List of monsters, demons, giants and magical creatures ancient Greek mythology

Cyclops- in ancient Greek mythology, giants with a large, round, fiery eye in the middle of their forehead. The first three Cyclops were born by the goddess Gaia (Earth) from Uranus (Sky). In ancient times, Cyclopes were personifications of thunderclouds, from which the “eye” of lightning sparkles.

Cyclops Polyphemus. Painting by Tischbein, 1802

Hecatoncheires - the children of Gaia and Uranus, hundred-armed giants, against whose terrible power nothing can resist. Mythical embodiments of terrible earthquakes and floods. The Cyclopes and Hecatoncheires were so strong that Uranus himself was horrified by their power. He tied them up and threw them deep into the earth, where they went on a rampage, causing volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The stay of these giants in her womb began to cause terrible suffering to Earth-Gaia, and she persuaded her youngest son, the titan Cronus (“Time”), to take revenge on his father, Uranus, by emasculating him. Cron did it with a sickle.

From the drops of blood of Uranus that spilled during castration, Gaia conceived and gave birth to three Erinny- goddesses of vengeance with snakes on their heads instead of hair. The names of Erinny are Tisiphone (the killing avenger), Alecto (the tireless pursuer) and Megaera (the terrible).

The Goddess of the Night (Nyukta), in anger at the lawlessness committed by Kron, gave birth to terrible, monstrous creatures: Tanata (Death), Eridu(Discord) Apata(Deception), Ker(goddesses of violent death), Hypnos(Dream), Nemesis(Revenge), Gerasa(Old age), Charona(carrier of the dead to the underworld).

Phorcys- the evil god of the stormy sea and storms. In ancient Greek mythology, the children of Phorcys were considered to be the monsters Gorgons, Grays, Sirens, Echidna and Scylla.

Keto- the evil goddess of the sea depths, sister and wife of Phorcys. Both of them personified the majestic and terrible phenomena of the sea

Grayi- personification of Old Age. Three ugly sisters: Deino (trembling), Pemphedo (Anxiety) and Enyo (anger, horror). Gray from birth, they have one eye and one tooth among three. This eye was once stolen from them by the hero Perseus. In exchange for the return of the eye, the Grays had to show Perseus the way to Medusa the Gorgon.

Skilla(Scylla - “Barking”) is a terrible monster with 12 paws, six necks and six heads, each of which has three rows of teeth. Scylla makes a continuous high-pitched bark.

Charybdis- the personification of the all-consuming abyss of the sea. A terrible whirlpool that absorbs and spews out sea moisture three times a day. The ancient Greeks believed that Scylla and Charybdis lived on opposite sides of the Strait of Messina (between Italy and Sicily). Odysseus sailed between Scylla and Charybdis during his travels

Gorgons- three sisters, three winged snake-haired monsters. The names of the Gorgons are: Euryale (“jumping far”), Stheno (“mighty”) and Medusa (“mistress, guard”). Of the three sisters, only Medusa was mortal, who had the ability to turn everything to stone with her terrible gaze. She was killed by the hero Perseus. The gaze of the dead Gorgon Medusa, which retained its magical power, later helped Perseus defeat the sea monster and save the beautiful Andromeda.

Head of Medusa. Painting by Rubens, c. 1617-1618

Pegasus- winged horse, favorite of the muses. Conceived by Medusa the Gorgon from the god Poseidon. While killing Medusa, Perseus jumped out of her body.

Sirens- in ancient Greek myths, monsters that have a beautiful female head, and the body and legs are like a bird (according to other stories - like a fish). With their enchanting singing, the sirens lured sailors to their magical island, where they tore them into pieces and devoured them. Only the ship of Odysseus passed this island safely. He ordered all his companions to cover their ears with wax so as not to hear the voices of the sirens. He himself enjoyed their singing, tightly tied to the mast.

Odysseus and the Sirens. Painting by J. W. Waterhouse, 1891

Echidna(“Viper”) is a gigantic half-woman, half-snake of a ferocious character, with a beautiful face and a spotted snake body.

Tavmant- god of sea wonders, underwater giant. The harpies were considered his daughters.

Harpies– in ancient Greek mythology – the personification of destructive storms and whirlwinds. Monsters that have the wings and clawed feet of a vulture, but the chest and head are female. They suddenly swoop in and disappear. They kidnap children and human souls.

Typhon(“Smoke, Chad”) is a terrible monster born of Gaia-Earth. The personification of gases that burst from the bowels of the earth and cause volcanic eruptions. Typhon entered into a struggle with Zeus for power over the universe and almost won it. In ancient Greek myths, Typhon is a giant who had a hundred hissing dragon heads with black tongues and flaming eyes. Zeus blew off all of Typhon's heads with lightning and cast his body into the abyss of Tartarus.

Zeus throws lightning at Typhon

Kerber(Cerberus) is a terrible three-headed dog, the son of Typhon and Echidna. The guardian of the exit from the underworld of Hades, who does not let anyone out of there. Hercules, during his eleventh labor, took Kerberus away from the bowels of the earth, but then he was returned back

Orff- a monstrous two-headed dog, the son of Typhon and Echidna, the father of the Sphinx and the Nemean Lion. It belonged to the giant Geryon and was guarded by his magical bulls. Killed by Hercules during the abduction of these bulls (tenth labor).

(“Strangler”) - in ancient Greek mythology (as opposed to Egyptian) - a monstrous maiden with the body of a dog, the wings of a bird and a woman’s head. Having settled near the city of Thebes in Boeotia, the Sphinx devoured young men who could not solve her riddle: “who walks in the morning on four legs, in the afternoon on two, and in the evening on three.” The hero Oedipus solved the riddle, and the Sphinx then threw herself into the abyss.

