humans. They define the magnitude of the hero's ability by acting as a great adversary. Once the hero defeats the monster, he becomes brave in all other challenges. They gain wisdom that they must bring back to the people of their society. The themes of many myths can often be found in the hero's confrontation with the monster.