Mythical Creatures Series
There are many types of black dogs out there, and it helps to know the difference in case you or your character cross paths with one! If the canine walks through walls and is not too aware of its surroundings, then you’re dealing with a ghost-dog. If a mutt locks eyes with you, staring intently, it could be a death omen. But if you hear a dreaded growl that slicks the back of your neck, and you see nothing that could possibly make such a sound, then run for your life, because more than likely you’ve got a hellhound on your heels.
HELLHOUND
What is it?
A hellhound is a demonic dog of hell, found in mythology, folklore and fiction. They are said to have been created by demons to server as heralds of death. And this very notion makes them beyond terrifying, because they have no ability to reason with us – they are simply carrying out an order. After all they are animals – vicious, relentless and vile, but still an animal at its core.
Hellhound legends date back to the time of Vikings and sightings have been reported throughout history. They show up in most cultures and mythology under various names, including Black Shuck, Cerberus, Garm and Perro Negro, though these are often confused with black dogs in the wild who attack and haunt hikers.
Ability / Power
These beasts are assigned to stand guard at the gates of the dead or hunt down lost souls. Many believe that encountering a Hellhound is a sure ticket to imminent death. Legends says if someone stares in their eyes three times or more, that is a definite confirmation of their death – but come on, if you meet a hellhound once, I’m pretty sure you’re a gonna! They are also said to speak a demonic language.
Abilities include seeing in the dark, controlling fire (hence they are fireproof) and being ghost-like invisible. With super strength, aggressiveness and speed, I doubt anyone can escape them.
This reminds me of the Supernatural episode “The Devil You Know,” where Dean attempts to fight off this invisible hellhound – freaky and very well done.
Physical Appearance
Features attributed to the hellhound include being unnaturally large, covered in a black pelt with glowing red or sometimes yellow eyes. They have a distinctively putrid odour and poisonous saliva.
Appearances in Fiction
- Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles
- Hellhounds appear in Roger Zelazny’s 1970 new wave fantasy novel Nine Princes in Amber.
- Hellhounds feature in Rick Riordan’s series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
- Hellhounds are called ‘The Grim’ in the Harry Potter series and have an important role in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
- Hellhounds feature in Laurell K. Hamilton’s Merry Gentry series.
- Hellhounds are the pets of Harpies in Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels Series.
- In Piers Anthony’s ‘On A Pale Horse”, Satan sends hellhounds to attack Zane (Death) and bring him back to hell. The hounds are immortal but are dispatched by Death’s magical scythe.
- Frank Belknap Long’s Cthulhu Mythos-related ‘The Hounds of Tindalos”
- Hellhounds appear in the motion picture The Omen.
- Hellhounds (called darkhounds) appear several times in Robert Jordan’s fantasy series The Wheel of Time. Darkhounds are a particularly nasty form of Shadowspawn. They look like very large dogs or wolves. Their saliva is deadly poison – a single drop on the skin can kill. They are extremely difficult to kill and once they sense their prey they never give up. The only thing that stops them is rain or running water. They leave footprints in stone but none in soft ground.
- Hellhounds appear in the television show Supernatural. They are used and controlled by demons to drag souls to hell (usually after a deal for the victim’s soul has accrued). Only the person being attacked can see or hear the hellhound, and they are never seen on screen.
- Houndoom, one of the many Pokémon creatures, is based on the concept of a hellhound.
- A Hellhound named Sammael is one of the main antagonists in the first Hellboy film.
- Cerberus movie (2005).
Did you know? The most famous hellhound is Cerberus from Greek mythology – the multi-headed hound. Remember Fluffy in Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone? You got it.
Sources:
a
Previous Mythical Creature Posts:
Marchosias: A Kick-Ass Creature, Ningyo: The Deadly Mermaid, Abatwa: Riding Ants To Victory, Cait Sith: It Gets Into Your Mind, Anka: The Goliath Bird, Huldra: Norse Forest Lady, iele: Romanian Nymphs Of The Air, Manticore: The Man-Eater, Hantu Demon: Legendary Spirit, Lich: Undead Necromancer, Joan The Wad: Queen of Piskies, Fomorian: Ancient Gigantic God, Rakshasa: Shape Shifter Demon
please post a pic of your demons
i summon you forth to rid humanity of its pain an torment/they are waiting …u can not see them but they can see u
hellhounds .i summon thy forth to rid humanity of its pain and torment. they are waiting .there time will come
Your first hound is a cat not a dog. It’s anatomy is far off from being dog. It’s muzzle is too short and curves and it’s paws are too claw like and wide to be a dog. Don’t worry it’s a common misconception. Second, Cerberus is a hound but he is technically not considered a hell hound. He is more of the gate guardian while hell hounds are the demonic dogs that Satan releases at the day of Parousia to retrieve the souls of the sinners and eternally torture them. But they were, as you mentioned, used to hunt down lost souls and bring them back to hell if they were to ever straggle away. And you need to check your stories you listed cause Baskerville was a Werewolf or, in modern day crypto/mytho beliefs, Lycan. Again it’s a common misconception. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not trying to discredit you or anything, I just wanna help you get your intel correct . I’m a big crypto/mytho fan. I love hellhounds to the point I draw them every other month. If you want I could make a better representation if you’d like. They are amazing beasts, savages that only listen to only one’s commands and when they get that command they can never be stopped from that command. If you have any questions just ask me and I will be glad to answer. Sorry for the long paragraph I just want people to know the correct info and I just get a little carried away at times.
I knew there was a Lovecraft story involving a hellhound.
Yes, “The Hound”, and there is also a very well done movie made after it:)
Ohh something else I’ll have to check out:)
Oh man this will give me nightmares tonight!
Ah, and both Baskerville and Omen are between my favs:)
I’m a huge fan of Omen. Will have to check out Baskerville.
Check it, the book is astonishing – it sill gives me the shivers when I remember “There were footprints near the body. – A man’s or a woman’s? – Mr Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound.”:) You can also check the movies – the old versions are better, if you don’t mind old movies. I would recommend the two Peter Cushing versions, and also the Ian Richardson version.
Great creature, I always love Cerberus! There is also his brother Orthon, who has only two heads:) And, as a coincidence, I have just listened Tiamat’s song, Until The Hellhound Sleeps Again:)
Cool song to be listening to as you read about hellhounds…
Another coincidence:), a Romanian author, Stefana Czeller, just published a story about Cerberus:). Well, it seems I am surrounded by hellhounds, grr.