Iconic Monsters and Trials

Perhaps the most attractive aspects of both Greek mythology and Star Wars are the monsters that our beloved heroes face, to each their own bizarre appearance, exotic environments, and the captivating struggle of our heroes to best them. While we most likely realize that these monsters do not exist in the form they are presented in, if at all, they still capture our imagination and we find ourselves contemplating the existence of possible creatures out beyond our planet. No doubt the Greeks felt this way about their stories and epics that were filled to the brim with outlandish and exotic creatures.

To the left is the Rancor which Luke had to defeat in Episode VI, in a scene which echoes Odysseus' run in with the Cyclops, although Lucas does it in a different manner. In the Odyssey, Odysseus and his men are trapped in the lair of the cyclops and after blinding the one-eyed beast, they escape by hiding underneath the sheep of the cyclops, thereby evading the notice of the cyclops. In Star Wars, after being hurled into the dungeon with the Rancor, Luke devises a quick plan to kill the Rancor, by dropping the metal gate 

on its head.

Another beast trial that Luke faces is the nightmarish snow creature that brings him to its lair on Hoth. The Wampa is heavily influenced by the Minotaur, both having horns, a grotesque underground lair, a taste for human flesh, and a prophetic end at the hands of a hero. Theseus, the famed Hero of Athens, travelled to Crete with the sole purpose of killing the creature, and had great success in decapitating it. Luke manages to slice off the Wampa's arm, incapacitating it, rather than cut off it's head, probably in an effort to keep the parental guidance ratings of the movie down. Luke's victory over the Wampa is clearly a trial because afterwards, he receives guidance about the future from Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Other notable iconic creatures of Greek Mythology include:

-Cerberus, the 3 headed guard dog of Hades

-The Hydra, another multiple headed abomination and one of the better known trials of Heracles

-The Sirens in the Odyssey, whose songs drove sailors mad

-The Nemean Lion, another one of Heracles' trials

Other notable creatures in Star Wars include:

-The Dianoga (trash compactor) monster in Episode IV

-The Tusken Raiders of Tatooine

-The Swamp monster on Dagobah

-The multiple underwater creatures of Naboo, some reminiscent of Scylla and Charybdis from the Odyssey 

Image sourced here, here, and here.