Geryon

1 9.9

A monster from Greek myth with three heads that Hercules kills

proper noun

Literature

: Geryon

You killed the giant Geryon with a single blow, cleaned the Augean stables in one night.
cattle of Geryon
kill Geryon
three-headed Geryon

Examples

Hercules had been forced to kill King Geryon, along with the king's herdsman and a wondrous two-headed watchdog.

Fiction book (1996)
In his 10th labor, Hercules sets out to capture the cattle of the Geryon.
Geryon was a monster; everything about him was red.

Academic text (1995)
Why did Herakles kill Geryon?

Academic text (1995)
Herakles was an important Greek hero, and the elimination of Geryon constituted one of his celebrated labors.

Academic text (1995)
Beyond the Pillars, the three-headed Geryon and his cattle await.
Herakles was an important Greek hero, and the elimination of Geryon constituted one of his celebrated labors.

Surface Forms

Geryon main

Etymology

Geryon comes from the ancient Greek name Gēryōn, the monster in the story of Hercules who was shown with three heads or three bodies. A helpful way to remember Geryon is to picture three figures joined together, because that strong image is exactly why the name now means that particular three-headed monster.