H is for Hell Hound

A hell hound is a dog of Hell found in mythology and folklore, usually surrounding Greek mythology and that of Hades (god of the underworld). Hell hounds typically have features such as black fur colour, glowing red eyes, super strength and speed, ghostly or phantom characteristics and sometimes even the ability to talk.

Hell hounds are often associated with the element of fire and have fire-based abilities and appearances. These dogs seem to appear out of nowhere suddenly and have been known to vanish in a blink of the eye. It is said that hell hounds have the ability to travel through the shadows. They are often assigned to guard the entrances to the world of the dead, such as graveyards and Indian burial grounds, or undertake other duties related to the afterlife or the supernatural, such as hunting down lost souls or guarding a supernatural treasure. If someone were to see the hell hound three times he or she will die an abrupt and unseen death.

The most famous hell hound is Cerberus who guards the entrance to the underworld. He has three heads and is tall enough to make men feel like ants. Cerberus also has a brother, Orthrus, who has two heads. Both brothers were said to bring the souls of the dead or dying directly to Hades.