Sphinx. Detail of a painting by F. C. Fabre. Late XVIII - early XIX centuries.

Empusa- in ancient Greek mythology, a night ghost, a woman with donkey legs, who could take on a wide variety of guises (most often cows, beautiful girl or a dog with one leg of copper and the other of dung). She sucked blood from sleeping people and often devoured their flesh.

Lamia- in ancient Greek myths, the daughter of Poseidon, with whom Zeus entered into a relationship. Zeus's wife, Hera, was angry at this, deprived Lamia of her beauty, made her an ugly monster and killed her children. In desperation, Lamia began to take children from other mothers. She ate these children. Since then, she has regained her beauty only in order to seduce men, and then kill them and drink their blood. Falling into a mad frenzy, Lamia can only fall asleep after taking out her own eyes and putting them in a bowl. In later fairy tales, lamias were a special kind of creature, close to medieval vampires.

Nemean lion - son of Typhon and Echidna. A huge lion with skin that no weapon could pierce. Strangled by Hercules during his first labor.

Hercules kills the Nemean lion. Copy from the statue of Lysippos

Lernaean Hydra - daughter of Typhon and Echidna. A huge snake with nine heads, in which, instead of one severed, three new ones grew. Killed by Hercules during the second labor: the hero, having cut off Hydra's head, cauterized the severed area with a burning brand, causing new heads to stop growing.

Stymphalian birds - monstrous birds nurtured by the god Ares with copper beaks, claws and feathers, which they could sprinkle on the ground like arrows. They ate people and crops. Partially exterminated, partially driven away by Hercules during his third labor.

Kerynean fallow deer - a doe with golden horns and copper legs, who never knew fatigue. She was sent as a punishment to people by the goddess Artemis to the ancient Greek region of Arcadia, where she rushed through the fields, devastating crops. Caught by Hercules during his fourth labor. Hero whole year chased the doe at a run and overtook her far in the north, at the source of the Istra (Danube).

Erymanthian boar - a huge boar who lived in Arcadia, on Mount Erymanthes, and terrified the entire area. The fifth labor of Hercules was that he drove this boar into deep snow. When the boar got stuck there, Hercules tied it up and took it to King Eurystheus.

Hercules and the Erymanthian boar. Statue of L. Tuyon, 1904

Horses of Diomedes – the mares of the Thracian king Diomedes ate human flesh and were chained to stalls with iron chains, because no other fetters could hold them. During his eighth labor, Hercules took possession of these monstrous horses, but they tore apart his companion, Abdera.

Geryon- a giant from the island of Erithia located on the western edge of the earth. Had three torsos, three heads, six arms and six legs. Performing his tenth labor, Hercules reached Erithia on a golden boat solar god Helios and entered into battle with Geryon, who threw three spears at him at once. Hercules killed the giant and his two-headed dog Orff, after which he drove the magical cows of Geryon to Greece.

Periphetus- in ancient Greek mythology, a lame giant, son of the god Hephaestus. He lived in the mountains near the cities of Epidaurus and Troezena and killed all passing travelers with an iron club. Killed by the hero Theseus, who from then on carried the club of Periphetus with him everywhere, like Hercules carried the skin of the Nemean lion.

Sinid- a ferocious giant robber who killed people he met, tying them to two bent pine trees, which he then released. The pines, straightening up, tore the unfortunate people apart. Killed by the hero Theseus.

Skiron- a giant robber who lived on the edge of one of the rocks of the Greek Isthmus. Forced passers-by to wash their feet. As soon as the traveler bent down to do this, Skiron threw him off the cliff into the sea with a push of his foot. The bodies of the dead were devoured by a gigantic turtle. Sciron was killed by Theseus.

Kerkion- a monstrous giant who challenged Theseus to a wrestling match. Theseus strangled him with his hands in midair, just as Hercules Antaeus once did.

Procrustes(“Puller”) - (another name is Damast) a ferocious villain who laid people who fell into his hands on his bed. If the bed was short, Procrustes cut off the unfortunate man’s legs, and if it was long, he stretched him to the required size. Killed by Theseus. The expression “Procrustean bed” has become a common noun.

Minotaur- son born of the wife of the Cretan king Minos, Pasiphae, from an unnatural passion for a bull. The Minotaur was a monster with the body of a man and the head of a bull. Minos kept him in the Labyrinth, which was built by the great master Daedalus in the capital of Crete, Knossos. The Minotaur was a cannibal and fed on criminals sentenced to death, as well as boys and girls who were sent to Crete from Athens as tribute. Killed by Theseus: he voluntarily went to Minos among the doomed “tributaries”, killed Minos in the Labyrinth, and then safely emerged from this tangled structure with the help of the Minotaur’s sister, Ariadne, who was in love with him, and her thread.

Theseus kills the Minotaur. Drawing on an ancient Greek vase

Laestrygonians- in ancient Greek myths, a tribe of cannibal giants who lived on one of the islands, past which Odysseus sailed. The Laestrygonians strung the captured sailors on stakes like fish and carried them away to be devoured, and their ships smashed them by throwing huge stones from the rocks.

