Creatures that protect. Ancient Greek mythical creatures. One of the most common mythological plots is the battle with the dragon.
Legends and myths of the ancient Greeks and fairy tales of the Egyptians tell about the existence of various fabulous animals that are known to this day all over the world. Who didn't read fairy tales as a child? We invite you to learn about the most famous creatures that each of us has heard of.
PhoenixNo other creature so symbolizes eternal life as the Phoenix bird, a mystical bird that is famous for its beauty as well as its unique vitality. The legend of the Phoenix bird appeared in various ancient myths, including those of Greece, Egypt, and India. The bird is usually described as an eagle or other bird of prey, but it is more like a heron due to its stately posture. In many myths, the Phoenix bird is associated with the sunrise, it is in close connection with the sun god Ra. Another feature of the Phoenix is that it is the only one. When she feels her life is coming to an end, about once every thousand years, the Phoenix bird makes a funeral pyre out of cinnamon or other aromatic material and lets itself be consumed by the flames. After the bird burns out, a new bird rises from the ashes and begins new life on the ground.
The legend of the Centaur, which has come down to us in myths Ancient Greece, has captivated readers for a very long time. Half man, half horse, the Centaur is stuck between two worlds: the world of wild animals and the world of civilized man. Centaurs were not only superficially partially human, they were described as brawlers, drunkards, and also owners of other bad human habits, which forced them to constantly conflict with a more cultured relative - a man. As an exception, we can note the great and wise Chiron, who was a talented healer and respected intellectual.
Since ancient times, sailors who crossed the world's oceans often reported seeing mermaids, beautiful fish girls with long flowing hair and incredible powers of seduction. These perfect creatures were described as insanely beautiful women who had a fish tail instead of legs. First known history about mermaids for at least 3 thousand years. In fairy tales about mermaids, they were often described as helpers who rescued fishermen who had the imprudence to fall overboard. In other stories, ladyfish, on the contrary, threatened people, smashed their ships on the rocks. In other stories, one could hear about beauties with fish tails who lured men with beautiful songs, and then ruthlessly killed them, experiencing undisguised joy.
Biblical monster Leviathan - a giant sea serpent with burning eyes and aggressive habits, which sank ships and devoured people falling overboard. Due to its huge torso and scaly skin, Leviathan was usually depicted as a giant sea monster, but he was also often described as a snake, fish, crocodile, or marine mammal. It is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, but it is not exactly clear whether it is the creation of the hands of the Lord or Satan. According to several religious texts, God originally created male and female Leviathan creatures, but then destroyed the female in order to protect the world from the appearance of other monsters that could flood the oceans.
Stories and legends involving dragons began to appear as early as 4,000 years ago. Dragons were usually described as huge flying reptiles that breathed fire or shot deadly poison from their nostrils. Stories about these gigantic monsters began to appear at the dawn of human civilization. In these stories, many young warriors were forced to take up arms in order to fight the evil dragon and protect the beautiful girl from him. On the other hand, in other cultures, the dragon was revered as a wise and gentle creature. In China, dragons are a symbol of courage and heroism and are treated as protectors.
This fabulous animal is the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea, and the Gorgon Medusa. He is depicted as a horse with eagle wings, sometimes white, sometimes golden. In Greek mythology, there are several versions of the birth of Pegasus. According to one version, he jumped out of the neck of Medusa when the hero Perseus beheaded her. According to another version, Pegasus was born from drops of blood that Medusa shed after her death. The image of Pegasus is one of the favorites in art for many centuries, artists and sculptors often depicted and sculpted the majestic winged horse. There is even the constellation Pegasus - a gift from Zeus after the death of this beast.
With a name that today is synonymous with "seduction", these fabulous creatures are believed to seduce sailors with their enchanting voices and smash their ships on rocky shores. In Homer's Odyssey main character Odysseus ordered his men to plug their ears with beeswax and tie themselves to the mast of the ship so that he could hear the songs of the sirens, but was unable to steer the ship towards his enemies calling him. It was said that if anyone could resist the songs, the sirens would die. Although many have portrayed the Sirens as mermaids with fishtails and the body of a woman, they were mostly depicted as half-bird, half-woman.
Hydra is a multi-headed snake-like monster with poisonous blood and breath, so it could easily destroy a person. Many references to the hydra can be found in Greek literature and poetry, but the most famous is the hydra that Hercules killed. It is known as the Lernaean Hydra because it lived in the swampy area around Lake Lerna, Greece. According to legend, it was impossible to defeat the hydra, because two new ones immediately grew in place of its severed head. However, Hercules figured out how to kill the monster. After he chopped off one of the hydra's heads, he quickly cauterized the cut so that new heads could not grow. Thus he got rid of all the other heads.
