Typhon, the father of monsters in Greek mythology. Typhon is a rare example of a being that is
both a monster and a God, a potent mix that made him so feared throughout the land. Determined
to rule in place of Zeus, a titanic battle was inevitable that would shape the rest of
Greek mythology. So who was Typhon, and why was he so dangerous? Let’s find out together,
right now. The birth of Typhon is a point of contention,
with several versions available. Some sources state he was the offspring of Gaia, mother
earth, who was angry at the gods for the destruction of her offspring the giants. Others suggest
he was the son of Hera who, angry at Zeus for his many affairs, determined to have her
own child without him. Either way, Typhon would grow up to be a great
bane on the world of both mortals and Gods alike. He was a giant so tall that it was
said his head could touch the stars. Unimaginably monstrous, many variations exist to describe
his form with the most common features being legs that were coiled with vipers that would
hiss and attack as he moved and 100 snakeheads that sat upon his shoulders and shot fire
from their eyes. A huge pair of wings dominated many more pairs of smaller wings that were
littered across his back and his breath was a devastating burst of fire. Truly, a terrifying
sight. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this monstrous God
also had a personality to match his physical form. For Typhon, destruction was a game and
deformity was beautiful. He reduced villages to rubble and slaughtered mortals just because
he could. He would even attack other Gods with no thought of consequence.
He was attracted naturally to the dark places and creatures of the world, eventually marrying
Echidna, an equally monstrous half woman half snake with whom he bore many of the most famous
nightmares we know today. Cerberus, the three headed dog that guards
the entrance of the underworld, the Sphinx, half human half lion that forces people to
answer its riddles or die a gruesome death, the Nemean Lion, a beast with an impenetrable
hide that was eventually killed by Heracles. Just a few of the monsters that were the children
of Typhon and Echidna. Given his obvious power and the fear he wielded,
it was not long before the fury of Typhon would be turned towards mount Olympus, home
of the Greek pantheon and its ruler, Zeus the mighty thunder god.
Typhon and Zeus would have many intense battles for control of the cosmos. Most of the gods
were so afraid of Typhon that they would immediately change into their animal forms and flee upon
his arrival. As is common in mythology, several accounts exist to chronicle the battles between
these two epic foes. Whilst one suggests that following a short battle, Zeus was fairly
easily able to defeat Typhon with his thunderbolts, another more elaborate version tells of Typhon
capturing Zeus and imprisoning him in a cave where he removed some of his tendons so that
he could not escape and Typhon would be free to torture his rival at his leisure. Hermes
and Pan however were able to sneak into the cave and restore Zeus, freeing him to continue
the battle. Whichever version you consider, Zeus was ultimately
victorious, defeating Typhon and condemning him to Tartarus, throwing Mount Etna on top
to trap him within where he remains to this day. Indeed, it is said that the volcanic
eruptions from the mountain in the subsequent years were the result of the furious god Typhon,
struggling desperately to break free, breathing fire and causing earthquakes in his rage.
A truly terrifying combination of monster and God from Greek mythology who came very
close to overthrowing Zeus and altering the legend of the Pantheon and ancient Greece
irreversibly. Typhon and his story form a part of the wider Greek succession myth that
ultimately conveys the victory of Zeus over many of his major rivals, thus securing his
now famous position as the king of the Gods. A fascinating myth, and one to keep in mind
the next time you pass by Mount Etna. If you do, maybe spare a thought for the mighty father
of monsters, trapped just beneath your feet, and say a quiet thanks to Zeus for keeping
him safely from the world.