The Monstrous Typhon in Greek Mythology

Read through the popular accounts of Greek mythology and it would almost seem that the Olympian gods were all powerful and dominant. The rise of Zeus though only occurred after a ten year war, the Titanomachy, fought against the Titans, and even when entrenched in Mount Olympus the rule of Zeus was challenged on a number of occasions. The most famous of the challengers to Zeus and the Olympian gods was Typhon the deadliest of all monsters of ancient Greek literature and mythology.

Normally Typhon, who was also known as Typhoeus, is normally said to have been the son of Gaia, the earth, and Tartarus, Tartarus being the primeval deity rather than the famous prison used by the Titans and the Olympian gods. With Gaia as a parent though, Typhon was half-brother to the Titans, who would go on to rule during the Golden Age. Typhon though was shunned by his siblings due to his appearance.

Typhon and Harpies - Wenceslaus Hollar (1607–1677) - PD-art-100

Typhon was said to be the greatest of all monster, larger than anything that had existed before, and his head was said to reach the stars. The size of Typhon though was not the reason as to why he was shunned. Neither was it because of the trunk of his body, which was vaguely humanoid, it was the rest of hid body that caused him to stand out. The bottom part of his body below his thighs comprised of two coiled vipers. His hands were also made up of hundred dragon heads, or serpent heads, each spitting fire or venom.

Despite being the original monster, Typhon appears to have been content to live in a cave in Arima, situated beneath the surface of the earth, with his mate Echidna. There is little said of Typhon during the uprising of the Olympian gods, and instead in the Arima cave the couple gave birth to the most famous of the monsters from Greek mythology. Their offspring included the Nemean Lion, of impenetrable skin fame; Cerberus, the guard dog from Hades; the Ladon, the hundred headed dragon guardian of the golden apples; the Lernaean Hydra; the Sphinx and the Chimera.

The Sphinx though was killed by Oedipus on the road to Thebes, though Typhon took revenge by turning him mad. Heracles though was aided by Zeus and the other Olympian gods in his quests, and so managed to kill the Hydra and the Nemean Lion. The assistance of the Olympian gods in the slaughter of his offspring though shook off the contentment that Typhon had previously displayed, and the monster declared war on the gods of Mount Olympus. Typhon and Echidna therefore left their home at Arima, and made their way through Greece towards the home of the gods. The Olympian gods fled in front of them, and whole cities were destroyed by the pair, as the Olympians fled so Typhon threw whole mountains after them.

As the Olympians fled it was only Zeus who was prepared to stand and fight. Typhon took on the ruler of the gods, and the fight was so severe that Zeus was said to have been almost killed on numerous occsasions. Of course Zeus was destined to win the fight, although it came at a time when Typhon was at his attacking best. With Zeus on the back foot, Typhon tried to pick up Mount Etna to throw at Zeus. Zeus though took the opportunity offered to him, and as Typhon raised the mountain above him, the monster was hit by a succession of Zeus’ lightning bolts. Mount Etna fell on top of Typhon burying him.

Etruscan Mural of Typhon - PD-old-100

Defeated, Typhon was imprisoned beneath Mount Etna for eternity, separated from his partner, Echidna, who was allowed to return to Arima. It was extremely rare for the enemies of Zeus and his siblings to be put to death, and were normally given some type of eternal punishment. In his prison though Typhon continued to display his power, with occasional releases of fire from his eyes, which reaches the surface of the earth in the form of lava.

The story of Typhon shows how the rule of the Olympian gods was occasionally challenged and yet showed how they would always be successful in the end.

Copyright - First Published 11th July 2009

Keywords - Typhon Greek mythology, Typhoeus Greek mythology, Typhon and Echidna, Typhon versus Zeus