Born of Mother Earth and Tartarus, from Typhon came the fierce destructive winds of the world. He used his destructive winds on land to destroy crops and in water to sink ships and drown sailors. Typhon was the largest and most grotesque of all creatures that has ever lived. A hundred serpent heads grew from his shoulders, fire flashed from his eyes and head. He had serpents for feet and a tongue of fire. He made sounds of a bull, lion, and dog, and has even been said to have made hissing sounds like a snake.

     One time Typhon rushed into the heavens and the gods were so frightened by Typhon's features, they fled to Egypt and disguised themselves among the wild. Zeus had to defend Mount Olympus so he threw bolts of lightning at Typhon. Typhon fought back with force and cut off several of Zeus' muscles from his hands and feet. Typhon had his sister, Delphyne, guard the muscles in a cave, but Hermes tricked her and the muscles were returned to Zeus. Zeus became even more distraught and threw more thunderbolts at Typhon. Typhon fled around the world and in Sicily Zeus threw Mount Etna on top of him, which crushed Typhon. It is said to this day that the flames and steam that rise from the volcano are from Typhon.

ACTIVITIES:
Typhon activity

KEY TEST WORDS:
Typhon was the fiery son of Gaea, a monster with a hundred heads.

Creatures and Monsters

Fables

Footnotes:
Typhon fathered a foul brood of other monsters on Echida from piecies of his body torn by Zeus' stricking thunderbolts: the Chimaera, the Nemean Lion, Orthus (two-headed dog), Ladon (sleepless dragon), the Sphinx, Prometheus' eagle, and Phaea, the Crommyonian sow.

SOURCES:
Jane Smith
Edith Hamilton's Mythology
Bulfinch's Mythology
"Manual of Mythology" by Alexander S. Murray.