The Sphinx has the body of a lion and the head of a man, sometimes a man, sometimes a woman. The legend of the Sphinx is rooted in ancient Egyptian mythology, mentions of it appear about 4 thousand years ago. This creature is associated with protection, and his statues were often placed at the entrance to buildings or at the gates of cities. The oldest and most famous sphinx statue is the Great Sphinx at Giza, which is located on the western bank of the Nile River, near modern Cairo and is the guardian of ancient burials. One of the most intelligent fairy creatures, the sphinx is known for its habit of speaking in riddles. According to legend, anyone who could not correctly solve the riddle of the sphinx not only could not pass further, but was instantly swallowed by this beast.
Unicorns are magical and noble creatures that have fascinated both adults and children for many centuries all over the planet. They are symbols of purity and divinity and the personification of indomitable freedom. Many cultures around the world have their own myths about the unicorn, but in most cases it is described as a white horse with a long horn coming out of its forehead. The horn is often curled, in the rays of the sun light plays around the body of the beast.
Unicorns are often associated with rainbows and chaste maidens. According to legend, only pure maidens who are alone in the forest can catch unicorns. Unlike most fairy tale animals, whose descriptions are based on the main human fears, most fairy tales involving unicorns are kind. The unicorn was talked about several thousand years ago, and it is still sometimes reported that someone saw it.
Unicorn. The most interesting fabulous animals
Throughout history, people have invented countless tales of mythical creatures, legendary monsters, and supernatural monsters. Despite their obscure origin, these mythical creatures described in folklore different peoples and in many cases are part of the culture. It's amazing that there are people around the world who are still convinced that these monsters exist, despite the lack of any meaningful evidence. So, today we are going to look at a list of 25 legendary and mythical creatures that never existed.
Budak is present in many Czech fairy tales and legends. This monster is described, as a rule, as a creepy creature resembling a scarecrow. It can cry like an innocent child, thus luring its victims. On the night of the full moon, Budak allegedly weaves a fabric from the souls of those people whom he ruined. Budak is sometimes described as an evil version of Santa Claus who travels around Christmas in a cart pulled by black cats.
24. Ghoul
The ghoul is one of the most famous creatures in Arabian folklore and appears in the Thousand and One Nights. The ghoul is described as an undead creature that can also take the form of an intangible spirit. He often visits cemeteries to eat the flesh of recently deceased people. This is perhaps main reason why the word ghoul in Arab countries is often used when referring to gravediggers or representatives of any profession directly related to death.
23. Yorogumo.
Loosely translated from Japanese, Yorogumo means "spider temptress", and in our humble opinion, the name perfectly describes this monster. According to Japanese folklore, Yorogumo was a bloodthirsty monster. But in most tales, he is described as a huge spider that takes the form of a very attractive and sexy woman, which seduces its male victims, captures them in a net, and then devours them with pleasure.
22. Cerberus.
In Greek mythology, Cerberus is the guardian of Hades and is usually described as a bizarre monster that looks like a dog with three heads and a tail ending in a dragon's head. Cerberus was born from the union of two monsters, the giant Typhon and Echidna, and is himself the brother of the Lernaean Hydra. Cerberus is often described in myth as one of the most dedicated guards in history and is often mentioned in the Homeric epic.
21. Kraken
The legend of the Kraken came from the North Seas and its presence was initially limited to the coasts of Norway and Iceland. Over time, however, his fame grew, thanks to the wild imagination of storytellers, which led subsequent generations to believe that he also lives in all the seas of the world.
Norwegian fishermen originally described sea monster as a giant animal that was as big as an island and posed a danger to passing ships not from direct attack, but from giant waves and tsunamis caused by the movements of its body. However, later people began to spread stories about the monster's violent attacks on ships. Modern historians believe that the Kraken was nothing more than a giant squid and the rest of the stories are nothing but the wild imagination of sailors.
20. Minotaur
The Minotaur is one of the first epic creatures that we meet in the history of mankind, and takes us back to the heyday of the Minoan civilization. The Minotaur had the head of a bull on the body of a very large, muscular man and settled in the center of the Cretan labyrinth, which was built by Daedalus and his son Icarus at the request of King Minos. Everyone who fell into the labyrinth became a victim of the Minotaur. The exception was the Athenian king Theseus, who killed the beast and left the labyrinth alive with the help of the thread of Ariadne, the daughter of Minos.
If Theseus were hunting the Minotaur these days, then a rifle with a collimator sight would be very useful to him, a huge and high-quality selection of which is on the portal http://www.meteomaster.com.ua/meteoitems_R473/.
19. Wendigo
Those familiar with psychology have probably heard the term "Wendigo psychopathy" which describes a psychosis that causes a person to eat human flesh. The medical term takes its name from the mythical creature called the Wendigo, which, according to the myths of the Algonquian Indians. The Wendigo was an evil creature that looked like a cross between a human and a monster, somewhat like a zombie. According to legend, only people who ate human flesh were able to become Wendigo themselves.
Of course, this creature never existed and was invented by Algonquin elders who were trying to stop people from engaging in cannibalism.
