A hellhound is a supernatural dog, found in mythology, folklore
and fiction. It is said to be quite a bit larger than a normal
dog. Many ominous or hellish supernatural dogs are in mythology
around the world, similar to the ubiquitous dragon. Hellhounds
are often said to have black fur, glowing red or sometimes
glowing yellow eyes, super strength or speed, ghostly or phantom
characteristics, a badodor, and sometimes even the ability to
talk. In cultures that think that there is fire in the
afterlife, hellhounds may have fire-based abilities and
appearance. They often have to guard the entrances to the world
of the dead, such as graveyards and burial grounds, or do other
things related to the afterlife or the supernatural. These might
be hunting down lost souls or guarding a supernatural treasure.
In European legends, seeing a hellhound or hearing it howl may
be either an omen or a cause of a soon death.