In Greek mythology, Echidna was a monster, half woman and half snake, who was said to live alone in a cave. She was the mate of the fearsome monster Typhon, already recorded in this atlas as a distinct character entity, and was regarded as the mother of many of the most famous monsters of Greek myth, earning her the epithet Mother of Monsters.
Connections
Associated With
In Greek myth Echidna is the mate of the monster Typhon, already recorded in this atlas; together they are named as the parents of many of Greek mythology's other monstrous offspring.
Belongs to Tradition
Children
Hesiod's Theogony names Echidna, beside Typhon, as the parent of Cerberus.
Source TheogonyHesiod
Hesiod's Theogony names Echidna, beside Typhon, as the parent of the Chimaera.
Source TheogonyHesiod
Hesiod's Theogony names Echidna, beside Typhon, as the parent of the Lernaean Hydra.
Source TheogonyHesiod
Held Differently
Ladon, Mythical Creatures The Theogony of Hesiod names Echidna and Typhon as the parents of Ladon; the Library of Pseudo-Apollodorus instead names Ceto and Phorcys. Recorded here as the Theogony variant.
Source TheogonyHesiod
Sphinx, Mythical Creatures One strand of the Greek tradition gives the father of the Sphinx as Orthus rather than Typhon, with Echidna as mother in both readings. Recorded here as a variant parentage tradition.
Source The Library (Bibliotheca)Pseudo-Apollodorus
Sources
Theogony
Hesiod- Children: Cerberus
- Children: Hydra
- Children: Chimaera
- Children: Ladon
View the Source The Library (Bibliotheca)
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