In ancient Japanese folklore, Kappa is a water demon that lives in rivers and lakes and devours naughty children. Kappa means "river child" in Japanese and has the body of a turtle, the limbs of a frog, and a head with a beak. In addition, on the top of the head there is a cavity with water. According to legend, Kappa's head should always be moistened, otherwise it will lose its power. Oddly enough, many Japanese consider the existence of Kappa to be a reality. Some lakes in Japan have posters and signs warning visitors that there is a serious danger of being attacked by this creature.
Greek mythology gave the world the most epic heroes, gods, and creatures, and Talos is one of them. The huge bronze giant allegedly lived in Crete, where he protected a woman named Europa (from whom the European continent takes its name) from pirates and invaders. For this reason, Talos patrolled the island's shores three times a day.
16. Menehune.
According to legend, the Menehune were an ancient race of gnomes who lived in the forests of Hawaii before the arrival of the Polynesians. Many scientists explain the existence of ancient statues in the Hawaiian Islands by the presence of Menehune here. Others argue that the legends of Menehune appeared with the arrival of Europeans in these areas and were created by the human imagination. The myth goes back to the roots of Polynesian history. When the first Polynesians arrived in Hawaii, they found dams, roads, and even temples that were built by the Menehune.
However, no one has found the skeletons. Therefore, it still remains a big mystery what kind of race built all these amazing ancient structures in Hawaii before the arrival of the Polynesians.
15. Griffin.
The griffin was a legendary creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body and tail of a lion. The griffin is the king of the animal kingdom, which was a symbol of power and dominance. Griffins can be found in many depictions of Minoan Crete and more recently in the art and mythology of Ancient Greece. However, some believe that the creature symbolizes the fight against evil and witchcraft.
14. Medusa
According to one version, Medusa was a beautiful maiden destined for the goddess Athena, who was raped by Poseidon. Athena, furious that she couldn't stand up to Poseidon directly, turned Medusa into an unsightly, evil monster with a head full of snakes for hair. The ugliness of Medusa was so disgusting that the one who looked at her face turned to stone. Eventually Perseus killed Medusa with the help of Athena.
Pihiu is another legendary monster hybrid native to China. Even though no part of his body resembled human organs, the mythological creature is often described as having the body of a lion with wings, long legs and the head of a Chinese dragon. Pihiu is considered the guardian and protector of those who practice feng shui. Another version of pihiu, Tian Lu is also sometimes considered a sacred being that attracts and protects wealth. This is the reason why small statues of Tian Lu are often seen in Chinese homes or offices, as it is believed that this creature can contribute to the accumulation of wealth.
12. Sukuyant
Sukuyant, according to Caribbean legends (especially in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Guadeloupe), is an exotic black version of the European vampire. From mouth to mouth, from generation to generation, Sukuyant has become part of the local folklore. He is described as a hideous-looking old woman by day, turning into a gorgeous-looking young black woman resembling a goddess at night. She seduces her victims to suck their blood or make them her eternal slaves. It was also believed that she practiced black magic and voodoo, and could transform into fireballs or enter the homes of her victims through any opening in the house, including through cracks and keyholes.
11. Lamassu.
According to the mythology and legends of Mesopotamia, Lamassu was a protective deity, depicted with the body and wings of a bull, or with the body of a lion, wings of an eagle and the head of a man. Some have described him as a menacing male, while others have described him as a female deity with good intentions.
10. Tarasca
The tale of Tarascus is reported in the story of Martha, which is included in the biography of the Christian saints Jacob. Tarasca was a dragon with a very intimidating appearance and bad intentions. According to legend, he had the head of a lion, six short legs like a bear, the body of a bull, was covered with a turtle shell and a scaly tail that ended with a sting of a scorpion. Tarasca terrorized the region of Nerluk in France.
It all ended when a young devoted Christian named Martha arrived in the city to spread the gospel of Jesus and discovered that people had been afraid of the ferocious dragon for years. Then he found a dragon in the forest and sprinkled it with holy water. This action tamed the dragon's wild nature. After that, Marfa led the dragon back to the city of Nerluk, where the enraged locals stoned Tarasque to death.
On November 25, 2005, UNESCO included Tarasque in the list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
9. Draugr.
Draugr, according to Scandinavian folklore and mythology, is a zombie that spreads a surprisingly powerful putrid smell of the dead. It was believed that Draugr eats people, drinks blood, and has power over the minds of people, driving them crazy at will. The typical Draugr was somewhat similar to Freddy Krueger, which, apparently, was created under the influence of fairy tales about the Scandinavian monster.
8. Lernaean Hydra.
The Lernaean Hydra was a mythical water monster with many heads that resembled large snakes. The ferocious monster lived in Lerna, a small village near Argos. According to legend, Hercules decided to kill the Hydra and when he cut off one head, two appeared. For this reason, Heracles' nephew Iolaus burned every head as soon as his uncle cut it off, only then did they stop breeding.
7. Brox.
According to Jewish legend, Broxa is an aggressive monster that looks like a giant bird that attacked goats or, in rare cases, drank human blood at night. The legend of Brox spread in the Middle Ages in Europe, where it was believed that witches took on the appearance of Brox.