Pick(among the Romans Circe) is the daughter of the sun god Helios, the sister of the evil king of Colchis Eetos, from whom the Argonauts stole the Golden Fleece. An evil witch who lived on the island of Ee. Friendly luring travelers into her home, she treated them to delicious dishes mixed with a magic potion. This potion turned people into animals (most often into pigs). Odysseus, who visited Kirk, escaped from her witchcraft with the help of a moth flower received from the god Hermes. Odysseus entered into a love affair with Kirka, and she had three sons from him.

Kirk hands Odysseus a cup of witchcraft potion. Painting by J.W. Waterhouse

Chimera(“Young goat”) - in ancient Greek mythology, a monster with the head and neck of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a snake. Killed by the hero Bellerophon.

Styx(from the common Indo-European root “cold”, “horror”) - the personification of primitive horror and darkness and the goddess of the river of the same name in the underground kingdom of Hades. Lives in the far west, in the abode of the night. Lives in a luxurious palace, whose silver columns reach into the sky.

Charon- among the ancient Greeks, the carrier of the souls of the dead across the River Styx. A gloomy old man in rags, with feverishly looking eyes. The name is sometimes translated as "sharp-eyed."

Python(from the word “rot”) - a terrible dragon that owned the Delphic sanctuary in ancient times. Python, like Typhon, was the son of Gaia. Python encircled the surrounding area of ​​Delphi with seven or nine rings of his long body. The god Apollo entered into battle with him and killed Python, releasing 100 (according to others ancient Greek myths– 1000) arrows. After this, the Delphic sanctuary became the temple of Apollo. His prophetess, Pythia, is named after Python.

Giants- sons of Gaia-Earth. 150 terrible monsters with dragon tails instead of legs and human bodies. The giants were covered with thick hair and had long beards. Gaia gave birth to them either from drops of blood from the severed genital organ of Uranus, or from the seed of Tartarus, or on her own, angry that

The history of mankind is filled with all sorts of myths and legends about ghosts, vampires, werewolves and other mythical creatures, legendary monsters and supernatural monsters. Some of them are, of course, fiction, others probably are too, but perhaps a tiny part of these stories has some truth. Instead of talking about fictional Hollywood monsters like the vampires and werewolves mentioned above, we'll look at some lesser-known but equally mysterious creatures from legends and myths different countries, cultures and continents.

Menehune

According to historical facts, dwarves prefer cold snowy mountains, but menehunes are slightly different creatures, and they were lucky with the climate. Like their fellow cave creatures, menehunes were considered incredibly talented craftsmen. Apart from this piece of information, we don't know much about this race of humanoids. When the first Polynesians arrived in Hawaii, they saw the remains of a relatively advanced civilization with roads, temples and amazing statues that were located on several islands. To this day, there are no physical remains or direct evidence of who the Menehune were or whether they even existed.

Tarasque

What would you get if you suddenly tried to combine a lion's head, six short legs like a bear, a body like an ox covered with a tortoise shell, and a scaly tail with a scorpion sting? Monster, that's what you get. A nightmare, because Tarasque is a hellish demon (or so everyone thought) that terrorized France a long time ago until he was tamed by a wandering Christian woman named Martha. She sprinkled Tarascus with some holy water, and after that this monster became her pet. But that was until she returned to the city of Nelruk to show people that these creatures pose no threat. But wild, frightened people did not appreciate her gesture and threw stones at the poor creature before she could open her mouth and explain something to them. People are so stupid about these old legends.

Lamassu

In Mesopotamian mythology and legend, Lamassu is a deity who has the body of a bull (or lion), the wings of an eagle, and the head of a man (or woman). Some people believe that the inconsistency in the description of this creature is a refuting factor, they say, it never existed, but many saw it as at least two genders or perhaps a subspecies with different types bodies. It's a shame we'll never know the truth. But we assume they are aliens!

Draug

Many people first heard about draugr when they played in the Skyrim project. And just like in this game, draugs, according to Norwegian folklore and mythology, are incredibly powerful humanoids. Like any other notorious zombie, these guys loved to gnaw human flesh and drink human blood. What's even more alarming is that they can enter their victim's dreams and torture them in this way. And yes, Jason and Freddy were partially inspired by Draug. Maybe you know a lot more about these terrible creatures than we do?

Baba Yaga

Far away in the Russian tundra lives an old witch with terrible powers that you have never seen or imagined. The power of transformation and reincarnation allows her to change her appearance and thereby mislead people. She has a magical flying device, her house sits on a giant chicken leg, and she eats babies for breakfast! At least that's what they say folk tales. If you suddenly go into the forest and see an old witch with babies in her bag who lands near the house with a chicken leg, then don't panic! It's just your wild imagination.

Dullahan

This is the original headless horseman from Irish folklore, but he is just as terrifying as the American one. He was said to be a harbinger of death, galloping on a dead horse with his own severed head at hand. It's a sight you won't soon forget.

Abatwa

You might think that abatwa are giant ants, but in African mythology they are tiny people. They, as history tells us, can hide under a blade of grass, and also ride on small bugs and, of course, ants. If you go to Africa and see one of these guys, tell them you saw them from afar, because if you don't they will try to kill you. Well, that is unless you are a 4 year old, a pregnant woman, or a wizard. It's nonsense, and that's all. These Zulu legends are incredibly crazy!

Fomorians

Irish mythological scoundrels - the Fomorians - are a semi-divine race of immortal beings who vaguely resemble the Greek Titans. It must be admitted that there were quite a lot of them. Most of them had the heart of a goat, one arm, one leg and one eye, while other creatures were beautiful. According to legends, the Fomorians were gods of the wild.

Basilisk

Take a large bowl, throw in the head of a rooster, the body of a lizard, add some flying and breathing fire - your pet is ready! It will be something similar to a fire-breathing dragon chicken. Do you think it's delicious?

