Cerberus, often spelled "Carberus," is a mythological creature from ancient Greek mythology. It is typically depicted as a three-headed dog that guards the entrance to the Underworld, preventing the dead from escaping and the living from entering without permission. Cerberus is a child of Echidna and Typhon and is often associated with Hades, the god of the Underworld. The creature symbolizes the boundary between the living and the dead, embodying themes of protection and vigilance.