6. Baba Yaga
Baba Yaga is perhaps one of the most popular paranormal creatures in the folklore of the Eastern Slavs and, according to legend, had the appearance of a ferocious and scary old woman. Nevertheless, Baba Yaga is a multifaceted figure that can inspire researchers, can turn into a cloud, a snake, a bird, a black cat and symbolize the Moon, death, winter, or the Earth Mother Goddess, the totem progenitor of matriarchy.
Antaeus was a giant with great strength, which he inherited from his father, Poseidon (god of the sea), and mother Gaia (Earth). He was a hooligan who lived in the Libyan desert and challenged any traveler in his lands to battle. Having defeated the stranger in a deadly wrestling match, he killed him. He collected the skulls of the people he defeated in order to one day build a temple dedicated to Poseidon from these "trophies".
But one day, one of the passers-by was Hercules, who made his way to the garden of the Hesperides to complete his eleventh feat. Antaeus made a fatal mistake by challenging Hercules. The hero raised Antaeus above the ground and crushed him in a bear hug.
4. Dullahan.
The fierce and powerful Dullahan is a headless horseman in Irish folklore and mythology. For centuries, the Irish have described him as a harbinger of doom who traveled on a black, terrifying-looking horse.
According to Japanese legend, Kodama is a peaceful spirit that lives inside certain types of trees. The kodama is described as a small white and peaceful ghost that is perfectly in sync with nature. However, according to legend, when someone tries to cut down the tree that Kodama lives in, bad things and a string of misfortunes begin to happen to him.
2. Corrigan
Strange creatures named Corrigan hail from Brittany, a cultural region in northwestern France with a very rich literary tradition and folklore. Some say that Corrigan was a beautiful, kind fairy, while other sources describe him as an evil spirit that looked like a dwarf and danced around fountains. He seduced people with his charms to kill them or steal their children.
1. Fish-man Lyrgans.
The fish-man Lyrgans existed in the mythology of Cantabria, an autonomous community located in northern Spain.
According to legend, this is an amphibious creature that looks like a sullen person who was lost at sea. Many people believe that the fish-man was one of the four sons of Francisco de la Vega and Maria del Casar, a couple who lived in the area. It was believed that they drowned in the waters of the sea while swimming with their friends at the mouth of Bilbao.
The human imagination, especially in nightmares, can generate images of terrible monsters. They come from the darkness and inspire inexplicable fear. Over the entire multi-thousand-year history of existence, mankind believed in a fairly large number of such monsters, whose names they tried not to even pronounce, since they personified universal evil.
Often Yovi is compared with the more famous Bigfoot, but he is credited with Australian origin. According to legend, Yovi lived exclusively in the Blue Mountains, a mountainous region located to the west of Sydney. The image of this monster appeared in the folklore of the natives to scare away European immigrants and settlers, although there is evidence that the myth has a longer history. There have been people who have spoken of meeting this creature, which is considered an "evil spirit", although there is no official confirmation of Yovi attacking people. It is said that when meeting a human, Yovi stops and stares intently, and then disappears into the dense forest.
During the era of colonial wars, many myths appeared or found new life in different parts of the world. For example, in the regions of South America, they began to talk about the existence giant anacondas. These snakes reach a length of up to 5 m, and their body, in comparison with ordinary anacondas, is much more massive. Fortunately, no one has yet encountered such a snake, either alive or dead.
If you delve into the mythology of the Slavs, you can believe in the existence of such a creature as a brownie. This is a small bearded man who can live in a pet or even move into a person. They say that in every house there lives a brownie, who is responsible for the atmosphere in it: if there is order and harmony in the house, then the brownie is kind, if they often swear in the house, then the brownie is evil. An evil brownie is capable of causing constant accidents that make life unbearable.
With the head of a crocodile and the face of a dog, with a ponytail and fins, with large fangs, the Bunyip is a fairly large monster that is said to live in swamps and other parts of Australia. His name comes from the word "devil", but many other qualities are attributed to him. Most often, this monster was talked about in the 19th century, and today it is believed that the creature still exists and lives on parity with the locals. Most of all, the natives believe in this.
The creature Bigfoot is known to everyone. This is a large creature that lives in different parts USA. He is very tall, his body is covered with black or Brown. They say that when meeting with him, a person becomes numb in the truest sense of the word, being under the influence of hypnosis. There were people who testified about cases when Bigfoot took people with him into the forest and kept them in his lair for a long time. True or not, the image of Bigfoot instills fear in many.
Jikininki is a special creature born from Japanese folklore. In the past, it was a man who, after death, transformed into a terrible monster. Many believe that this is a ghost that feeds on human flesh, so people who believe in this deliberately avoid visiting cemeteries. In Japan, it is believed that if a person is very greedy during life, after death he turns into jikininki as a punishment and experiences the eternal hunger of carrion. Outwardly, the jikininki is similar to a person, but with a disproportionate body, with large luminous eyes.