Goblin

And finally, the most terrible creature of all those mentioned above is the goblin. He can change his appearance, he has long hair and a beard, which are woven from grass and vines. He also has a cow's tail, hooves and, of course, horns. He is known as the god of the forest and protects trees and wild life from humans and their noisy machines. So what's so scary about this creature? As long as they aren't angry, they can copy someone's voice and lure people into their lair to tickle them to death. And do you still believe it?

Throughout history, people have created countless tales of mythical creatures, legendary monsters, and supernatural beasts. Despite their unclear origins, these mythical creatures are described in the folklore of various peoples and in many cases are part of the culture. It's amazing that there are people all over the world who are still convinced that these monsters exist, despite the lack of any meaningful evidence. So today we will 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 usually described as a creepy creature, reminiscent of a scarecrow. It can cry like an innocent child, thus luring its victims. On the night of the full moon, Budak allegedly weaves fabric from the souls of those people whom he killed. Budak is sometimes described as an evil version of Father Christmas who travels on Christmas Day 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 collection of tales One Thousand and One Nights. The ghoul is described as an undead creature that can also take the form of an immaterial spirit. He often visits cemeteries to eat the flesh of recently deceased people. This is probably 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 “seductress spider,” and in our humble opinion, the name perfectly describes this monster. According to Japanese folklore, Yorogumo was a bloodthirsty monster. But in most fairy tales he is described as huge spider, which takes the form of a very attractive and sexy woman who seduces her male victims, captures them in a web, and then happily devours them.

22. Cerberus.

In Greek mythology, Cerberus is the guardian of Hades and is usually described as a bizarre-looking monster that looks like a dog with three heads and a tail whose end is the head of a dragon. 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 loyal guards in history and is often mentioned in Homer's epic.

21. Kraken

The legend of the Kraken came from the Northern Seas and its presence was initially limited to the shores of Norway and Iceland. Over time, however, its fame grew, thanks to the wild imagination of storytellers, which led subsequent generations to believe that it also lives in all the seas of the world.

Norwegian fishermen initially described the sea monster as a gigantic animal that was as large 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 more than the wild imagination of sailors.

20. Minotaur

The Minotaur is one of the first epic creatures we meet in human history, 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. Anyone who entered the labyrinth became a victim of the Minotaur. The exception was the Athenian king Theseus, who killed the beast and came out of 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 the psychosis that compels a person to eat human flesh. Medical term takes its name from a mythical creature called the Wendigo, which, according to the myths of the Algonquin Indians. The Wendigo was an evil creature that looked like a cross between a human and a monster, something similar to a zombie. According to legend, only people who ate human flesh were able to become Wendigos 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 who lives in rivers and lakes and devours naughty children. Kappa means "child of the river" in Japanese and has the body of a turtle, the limbs of a frog, and a head with a beak. In addition, there is a cavity with water on the top of the head. According to legend, Kappa's head must always be kept moist, otherwise he will lose his strength. 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 risk of being attacked by this creature.

Greek mythology gave the world some of its most epic heroes, gods, and creatures, and Talos is one of them. A huge bronze giant supposedly lived in Crete, where he protected a woman named Europa (from whom the European continent took its name) from pirates and invaders. For this reason, Talos patrolled the shores of the island 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 on the Hawaiian Islands due to the presence of Menehune here. Others argue that the legends of the Menehune began with the arrival of Europeans in these areas and were created by 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 had been built by the Menehune.

However, no one 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, a symbol of power and dominance. Griffins can be found in many depictions of Minoan Crete and later in art and mythology 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 could not confront Poseidon directly, turned Medusa into an unsightly, evil monster with a head full of snakes for hair. Medusa's ugliness was so disgusting that anyone who looked at her face turned to stone. Perseus eventually 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 the wings, long legs and head of a Chinese dragon. Pihiu is considered the guardian and protector of those who practice Feng Shui. Another version of the pihiu, the 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 help accumulate wealth.

12. Sukuyant

The soucouillant, according to Caribbean legends (especially in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Guadeloupe), is an exotic black version of the European vampire. By word of mouth, from generation to generation, Sukuyant has become part of local folklore. He is described as a hideous-looking old woman by day, who at night transforms into a magnificent-looking young black woman resembling a goddess. She seduces her victims in order to later suck their blood or make them her eternal slaves. She was also believed to practice black magic and voodoo, and could transform herself into ball lightning or enter the homes of her victims through any opening in the house, including 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, the wings of an eagle and the head of a man. Some described him as a menacing-looking man, while others described him as a female deity with good intentions.

10. Tarasca

The tale of the Tarasca is reported in the history of Martha, which is included in Jacob's biography of the Christian saints. Tarasca was a dragon with a very fearsome appearance and bad intentions. According to legend, it had the head of a lion, six short legs like a bear, the body of a bull, was covered with the shell of a turtle and a scaly tail that ended with a scorpion sting. Tarasca terrorized the Nerluc region of France.

It all ended when a young devoted Christian named Martha arrived in the city to spread the gospel of Jesus and discovered that the people had been afraid of a fierce dragon for years. Then he found the dragon in the forest and sprinkled it with holy water. This action has tamed wildlife dragon. After this, Martha led the dragon back to the city of Nerluk, where the enraged locals stoned Tarascus to death.

On November 25, 2005, UNESCO included Tarasca in the list of masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.

