Crommyonian Sow
Monstrous wild sow that terrorised the region of Crommyon until it was slain by the young Theseus
The Myth of Crommyonian Sow
The Crommyonian Sow was a fearsome beast that ravaged the countryside around the village of Crommyon on the Isthmus of Corinth, between Megara and Corinth. According to some accounts, she was the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, the monstrous parents of many of Greece's most terrible creatures. Others said she was the mother of the Calydonian Boar. The sow was named Phaea after the old woman who kept her, or in some versions Phaea was the beast's own name. She killed travellers and destroyed crops, making the road between Athens and the Peloponnese perilous. The young hero Theseus, on his journey from Troezen to Athens to claim his birthright, encountered the sow as one of the six labours he performed along the road. He tracked down the beast and killed it, proving his heroic worth before reaching his father's city.
Children
Calydonian Boar (in some accounts)
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Crommyonian Sow was said by some ancient authors to be the mother of the even more famous Calydonian Boar
Explore Further
Phaea
🗡 heroNone recorded
Monstrous sow of Crommyon that terrorised the countryside until slain by Theseus
Calydonian Boar
🐉 creatureMonstrous boar sent by Artemis
The Calydonian Boar was a massive, destructive beast sent by Artemis to ravage Calydon after King Oeneus forgot to honour her in sacrifice.
Sybaris
🐉 creaturemonsters
A monstrous serpent-dragon that terrorised the region around Delphi until slain by a young hero
Echidna
🐉 creatureMother of all monsters
Echidna was half woman, half serpent — called the Mother of All Monsters for bearing the most fearsome creatures of Greek mythology.
Erymanthian Boar
🐉 creatureGiant boar of Mount Erymanthos
The Erymanthian Boar was a gigantic wild boar that ravaged the lands around Mount Erymanthos in Arcadia — the fourth labour of Heracles.
Orthrus
🐉 creatureTwo-headed dog of Geryon
Orthrus was a fearsome two-headed dog who guarded the cattle of the three-bodied giant Geryon at the western edge of the world.
Lamia
🐉 creatureChild-devouring queen turned monster
Lamia was a beautiful queen of Libya whom Zeus loved; when Hera killed her children in jealousy, Lamia was driven mad and became a child-snatching monster.
Sphinx
🐉 creatureRiddler and strangler of Thebes
The Greek Sphinx was a winged monster with the head of a woman and the body of a lion who posed a deadly riddle to all who approached Thebes.
Centaurs
🐉 creatureHalf-human, half-horse beings
A race of beings with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse. Most were wild and unruly, but the wise Chiron was the exception — teacher of heroes.
Typhon
🐉 creatureFather of all monsters
The most fearsome monster in Greek mythology, who challenged Zeus for supremacy of the cosmos. Typhon was the father of many of mythology's most dangerous creatures.
Sphinx
🐉 creatureRiddling monster with a lion body and human head
A creature with the body of a lion, wings of an eagle, and head of a woman. The Sphinx terrorized Thebes with her deadly riddle until Oedipus solved it.
Minotaur
🐉 creatureBull-headed monster of the Labyrinth
A monster with the body of a man and the head of a bull, imprisoned in the Labyrinth beneath Crete. The Minotaur was fed Athenian youths until Theseus slew it.