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Although [[Fourth Doctor|Doctor Who]] has fought more [[monster]]s than "most people in his time", [[human]]s fought monsters on [[Earth]] in ancient times, as recorded in [[Greece|Greek]] and [[Roman Empire|Roman]] legends. | Although [[Fourth Doctor|Doctor Who]] has fought more [[monster]]s than "most people in his time", [[human]]s fought monsters on [[Earth]] in ancient times, as recorded in [[Greece|Greek]] and [[Roman Empire|Roman]] legends. | ||
These include the story of [[Hercules]]. A Greek with superhuman strength, he is given twelve tasks to | These include the story of [[Hercules]]. A Greek with superhuman strength, he is given twelve tasks to fulfil, many of which involve fighting monsters. The first is [[the Hydra]], a creature with nine [[head]]s, one of which is [[Immortality|immortal]]. He tries to kill the beast, but for every head he slices off, two more grow from the wound. He ends up having [[Servant (Mythical Monsters)|his servant]] cauterise each wound, preventing a new head from growing back; and as for the immortal final head, he buries it under a boulder. Later, another task sees Hercules capture the "great bull of the [[King of Minos]]", the [[Minotaur]], to whom seven maidens and seven young men were sacrificed each year. Though the Minotaur is imprisoned in a "maze-like building", Hercules succeeds in finding and capturing him. Hercules' final task is to capture [[Cerberus]], the monstrous dog guarding the entrance of [[Underworld|Hades]]. He succeeds, but the king who set him his tasks is so terrified of the dog when it is brought before him that he has Hercules set him loose. | ||
Another monster was originally a woman, [[Medusa]]. A beautiful young woman, Medusa is particularly proud of her hair until she gives offence to the goddess [[Athena|Athene]], who punishs her by turning her hair into [[snake]]s and making her face so ugly that all who look upon it turn to stone. She is slain by [[Perseus]], who avoids petrification by never looking at her directly, but only ever through his shield, polished so as to be used like a mirror. After he beheads her, one last monster springs from her magical [[blood]], a winged horse called [[Pegasus]]. | Another monster was originally a woman, [[Medusa]]. A beautiful young woman, Medusa is particularly proud of her hair until she gives offence to the goddess [[Athena|Athene]], who punishs her by turning her hair into [[snake]]s and making her face so ugly that all who look upon it turn to stone. She is slain by [[Perseus]], who avoids petrification by never looking at her directly, but only ever through his shield, polished so as to be used like a mirror. After he beheads her, one last monster springs from her magical [[blood]], a winged horse called [[Pegasus]]. | ||