9. Draugr.

The draugr, according to Scandinavian folklore and mythology, is a zombie that emits a surprisingly powerful putrid odor of the dead. It was believed that the Draugr eats people, drinks blood, and has power over the minds of people, driving them crazy at will. A typical Draugr was somewhat similar to Freddy Krueger, who, 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. A 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, Hercules' nephew Iolaus burned each head as soon as his uncle cut it off, only then did they stop reproducing.

7. Broxa.

According to Jewish legend, the Broxa is an aggressive monster, like a giant bird, that would attack goats or, in rare cases, drink human blood at night. The legend of Broxa spread in the Middle Ages in Europe, where it was believed that witches took the form of Broxa.

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 fierce and scary old woman. However, Baba Yaga is a multifaceted figure capable of inspiring researchers, capable of turning into a cloud, snake, bird, black cat and symbolizing the Moon, death, winter or the Goddess of Mother Earth, the totemic ancestor of matriarchy.

Antaeus was a giant with enormous 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 a fight. After defeating 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 passersby turned out to be Hercules, who was making his way to the Garden of the Hesperides to complete his eleventh labor. Antaeus made a fatal mistake by challenging Hercules. The hero lifted Antaeus off 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 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. 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 where Kodama lives, bad things and a series of misfortunes begin to happen to him.

2. Corrigan

The strange creatures called Corrigan come from Brittany, a cultural region in northwestern France with a very rich literary tradition and folklore. Some say Corrigan was a beautiful, kind fairy, while other sources describe him as an evil spirit who looked like a dwarf and danced around fountains. He seduced people with his charm 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 man 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 world is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. And many scientists today insist that there are parallel worlds in which various entities live, previously unseen. And fairy tales and myths are not fiction at all, but rather even epics. That is why this article will present a list of mythical creatures that may have once lived, or may still live somewhere else at the moment.

Unicorn

This list will examine both positive and negative representatives. If a good list is considered, a unicorn must be opened. What is it? So, most often it is a beautiful white horse with a sharp horn in its forehead. This is a symbol of chastity and the fight for justice. However, if you believe the esotericists, the unicorn should be a creature with a red head and a white body. Previously, he could be depicted with the body of a bull or goat, and only later - with a horse. Legends also say that unicorns, by their nature, have an inexhaustible supply of energy. It is very difficult to tame them, but they obediently lie down on the ground if a virgin approaches them. If you want to ride a unicorn, you will have to stock up on a golden bridle.

The life of unicorns is also very difficult. They feed exclusively on flowers, drink only morning dew, and swim in the cleanest forest lakes (in which the water then becomes healing). Moreover, all the power of these creatures is contained in a single horn (healing powers are also attributed to it). Today they say: meeting a unicorn means great happiness.

Pegasus

The list of mythical creatures similar to horses can be supplemented by the winged horse, the son of Medusa Gorgon and Poseidon. His main function is to be on Olympus and give his father lightning and thunder. However, while on earth, Pegasus with his hoof knocked out Hippocrene - the source of muses, which should inspire all creative people to useful deeds.

Valkyries

Separately, you can also consider mythical female creatures. The list will definitely be replenished with Valkyries. These are warrior maidens who are companions and executors of the will of Odin (the supreme god in These are some symbols of honorable death in combat. After a warrior has fallen, the Valkyries on their winged horses take him to the heavenly castle of Valgala, where they serve him at the table. In addition, Valkyries can predict the future.

Other female mythical creatures

1. Norns. These are spinning women who determine the birth, life and death of people.
2. Parks, or moiras. These are three sisters, daughters of the night. They also predetermined the life of every person. Clota (first daughter) spins the thread of life, Lachesis (second daughter) guards it, Atropos (third daughter) cuts it.
3. Erinyes. These are goddesses of revenge, who are depicted with torches and whips in their hands. They push a person to take revenge for grievances.
4. We continue to consider female names mythical creatures. Dryads can join the list. These are women tree guardians. They live in them and die with them. And those who planted and helped the tree to grow were the wards of the dryads. They tried their best to help them.
5. Graces. These are mythical creatures that personify youthful charm and beauty. Their main goal was to excite such a feeling as love in the young hearts of girls. In addition, they brought joy to everyone who met on their way.

Birds

The list of mythical creatures must be supplemented by various birds. After all, they also occupied leading places in popular beliefs.

1. Phoenix. Today many will say that this is the bird of happiness. However, previously she personified the immortality of the soul and the cyclical nature of the world, since she could give rebirth and was reborn herself, burning herself. The phoenix appears in the form of an eagle with golden and red plumage.
2. Anka. This is a bird from Muslim mythology, very similar in its functions and presentation to the phoenix. It was created by Allah and is inaccessible to people.
3. Ruhh. This is a giant bird, which in its claws (huge and strong, like the horns of a bull) can lift three elephants at once. It was believed that the meat of this bird restores lost youth. They called it Nog or Fear-rah.

Griffins and similar creatures

The list of mythical creatures can be continued by monsters, which are the result of crossing two or more powerful animals.

1. First of all, these are griffins. These are winged creatures that have the head of an eagle and the body of a lion. They are the guardians of the gold and treasures of the Riphean Mountains. The scream of these monsters is very dangerous: every living thing in the area dies from it, even humans.
2. Hippogriffs. It is the result of crossing a vulture bird (the front part of the creature) and a horse (the body). This creation also had wings.
3. Manticore. This is a creature that has a human face topped with three rows of teeth, the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion. His eyes are bloodshot. It moves very quickly and feeds on human bodies.
4. Sphinx. This is a creature that has the head and chest of a woman, and the body of a lion. It was called upon to protect Thebes. The sphinx asked a riddle to each person passing by. Anyone who could not guess it was killed by this creature.