This creature has Tibetan roots. Researchers believe that the yeti crossed into Nepal in the footsteps of Sherpa migrants, emigrants from Tibet. They say that he wanders around the neighborhood, sometimes throwing huge stones and whistling terribly. Yeti walks on two legs, his body is covered with light hair, and in his mouth are dog fangs. AND simple people, and the researchers claim to have met this creature in reality. Rumor has it that it penetrates our world from underworld.
Chupacabra is a fairly small creature, but capable of causing a lot of problems. This monster was first talked about in Puerto Rico, and later in other parts of South and North America. "Chupakabra" in translation means "sucking the blood of goats." The creature received this name as a result of a large number of unexplained deaths of livestock of the local population. Animals died from blood loss, through bites on the neck. The Chupacabra has also been seen in Chile. Basically, all evidence of the existence of the monster is oral, there is neither a body nor a photograph of it. Nobody managed to catch the monster alive either, but it is very popular all over the world.
Between 1764 and 1767, France lived in great fear because of the werewolf, either the wolf or the dog. They say that during the period of its existence, the monster made 210 attacks on people, of which he killed 113. Nobody wanted to meet him. The monster was even officially hunted by King Louis XV. Many professional hunters tracked down the beast for the purpose of killing, but their attempts were in vain. As a result, a local hunter killed him with a charmed bullet. Human remains were found in the belly of the beast.
In the mythology of the American Indians, there was a bloodthirsty creature Wendigo, a product of curses. The fact is that in the myths of the Algonquian tribes it was stated that if during life a person was a cannibal and ate human meat, then after death he turns into a Wendigo. They also said that he can move into any person, taking possession of his soul. A wendigo is three times taller than a human, its skin is decomposing and its bones are protruding. This creature is constantly hungry and craves human flesh.
The Sumerians, representatives of an ancient but fairly developed civilization, created their own epic, in which they talked about gods, goddesses and their Everyday life. One of the most popular epics was the Epic of Gilgamesh and stories about the creature Gugalanna. This creature, in search of the king, killed a large number of people, destroyed cities. Gugalanna is a bull-like monster that the gods used as a weapon of revenge on people.
Like vampires, this creature has a constant thirst for blood. It also devours human hearts and has the ability to detach its upper body and enter people's homes, especially homes where pregnant women live, to drink their blood and steal the baby with its long tongue. But this creature is mortal and can be killed by sprinkling salt.
Black Annis, as the embodiment of evil, is known to everyone in Britain, especially in rural areas. She is the main character of the local folklore of the 19th century. Annis of blue color skin and a creepy smile. Children had to avoid meeting her, as she fed on children and sheep, which she took from houses and yards by deceit or force. From the skin of children and sheep, Annis made belts, which she then wore by the dozens.
The scariest of the scariest, the Dybbuk is the protagonist of Jewish mythology. This evil spirit is considered the most cruel. He is able to destroy the life of anyone and destroy the soul, while the person will not be aware of what is happening to him and gradually die.
"The Tale of Koshchei the Immortal" belongs to the mythology and folklore of the Slavs and tells about a creature that cannot be killed, but which spoils the life of everyone. But he has a weak point - his soul, which is at the end of the needle, which is hidden in the egg, which is inside the duck, which sits inside the hare. The hare sits in a strong chest on top of the tallest oak growing on the fabulous island. In a word, it is difficult to call a trip to this island pleasant.
The world knows a huge number of myths in which different creatures play an important role. They do not have scientific confirmation, but new reports regularly appear that entities have been seen in different parts of the world that do not look like ordinary animals and people.
Mythical creatures of the peoples of the world
There are a huge number of legends that tell about mythical monsters, animals and mysterious entities. Some of them have common features with real animals and even people, while others personify the fears of people living in different times. Every continent has legends that involve unique mythical animals and creatures associated with local folklore.
Slavic mythical creatures
The legends that arose during the time of the ancient Slavs are familiar to many, since they formed the basis of various fairy tales. creatures Slavic mythology hide important signs of that time. Many of them were held in high esteem by our ancestors.
Mythical Creatures of Ancient Greece
The most famous and interesting are the myths of Ancient Greece, which are filled with gods, different heroes and entities, both good and bad. Many Greek mythical creatures have become characters in various modern stories.
Mythical animals in Norse mythology
The mythology of the ancient Scandinavians is part of the ancient Germanic history. Many entities stand out for their sheer size and bloodthirstiness. The most famous mythical animals:
English mythical creatures
Various entities that, according to legend, lived in England in ancient times, are among the most famous in modern world. They became the heroes of various cartoons and films.
Mythical creatures of Japan
Asian countries are unique, even when considering their mythology. It is connected with geographic location, unpredictable elements and national flavor. The ancient mythical creatures of Japan are unique.
Mythical Creatures of South America
Ancient Indian traditions, Spanish and Portuguese culture are mixed in this territory. For many years they lived here different people who prayed to their gods and told stories. The most famous creatures from myths and legends in South America:
Mythical Creatures of Africa
Considering the presence of a large number of peoples living on the territory of this continent, it is quite understandable that the legends that tell about entities can be listed for a long time. Good mythical creatures in Africa are little known.
