the Fourth Week of Advent
Click here to learn more!
Bible Encyclopedias
Typhon
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
(Typhos, Typhoem, Typhoeus, and Typhaon), in Greek mythology, was a monster of remote antiquity, at one time thought to have been a destructive gale of wind, at another time represented as a giant of the earth, ejecting volcanic-flames. Homer places him in the country of Arim, buried in the earth, which Jupiter strikes with lightning. Hesiod represents Typhaon and Typhocus as two different and distinct beings. Typhaon is the son of Typhocus, a mighty wind, who with Echidna begets the dog Orthrus, Cerberus the Lernsean hydra, and Chimsera. Typhocus is the youngest son of Tartarus and Ga. with one hundred dragon-heads, frightfully sparkling eyes, and hideous voice. He attempted to gain sovereignty over gods and men, but Jupiter bound him with lightning, and he now lies under Etna. In Egyptian mythology Typhon is the Greek name for the evil spirit represented by the dog-star, originally the influence that brought to Egypt the blessing of a yearly overflow of the banks of the river Nile, without which the country could not flourish. When the worship of Isis and Osiris came into practice, the dog-star was designed to be the destroyer of the life of nature by heat and now Typhon became an evil god, whose names and titles upon monuments were destroyed, because he was believed to be the enemy and persecutor of Osiris (q.v.). Typhon owned Nephthys as his wife, who by him gave birth to Anubis. His real Egyptian name is stated differently as Set or Sutekh.
These files are public domain.
McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Typhon'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tce/​t/typhon.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.