Dragons

What other mythical creatures are there? The list can be supplemented by monsters that are somewhat similar in appearance to dragons.

1. Basilisk. This creature has the eyes of a toad, the head of a rooster, the wings of a bat and the body of a dragon. In other legends it is a huge lizard. From the gaze of this creature, all living things turn to stone (if the basilisk looks at itself in the mirror, it will die). His saliva is also poisonous, and it can also turn you to stone. Lives in a cave, eats stones, comes out only at night. The main goal of his life: protecting unicorns, since they are “pure” creatures.
2. Chimera. This is a creature with the head and neck of a lion, the tail of a dragon and the body of a goat. This is a symbol of a breathing volcano, as this monster spewed fire. Some people believe that modern stone chimeras can come to life and do things.
3. We continue to look at mythical creatures. A monster with the body of a snake and nine heads of a dragon can be added to the list. She lived in a swamp near the city of Lerna and ate entire herds. Hercules saved the city from the hydra.
4. Kraken. This is a kind of sea serpent, an Arabian dragon. He could capture an entire ship with his tentacles, and his back protruded in the middle of the ocean like a huge island.

Russian mythical creatures

Let's look separately at the mythical creatures of Russia. This list can be opened by evildoers. They were also called Khmyri, or Kriks. They live in swamps and pester people. They can even inhabit a person if he is old and has no children. They personify darkness, poverty, poverty. In the house, the evil spirits settle behind the stove, and then jump on a person’s shoulders and ride him. Another mythical creature is the hukhlik. This is a mummer, a water devil. This is an unclean spirit that comes out of the water and loves to play tricks on people, playing various dirty tricks on them. Particularly active during Christmas time.

Greek mythical creatures

Separately, I would also like to present a list of mythical creatures of Greece, the cradle of human civilization.

1. Typhon. This is a monster that has about 100 dragon heads with long black tongues on the back of its head. Can scream with the voices of a variety of animals. This is a special personification of the destructive forces of nature.
2. Lamia is a demon with a female appearance that kills babies.
3. Echidna. An immortal and non-aging woman with the body of a snake who lured travelers and devoured them.
4. Grai - three goddesses of old age.
5. Geryon. This is a giant, a monster, on whose belt three bodies are fused. He owned beautiful cows that lived on the island of Erithia.

Movies about mythical creatures

Fans of everything unusual can watch films about mythical creatures. The following films can be added to this list:

1. “Jason and the Agronauts”, 1963.
2. "The Lord of the Rings", several films that were released from 2001 to 2003.
3. Cartoon "How to Train Your Dragon", 2010 release.
4. "Percy Jackson and the Sea of ​​Monsters", 2013 release.
5. 2001 film "Horror from the Abyss".
6. "My Pet Dinosaur" 2007 release.

Having considered complete list mythical creatures and demons, I would like to say that all these monsters are fictitious. And so it must be assumed until facts are presented indicating the opposite.

Centaurs

Centaurs, in Greek mythology, wild creatures, half-human, half-horse, inhabitants of mountains and forest thickets. They lived in Thessaly, ate meat, drank and were famous for their violent temper. The centaurs fought tirelessly with their neighbors the Lapiths, trying to kidnap the wives from this tribe for themselves. Defeated by Hercules, they settled throughout Greece. Centaurs are mortal, only Chiron was immortal. Chiron, unlike all centaurs, was skilled in music, medicine, hunting and the art of war, and was also famous for his kindness. He was friends with Apollo and raised a number of Greek heroes, including Achilles, Hercules, Theseus and Jason, and taught healing to Asclepius himself. Chiron was accidentally wounded by Hercules with an arrow poisoned by the poison of the Lernaean hydra. Suffering from an incurable sore, the centaur longed for death and renounced immortality in exchange for Zeus freeing Prometheus. Zeus placed Chiron in the sky in the form of the constellation Centaur.

Lapiths

Lapiths, in Greek mythology, a Thessalian tribe that lived in the mountains and forests of Ossa and Pelion. Children of Lapiths - Lapiths became the ancestors of the families of this tribe. In the legends about the Lapiths, historical motifs and mythology are closely intertwined. Probably, there was a tribe of Lapiths - one of the oldest post-Pelasgian tribes of Thessaly, expelled, according to legend, by the Dorians.

Werewolf

Werewolf. A werewolf who, through witchcraft, transforms or is transformed for a certain period of time into a wolf. It is generally accepted that the name volkolak is formed by combining the words wolf and the South Slavic dlak “wool, skin.” Volkolak comes from the Dvoedushniki. Ideas about Volkolak are most fully preserved in Ukrainian, Belarusian and Polish traditions, where the plots of many tales are connected with Volkolak: a sorcerer turns wedding participants into wolves; a man is turned into a Werewolf by a girl rejected by him; an evil mother-in-law (wife) turns her unloved son-in-law (husband) into a Werewolf; the sorcerer turns into a werewolf to cause evil to people; The husband, the wolf-lak, turns into a wolf at the appointed hour and attacks his wife, who later identifies him after seeing a piece of her dress in his teeth.

Harpies

Harpies - in ancient Greek mythology - the daughters of the sea deity Thaumant and the oceanid Electra, archaic pre-Olympic deities, personifications of various aspects of the storm. Their number ranges from two to five; are depicted as winged wild half-women, half-birds of a disgusting appearance. In myths, they are represented as evil kidnappers of children and human souls, suddenly swooping in and disappearing as suddenly as the wind.