Mythical Creatures from the Bible
While reading the main holy book, one may come across various entities that are unknown. Some of them are similar to dinosaurs and mammoths.
Looking at the many spineless, teenage and friendly vampire characters that are featured in modern books and movies, it's easy to forget that vampires were originally completely different and much, oh, much more scary.
The world is full of legends and tales of mythical monsters, mysterious creatures and incredible beasts. Some of these monsters were inspired by real animals or fossils found, while others are symbolic expressions of people's deepest fears.
Centuries ago, our ancestors trembled and were horrified at the mere mention of the name of monsters, which is not at all surprising, considering how nightmarish their mythology could be.
This short review will focus only on the 20 most terrible, and sometimes strange monsters - vampires, monstrous creatures and other undead, which, even by the standards of our ancestors, were one of the most terrible and disgusting creatures in the world.
Callicanzaro
Callicanzaro spends most of the year in the underworld (whose location is unknown) and only appears for the 12 nights between Christmas and Epiphany, because he knows that on these festive nights people are too drunk to run away. While the mere sight of his black, distorted face, red eyes, and fanged-filled mouth is enough to drive the holiday spirit out of anyone, Callicanzaro isn't content with robbing everyone of the fun. The monster tears apart anyone it meets with its long claws, and then devours the torn body.
According to Greek lore, any child born between Christmas and Epiphany will eventually become Callicanzaro. Scary, isn't it? But parents should not be afraid, because there is a cure. All you have to do is hold the newborn's feet over the fire until his toenails are scorched, such a procedure should break the curse.
But what kind of holidays would it be without a family reunion! Touchingly, Callicanzaro remembers his family from when he was human and has been known to eagerly go in search of his former siblings. But only to devour them when he finally finds them.
Soucoyant
Soukoyant in Caribbean mythology is a type of werewolf that belongs to the class of "jambi", local incorporeal spirits. During the day, a jambi soukoyant looks like a frail old woman, and at night this creature sheds its skin, puts it in a mortar with a special solution, and, turning into a fiery flying ball, goes in search of a victim. Soukoyanth sucks out night wanderers, and then trades it with demons for mystical power.
Like European myths about vampires, if the victim survives, then he becomes the same accomplice. To kill a monster, you need to pour salt into the solution in which its skin lies, after which the creepy creature will die at dawn, as it will not be able to “put on” the skin back.
Penanggalan
It is possible that the creature that we will describe in this paragraph is the most disgusting of the entire list!
The Penanggalan is a nightmarish monster that looks like a woman during the day. However, at night, he "removes" his head and flies away in search of victims, while the spine and all the internal organs of Penanggalan hang from his neck. And this is really a real Malaysian legend, and not an invention of modern filmmakers!
The monster's internal organs glow in the dark and can be used as tentacles to clear the way for Penanggalan. In addition, the creature can grow its hair at will to grab its prey.
When Penanggalan notices a suitable house, he tries to get inside with the help of "tentacles". With luck, the monster devours all the small children in the house. If there is no way to get into the house, the mystical creature stretches its incredibly long tongue under the house and tries to reach the sleeping inhabitants through cracks in the floor. If the Penanggalan tongue reaches the bedroom, it digs into the body and sucks out the victim's blood.
In the morning, Penanggalan soaks his insides in vinegar so that they decrease in size and can again fit into his body.
Kelpie
Kelpie is a water spirit that lives in the rivers and lakes of Scotland. Although the kelpie usually appears in the form of a horse, it can also take the form of a human. Often, kelpies lure people into supposedly rolling them on their backs, after which they drag victims underwater and devour them. However, the tales of the vicious water horse also served as a wonderful warning to children to stay out of the water, and to women to be wary of handsome strangers.
Ghoul
The ghoul may look just like an ordinary Russian person. He may even have the ability to walk in broad daylight like a Russian. However, he is not Russian. Behind its harmless façade hides a vicious vampire who will gladly refuse all the vodka in the world if they give him even one drop of blood for it. What's more, his love for blood is so great that after he rips you apart with his metal teeth, he might just eat your heart for fun.
The ghoul also loves children (although, you guessed it, not parental love), preferring the taste of their blood, and always drinking their blood before proceeding to drain their parents. He also doesn't dislike the taste of frozen mud, as legend has it that he uses his metal teeth to gnaw his way out of his grave in the dead of winter when his hands freeze due to poor insulation in the coffin.
Basilisk
The basilisk is usually described as a crested snake, although sometimes there are descriptions of a rooster with a snake's tail. This creature can kill birds with its fire breath, humans with a glance, and other living beings with a simple hiss. Legends say that the basilisk is born from a snake or toad egg that was incubated by a rooster. The word "basilisk" is translated from Greek as "little king", so this creature is often called the "serpent king". During the Middle Ages, basilisks were accused of causing plagues and mysterious murders.
