<P> In Greek mythology, Cerberus (/ ˈsɜːrbərəs /; Greek: Κέρβερος Kerberos (ˈkerberos)), often called the "hound of Hades", is the monstrous multi-headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld to prevent the dead from leaving . Cerberus was the offspring of the monsters Echidna and Typhon, and usually is described as having three heads, a serpent for a tail, and snakes protruding from parts of his body . Cerberus is primarily known for his capture by Heracles, one of Heracles' twelve labours . </P> <P> Descriptions of Cerberus vary, including the number of his heads . Cerberus was usually three - headed, though not always . Cerberus had several multi-headed relatives . His father was the multi snake - headed Typhon, and Cerberus was the brother of three other multi-headed monsters, the multi-snake - headed Lernaean Hydra; Orthrus, the two - headed dog who guarded the Cattle of Geryon; and the Chimera, who had three heads, that of a lion, a goat, and a snake . And, like these close relatives, Cerberus was, with only the rare iconographic exception, multi-headed . </P>

Name of the three headed dog in greek mythology