Sirens

Sirens are sea creatures in Greek mythology who personified the deceptive but charming surface of the sea, under which sharp cliffs or shoals are hidden. Sirens are half-birds, half-women (in some sources half-fish, half-women), who inherited wild spontaneity from their father, and a divine voice from their mother-muse. They lured sailors into the depths of the sea with their charming singing.

Hippopotamus (less commonly hippopotamus)

Biblical hippopotamus - four centuries before the Christian era, the word “hippopotamus” meant either a huge elephant or a hippopotamus, or an unimaginably frightening cross between these two animals; Now the hippopotamus is precisely defined by ten famous verses in the Book of Job (40:10 - 19), which describe it and instill ideas of its enormity. Everything else is speculation or philology.

Verhyenas

Thus, in the Nigerian state of Borno, the verhyen is called bultungin, which translates into “I am turning into a hyena.” It is traditionally believed that a couple of villages in this region were entirely inhabited exclusively by werehyen. In Ethiopia, they believe that every hereditary blacksmith is actually a master due to the fact that he can turn into a hyena (theoretically, this is connected with the following associative chain: hyenas - sun - fire - blacksmithing; and blacksmiths of all nations were sorcerers). They are called boudas and are suspected of midnight desecration of graves, and they are often interested in the jewelry that is placed with the deceased in the grave. One white hunter said that he once had to hunt a hyena that had gold earrings!

Thunderbirds: Mistresses of the Storm

You can find a thunderbird almost everywhere, and, having met it, a Turkmen will call it Burkut-baba, a Chechen - Zekhop, and a Nivkh - Tyynt. Yes, and they look - each in their own way. In Africa and China, for example, these birds look more like roosters. Just like the Yakuts, by the way. Among the Khanty, it refers to the capercaillie, whose cry is thunder, and lightning is its red mouth open in a cry. The Nganasans and Eastern Samoyeds believe that thunder is an iron bird like a duck, and the Forest Nenets are a white goose named dyantam kahe. The Ache tribe from Brazil believes that thunder is a dove (apparently they do not know the legend that the dove is a bird of peace...).

Fenrir, Moon Dog

Fenrir, the son of Loki and Angrboda, a monstrous wolf, born to the destruction of the gods and all living things, according to legend, is still awaiting the onset of Ragnarok, the Battle of the Gods, in order to break the shackles by which he was bound, fight with the Aesir for power over the world and swallow the Sun, plunging the world into eternal darkness...

Black Dog

One of the darkest characters from the world of psychic phenomena is the black dog, a creature that traditionally “inhabits” rural England and Wales. The black dog is seen all over Britain, and everywhere it has its own names: in Norfolk - Black Shuck (Black Devil), in Ireland - Pooka, in Somerset - Gert Dog (Chain Dog), etc.
But no matter what this phenomenon is called, distinctive features The black dog matches everywhere. Someone carefree and lonely walking about his business at night suddenly discovers that a large black dog with blazing eyes is blocking his path or slowly moving along the road straight towards him.
This ghost dog is often called a harbinger of death. And in some places where it appeared there was a strong smell of sulfur. Naturally, all of the listed distinctive features of the Black Dog bring him closer to the devil.

Demons

Demons - Evil spirits hostile to humans. Traces of beliefs in demons go back to ancient times. At that time, they were imagined as creatures covered with fur, with wings and tails shrouded in heavy stench or smoke. According to ideas, demons could easily change their appearance, turning into any “unclean” animals or pretending to be human. The word demon itself is generally applicable to all evil spirits. As Christianity spread, pagan ideas about a hostile spirit were combined with ideas about Christian demons. According to legend, angels who opposed the Lord God became demons. As punishment, they were cast down from heaven to earth, lost their angelic features and turned into numerous demons. It is also said that demons are servants of the Devil. The pagan origin of demons determined their power over the elements: the ability to spin whirlwinds, raise blizzards, send rain and storms. At the same time, demons retained some of the properties of angels: superhuman power, the ability to fly, read human thoughts and inspire their desires in a person. The main function of demons is associated with causing various, most often minor, harm to people.

Buka

Buka is a small evil creature that lives in the closet of a child's room or under the bed. Only children see him, and children suffer from him, since Buka loves to attack them at night - grab them by the legs and drag them under the bed or into the closet (his lair). He is afraid of the light, from which even the faith of adults can perish. He is afraid that adults will believe in him.

Ghoul

Vurdalak - (Vrykolak, Vurkolak and Vukod lak) (Russia, Bohemia, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro) - a deceased vampire, a werewolf in Slavic mythology, a werewolf with a supernatural ability to turn into wild animals, often sucking blood from his victims as a vampire .

Vampires

Vampires belong to the class of undead. Blood is their source of strength. They hate sunlight. The holy water burns their flesh like acid; pets are horrified by their mere presence. They are unusually strong and fast. They can turn into bats. The mirror does not reflect their faces. Their hearts don't beat, but they aren't dead. Their lips are bright scarlet, but their faces are lifelessly pale... Not all vampires rise from their coffins and turn into bats to fly from place to place. (Probably, the shape of a bat is the invention of only Bram Stoker, the author of the well-known “Dracula”. Before him, according to folklore, vampires turned into any kind of animal, but not into bats!)

Jellyfish

Medusa - This 18th-century Russian popular print, entitled "Medusa," depicts a monster with a woman's head wearing a crown and a fish-like body ending in a snake's tail. The caption below the image reads:
“The jellyfish fish in the Okiyan-sea lives near the Ethiopian abyss.”
By the way, this, if I may say so, “fish” has four legs with toothy jaws at the end.
She should not be confused with the gorgon Medusa.