Asasabonsam
You are probably familiar with the old urban legend of the Hook Man. So, as it turns out, the Ashanti people of Ghana tell a similar (albeit much creepier) story about Asasabonsam, a strange vampire with curved iron hooks for legs who lives in the depths of African forests. He hunts by hanging from the branches of trees and thrusting the aforementioned hooks into the body of those unfortunates who pass under this tree. Once he hauls you up a tree, he eats you alive with his iron teeth, and then presumably spends most of the night getting your bloodstains out of his hooks so they don't rust.
Unlike most vampires, he feeds on both humans and animals (so someone needs to alert People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)). The strangest fact about the Asasabonsam is that when its prey is a human, it will first bite off the thumb before moving on to the rest of the body, possibly to prevent you from hitching a ride and getting home if you like- somehow manage to escape from its hooks.
Asmodeus
Asmodeus is a demon of lust who is mostly known from the Book of Tobit (the deuterocanonical book of the Old Testament). He pursues a woman named Sarah and kills her seven husbands out of jealousy. In the Talmud, Asmodeus is mentioned as the prince of demons, who expelled King Solomon from his kingdom. Some folklorists believe that Asmodeus is the son of Lilith and Adam. The legend says that it is he who is responsible for the perversion of people's sexual desires.
Varakolach
Varakolach(s) is arguably the most powerful of all vampires, so it's not at all clear why so little is known about him other than the fact that he has a difficult-to-pronounce name (seriously, try saying it out loud). According to legend, his skin is a dermatologist's worst nightmare - it is terribly pale and dry, and no amount of body lotion can cure it, but otherwise he looks like an ordinary person.
Oddly enough, such a frightening creature as the Romanian Varakolach has only one superpower, but what a superpower! He can devour the sun and moon (in other words, he can cause solar and lunar eclipses at will), which in itself is the coolest of all tricks. However, in order to do this, he must sleep, because, apparently, the invocation of astrological phenomena, which can frighten us even today, and which must have inspired terrible fear in people of more primitive cultures, takes an enormous amount of his energy.
Yorogumo
There are probably more bizarre cryptozoological creatures in Japanese mythology than there are in all seasons of The X-Files. One of the most bizarre is the Yogorumo or "harlot" - a spider-like monster of the Yokai family (goblin-like creatures). The legend of Yogorumo originated during the Edo period in Japan. It is believed that when a spider reaches the age of 400 years, it acquires magical power. In most legends, the spider turns into beautiful woman, seduces men and lures them to his home, plays the biwa (Japanese lute) for them, and then entangles them in cobwebs and devours them.
upier
The Russian ghoul (see above) has a nightmarish Polish cousin named Upier, who is famous for being even more bloodthirsty. Moreover, his thirst for blood is so strong and insatiable that in addition to drinking huge amounts of it inside, Upier loves to bathe and sleep in it. His body is filled with big amount blood, that if you stick a stake in it, it will explode in a huge geyser of blood, worthy of the scene at the elevator from the movie "The Shining" (The Shining).
He takes particular pleasure in sucking the blood of friends and family members who were dear to him during his human life, so if any of your friends or relatives have recently turned into Upier, you should know that you are most likely already recorded as a dish on his menu. When it finally finds you, it immobilizes you with a powerful hug (a kind of farewell bear hug) and then digs its spiked tongue into your neck and sucks every last drop of blood out of you.
Black Annis
A ghostly witch from English folklore, Black Annis is an old woman with a blue face and iron claws who haunted peasants in Leicestershire. Legend has it that she lives in a cave in the Dane Hills, and at night she wanders in search of children to devour. If Black Annis catches a child, she tans its skin and then wears it around her waist. Needless to say, parents scared Black Annis of their children when they misbehaved.
Neuntother
Attention! If you are a hypochondriac by nature, then you probably better not read about this monster!
The Neuntother is a walking biological weapon of mass destruction that does one thing and one thing only - it brings death wherever it goes. Neuntother lives in the myths of Germany and is the carrier of an endless number of terrible types of plague and deadly diseases, which he spreads around him like candy, in whichever city he is in, infecting everyone and everything that gets in his way. Therefore, it is not surprising that, according to legend, it appears only during massive and terrible epidemics.
Neuntother's body is covered in open sores and wounds that constantly ooze pus, and which most likely play an important role in the spread of deadly bacteria (if reading this sentence made you an irresistible desire to immediately bathe in a disinfectant, then you are not alone) . His well-chosen German name literally translates to "Killer of the Nine", and is a reference to the fact that it takes nine days for a corpse to fully transform into a Neuntothera.
Nabau
In 2009, two aerial photographs taken by researchers in Borneo, Indonesia, showed a 30-meter snake swimming down a river. There is still controversy regarding the authenticity of this photograph, as well as whether they actually depict a snake. Some argue that it is a log or a large boat. However, locals living along the Baleh River insist that the creature is Nabau, an ancient dragon-like monster from Indonesian folklore.
According to legends, the Nabau is over 30 meters long, has a head with seven nostrils, and can take the form of several different animals.
