Cerebus

William Blake Cerebus

A multi-headed hound in Greek and Roman mythology usually three-headed which guards the gates of Hades, to prevent those who have crossed the river Styx from ever escaping.


Referred to by the newspaperman in Lowry's short story “In Le Havre”. Hence Lowry's joke of “My best to Cerebus, throw him a bone for me”; “a dog guarding it Under The Volcano Pg. 77; Markson notes the Consuls remark in Under The Volcano that he does not believe the headline, “Town counts dog’s noses” as a dog only has one nose except when the dog is Cerberus, who has three heads. (David Markson Malcolm Lowry's Volcano Pg.93 and Chris Ackerley's Volcano website 180.1).