Born of Gaea, the Earth, many monsters and anti-heroes are elemental creatures, capturing a sense of the dangers inherent in the world around us. For the ancient Greeks and Romans, monsters and anti-heroes were a way of representing disorder and lurking perils in their worlds, such as enemies and invading forces.
Fantastical and fearsome, mythical creatures could take many forms. These strange animals and curious creatures were ruled by wild passion and irrational behaviour. They provided the perfect contrast to the expected civilised behaviour of the Greeks and Romans.
Monsters and anti-heroes were also a means to inject excitement and tension into mythical tales. They provide the reason for a hero’s quest, the challenge that must be overcome. Far from being universally bad, however, monsters could reflect frailty, be objects of sympathy and, in certain circumstances, even offer protection from magical harm.
