Geryon

In Greek mythology, Geryon (/ˈdʒɪəriən/ or /ˈɡɛriən/; also Geryone; Greek: Γηρυών,genitive: Γηρυόνος), son of Chrysaor and Callirrhoe and grandson of Medusa, was a fearsome giant who dwelt on the island Erytheia of the mythic Hesperides in the far west of the Mediterranean. A more literal-minded later generation of Greeks associated the region with Tartessos in southern Iberia. Geryon was often described as a monster with human faces.

Appearance

According to Hesiod Geryon had one body and three heads, whereas the tradition followed by Aeschylus gave him three bodies. A lost description by Stesichoros said that he has six hands and six feet and is winged; there are some mid-sixth-century Chalcidian vases portraying Geryon as winged. Some accounts state that he had six legs as well while others state that the three bodies were joined to one pair of legs. Apart from these bizarre features, his appearance was that of a warrior. He owned a two-headed hound named Orthrus, which was the brother of Cerberus, and a herd of magnificent red cattle that were guarded by Orthrus, and a herder Eurytion, son of Erytheia.

Geryon (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Geryon was an Arch-Devil of Hell (Baator in later editions of the game), also known as the "Wild Beast."

Creative origins

Geryon was the fearsome, triple-bodied ruler of Erytheia in Greek mythology, but the D&D Geryon is based on the Geryon from Dante's Inferno.

Publication history

Geryon first appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977). Geryon's realm was further detailed in Ed Greenwood's "The Nine Hells Part I" in Dragon #75 (1983).

Geryon did not initially appear in 2nd edition, and in the Planescape line the lord of Stygia was instead a trapped archfiend named Levistus. Eventually, Geryon's fate as a deposed Lord of Hell was revealed in the adventure A Paladin in Hell (1998), and Guide to Hell (1999).

In third edition, Geryon was given statistics in an online web enhancement for the Book of Vile Darkness (2002) titled "Yet More Archfiends". Geryon appeared as a vestige in Tome of Magic (2006). Geryon received a brief description in Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells (2006).