Yara-ma-yha-hu
Grab your didgeridoo, because the creature is truly strange. Australian Aboriginal legends describe Yara-ma-yha-hu as a humanoid creature 125 centimeters tall, with red skin and a huge head. Yara-ma-yha-hu spends most of his time in the trees. If you are not lucky enough to pass under such a tree, Yara-ma-yha-hu will jump on you and attach to your body with small suction cups that cover his fingers and toes, so no matter how hard you try, you will not be able to shake off.
Further - worse. Yara-ma-yha-hu made this list primarily due to the peculiarities of its feeding method. Because it doesn't have any fangs, it sucks your blood through the suction cups on your arms and legs until you're weakened to the point where you can't run or even move. After that, he leaves you lying on the ground like a discarded, half-empty juice can, while he leaves, presumably to have fun with kangaroos and koalas.
When he returns from his evening of fun, he gets down to business and swallows you whole with his huge mouth, then regurgitates you after a while, still alive and unharmed (yes, it's a gagging vampire). This process is repeated over and over again, and each time you become smaller and redder as a result of it digesting you. In the end, yes, yes, you guessed it, you yourself turn into Yara-ma-yha-hu. That's it!
Dullahan
Most people are familiar with Washington Irving's story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and the story of the Headless Horseman. The Irish Dullahan or "dark man" is essentially the forerunner of the ghost of the decapitated Hessian soldier who pursued Ichabod Crane. In Celtic mythology, the dullahan is a harbinger of death. He rides a big black horse with glowing eyes and carries his head under his arm.
Some stories say that the dullahan calls out the name of the person who is about to die, while others say that he marks the person by pouring a bucket of blood over them. Like many monsters and mythical creatures, the Dullahan has one weakness: gold.
Nelapsi
This time the Czechs came up with something really disgusting. Nelapsi is a walking corpse who doesn't care to put on clothes, so he goes hunting in what his mother gave birth to. The lack of clothes combined with glowing red eyes, long messy black hair and teeth as thin as needles is enough to make you leave the lights on at night, but unfortunately that's just the tip of the iceberg.
In fact, Nelapsi can easily win the competition for the most powerful and overbearing of all vampires. He can destroy whole villages at once, and like that guy who is forbidden to approach the buffet, he does not stop until the morning, no matter how much he has already eaten during the night. He is not a picky eater at all and feeds on cattle as well as humans, and kills his victims by either tearing them apart with his teeth or crushing them with his Death's Embrace, which is so powerful it can easily crush bones. However, if given the opportunity, he will try to keep you alive for as long as possible and enjoy torturing his victims for weeks before killing them (because to be called a real villain, you have to torture people for weeks ). However, even that is not all. If Nelapsi leaves the tormented people alive for some reason (very unlikely, you guessed it), they are quickly driven to death by a deadly Noyntoter-style plague that will follow the surviving human wherever they go.
Finally, if all of the above doesn't seem terrifying enough, Nelapsi can also kill people just by looking at them. One of his favorite pastimes is playing "I'm spying on you with one eye" from the tops of church spiers, causing any person that Nelapsi's eye falls on to die on the spot. We may have gone overboard with mentioning just how evil Nelapsi is, but he's such a scoundrel that it's impossible not to emphasize it enough.
Goblins "Red Caps"
Evil goblins in red caps live on the border between England and Scotland. According to legends, they usually live in ruined castles and kill wandering travelers by dropping boulders from cliffs on them. The goblins then paint the caps with the blood of their victims. Redcaps are forced to kill as often as possible because if the blood on their caps dries out, they die.
Evil creatures are usually depicted as old men with red eyes, big teeth, claws and a staff in hand. They are faster and stronger than humans. Legend has it that the only way to escape such a goblin is to shout out a quote from the Bible.
Manticore
This is a fabulous creature that looks like a sphinx. It has the body of a red lion, a human head with 3 rows of sharp teeth and a very loud voice, the tail of a dragon or a scorpion. The manticore shoots poisoned needles at the victim and then eats it whole, leaving nothing. From a distance, she can often be confused with a bearded man. Most likely, this will be the last mistake of the victim.
Indian vampire Brahmaparusha
Brahmaparusha is a vampire, but he is not at all ordinary. These malevolent spirits, which are described in Hindu mythology, have a passion for human brains. Unlike the suave, dapper vampires that live in Romania, the brahmaparusha is a grotesque creature that wears the intestines of its victims around its neck and head. He also carries a human skull with him and when he kills a new victim, he drains her blood into this skull and drinks from it.
In fact, humanity has invented truly nightmarish monsters in its history (and continues to invent!) far from two unfortunate dozens. There are just 20 monsters in our selection. But there is also the vile Japanese sea spirit Umibozu, the American forest human hunter Heidbeheind, a relative of the famous and no less terrible Wendigo, the huge Bakeneko cat, the incredibly fast cannibal Wendigo, the Scandinavian super-strong undead Draugr, the ancient Babylonian Tiamat and many, many others!
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