Typhon

Lore & Background

Typhon's birth is described in several ways. According to Hesiod's Theogony (c. 8th–7th century BC), Typhon was the son of Gaia (Earth) and Tartarus. The mythographer Apollodorus adds that Gaia bore Typhon in anger at the gods for their destruction of her offspring the Giants. However, according to the Homeric Hymn to Apollo (6th century BC), Typhon was the child of Hera alone. Hera, angry at Zeus for having given birth to Athena by herself, prayed to Gaia, Uranus, and the Titans, to give her a son stronger than Zeus, then slapped the ground and became pregnant. Hera gave the infant Typhon to the serpent Python to raise. The b scholia to Iliad 2.783, preserving a possibly Orphic tradition, has Typhon born in Cilicia, as the offspring of Cronus. Several sources locate Typhon's birth and dwelling place in Cilicia, and in particular the region in the vicinity of the ancient Cilician coastal city of Corycus.

In Their Own Story

According to Hesiod, Typhon was 'terrible, outrageous and lawless', immensely powerful, and on his shoulders were one hundred snake heads, that emitted fire and every kind of noise. The Homeric Hymn to Apollo describes Typhon as 'fell' and 'cruel', and like neither gods nor men. Three of Pindar's poems have Typhon as hundred-headed, while apparently a fourth gives him only fifty heads. Apollodorus describes Typhon as a huge winged monster, whose head 'brushed the stars', human in form above the waist, with snake coils below, and fire flashing from his eyes. The most elaborate description of Typhon is found in Nonnus's Dionysiaca, which gives him many animal heads including leopards, lions, bulls, boars, bears, cattle, wolves, and dogs, and 'legions of arms innumerable'. Typhon challenged Zeus for rule of the cosmos. Hesiod's Theogony gives the first account of their battle. According to Hesiod, without the quick action of Zeus, Typhon would have 'come to reign over mortals and immortals'. Zeus and Typhon met in cataclysmic conflict: 'Great Olympus reeled beneath the divine feet of the king as he arose and earth groaned thereat.'

Reader's Guide

Typhon and his mate Echidna were the progenitors of many famous monsters. According to Hesiod's Theogony, Typhon 'was joined in love' to Echidna, who bore Typhon 'fierce offspring'. First, according to Hesiod, there was Orthrus, the two-headed dog who guarded the Cattle of Geryon, second Cerberus, the multiheaded dog who guarded the gates of Hades, and third the Lernaean Hydra, the many-headed serpent who, when one of its heads was cut off, grew two more. The Theogony next mentions an ambiguous 'she', which might refer to Echidna, as the mother of the Chimera with Typhon then being the father. The mythographer Acusilaus adds the Caucasian Eagle that ate the liver of Prometheus. The mythographer Pherecydes of Athens also names Prometheus's eagle, and adds Ladon, the dragon that guarded the golden apples in the Garden of the Hesperides. The lyric poet Lasus of Hermione adds the Sphinx. Apollodorus also adds the Nemean lion and the Crommyonian Sow. Hyginus adds 'Gorgon', the Colchian dragon, and Scylla. According to Hesiod, the defeated Typhon is the father of destructive storm winds.

Did You Know?

• According to Hesiod, Typhon had one hundred snake heads that emitted fire and every kind of noise, including sounds like a bull, a lion, and whelps.
• The Homeric Hymn to Apollo says Typhon was the child of Hera alone, born after she slapped the ground in anger at Zeus.
• Apollodorus describes Typhon as a huge winged monster whose head 'brushed the stars', with one hand reaching to the west and the other to the east.
• Nonnus's Dionysiaca gives Typhon two hundred arms and many animal heads including leopards, lions, bulls, boars, bears, cattle, wolves, and dogs.
• According to Hesiod, Typhon and Echidna were the parents of Orthrus, Cerberus, the Lernaean Hydra, and possibly the Chimera.