Centaur

• In Greek mythology, the centaur was a half-man --- torso, arms and heads --- and half-horse --- body and legs --- creature. These creatures were the offspring of a cloud and Ixion, the king of Lapiths and son of Ares. One of the most famous centaurs was Chiron, who was believed to be descended from the titan Cronos. Unlike other centaurs, who were regarded as followers of Dionysus, Chiron was reputed as a tutor of Greek heroes, such as Achilles, Heracles and Aeneas. Centaurs were especially apt in hunting skills, and many renderings feature these animals with bows and arrows.
  
  

Pegasus

• Pegasus was a Greek mythological horse that had completely white fur and wings. According to legend, this winged horse was born from the blood of Medusa when she was killed by the Greek hero Perseus. Pegasus made another appearance in Greek mythology as the horse of Bellerophon, who fought and defeated the Chimera. Eventually, Pegasus became a servant of the Greek god Zeus and earned its status as a star constellation. It is also believed the Hippocrene spring on Mount Helicon was caused when Pegasus' hoof kicked a rock.
  
  

Lernean Hydra

• One of Greek mythology's fiercest animals is the Lernean Hydra, a serpent creature with nine heads. The legend goes that all the heads of the Lernean Hydra has venom in its fangs and one of the heads was immortal. If one of its heads were decapitated, the Hydra was able to regenerate it. The snake was carnivorous, eating humans and large mammals. Lernean Hydra's demise came at the hands of the legendary Greek hero Hercules. His mission to kill the Hydra is regarded as the second of Hercules' 12 Labors.
  
  

Medusa

• Medusa was one of the three Gorgons --- a trio of sisters whose hair was made of live snakes. Medusa was once a beautiful woman until she angered the goddess Athena, who transformed her into an ugly creature. Some accounts state Medusa had the torso and arms of a human, but from the waist down she had a serpent's tail. Also, Medusa was so hideous that any man who gazed upon her would morph into a stone figure. Greek mythology states she was killed by the hero Perseus.