In Greek mythology, the three-headed dog that guarded the gates of the underworld; now used to refer to any fierce guardian or watchdog.
From Greek 'Kerberos,' origin uncertain but possibly related to Sanskrit meaning 'devourer.' The mythological creature became a symbol of impassable barriers.
Cerberus started as a mythological guard dog but now names security systems and appears in Harry Potter—the word traveled 3,000 years from ancient Greece to protect our data, showing how mythology adapts to new threats.
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