For other uses, see Hellhound (disambiguation).
Goddess Hel and the hellhound Garmrby Johannes Gehrts, 1889
A hellhound is a supernatural dog in folklore. A wide variety of ominous or hellishsupernatural dogs occur in mythologies around the world. Features that have been attributed to hellhounds include mangled black fur, glowing red eyes, super strength and speed, ghostly or phantom characteristics, and a foul odor. Certain European legends state that if someone stares into a hellhound's eyes three times or more, that person will surely die. In cultures that associate the afterlife with fire, hellhounds may have fire-based abilities and appearance. They are often assigned to guard the entrances to the world of the dead, such as graveyards and burial grounds, or undertake other duties related to the afterlife or the supernatural, such as hunting lost souls or guarding a supernatural treasure. In European legends, seeing a hellhound or hearing it howl may be an omen or even a cause of death. They are said to be the protectors of the supernatural, guarding the secrecy of supernatural creatures, or beings, from the world.
Some supernatural dogs, such as the Welsh Cŵn Annwn, were regarded as benign, but encountering them was still considered a sign of imminent death.
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About HellHound
HorrorIn mythology, a hellhound is a demonic dog. Hellhound may also mean: Hellhound (comics), a DC Comics character Hellhound Records, a German doom metal record label Hellhound, a series of poster booklets in the Galgrease manga series MEI HELLHOUND, a...