Onocentaur

Onocentaur should not be confused with the Greek centaur. That one is a man-horse. This one is half-man, half-donkey. He combines “two natures: sublime and base,” personifying a double-minded person who thinks about good, but does not have the strength to renounce sins.

Remora

Remora is a giant fish in Greek and Roman mythology. Strange things sometimes happen at sea. One day the fleet of the Roman Emperor Caligula was sailing, and suddenly - no matter how hard the rowers strained, no matter how much they struck the water with oars, the ruler’s galley could not move. When they realized who the culprit was, they were simply amazed at its small size. It was a fish without any signs of monstrous strength. True, it differed from all other fish in its oval horn or suction cup. It was with this that she stuck to the side of the ship and it didn’t move! That is why they called this fish remora - which means “obstacle”.

Verlioki

Verlioka is a fairy-tale monster among the Slavs, living in a deep forest, a destroyer and destroyer of all living things. Found in Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian folklore. The description of Verlioka is quite traditional for a fairy tale; it is said that he is “tall, about one eye, half an arshin in the shoulders, stubble on his head, he leans on a stick, he grins terribly.” This description matches the images of some characters in children's horror stories. In the image of Verdioka, the features of a giant wizard are clearly visible. He destroys everything around him, kills everyone he meets. After Verlioka's death, the evil magic stops, and everyone he killed is resurrected.

Div - Demonic character of East Slavic mythology. Mentioned in medieval teachings against pagans. The Russian diva is perceived as a humanoid or bird-like creature. Researchers have not reached a consensus on the origin of the word “div”. On the one hand, it is associated with the word “divo”; on the other hand, it is associated with the adjective “diviy” - wild. In addition, the Indo-European designation for God is associated with the root “div”. There are echoes of the latter meaning in the episodes of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign,” where the expression “the marvels fell upon the earth” is perceived as a harbinger of misfortune. Perhaps the name “divas” also has a functional affinity with the Iranian deva, a negative character found in folklore and mythology.

Devas

Devas are evil spirits in Iranian mythology. They are opposed by good spirits - ahuras. There are countless devas, they serve the supreme spirit of evil Angro Mainyu. Famous heroes (for example, Rustam) fight them and defeat them. Ideas about devas, evil spirits, beast-like giants living underground and owning countless treasures have been preserved in the myths of peoples Central Asia, Kazakhstan, the Caucasus and Western Siberia.

Gnomes

Dwarfs - In European medieval mythology, different nations have creatures that live in the mountains, in caves, under the ground of which they are also called gmurs and homozuli. These are great master blacksmiths who know the secrets of the mountains. They were the first to learn how to mine ore and smelt metals. In general, they are kind and hard-working people, but they have suffered greatly from human greed, and therefore they do not like people. They hide in deep mountain caves, where they built underground cities and palaces. Sometimes they come to the surface, and if they meet a person in the mountains, they scare him with a loud cry.

Grimtours

Grimturs - Scandinavian mythology (Khrimtursy) - descend from the giant Ymir. The first inhabitants of the world, the predecessors of not only people, but also the gods. The first Grimturs, or as they are also called, the Frost Giant, was born from the spray of the world's oceans. Frost giants are endowed with great wisdom. Belthorn gives the god Odin magical runes: Odin subsequently consults the head of the giant Mimir and draws wisdom from the honey spring owned by the giant. Jotuns and trolls descend from the Grimturs, the frost giants. Also in European folklore, grimturs are ice giants living in the mountains. They are very afraid of splitting when falling from a mountain, as this threatens them with death. Distant relatives of warclaps.

Dragons

The dragon is a monster that exists in perhaps all known mythological systems. Stealing and capturing gold is his main occupation. Then he dumps the loot in the farthest corner of his cave and sleeps on this heap. He loves to eat people, and virgins are a special treat for him. He fights with the gnomes over their treasures and does not always emerge victorious, since the gnomes manage to hide in the dungeons and take away their treasures. For Europeans, the dragon is traditionally the bearer of an evil, sometimes satanic principle. So in the Russian icon-painting tradition, St. George, slaying the serpent (the personification of the victory of Christianity over the forces of the devil), most often pierces with a spear a dragon - with wings and paws.

Trolls

Troll - Giants in German-Scandinavian mythology. They live inside or nearby mountains, where they store their treasures. They are ugly, have great strength, but are stupid. As a rule, they harm people, steal their livestock, and turn out to be cannibals. In sunlight they die, turning to stone. According to other legends, trolls were small, slightly larger than gnomes with nasty wrinkled bodies, and they lived in holes in the forest or caves in the mountains.

Hamadryads

Hamadryads, Greek - nymphs of trees, which, unlike dryads, are born and die with them. When is Erysichthon ordered to cut down an oak tree in Demeter's grove, blood flowed from it, and the branches became very pale. It was the blood of the Hamadryad, who predicted retribution to the cruel Erysichthon. The goddess Demeter punished the desecrator of her sacred oak by giving Erysichthon an insatiable hunger. There is also a well-known myth about the father of a certain Parabius, who committed a heinous crime by cutting down an oak tree that Hamadryad begged him to spare. Because Hamadryad's oak-dwelling was cut down, the nymph punished both the criminal and his offspring. To atone for guilt, an altar had to be erected to the nymph and sacrifices offered to her.

Earth cat

Earth cat is an underground cat that guards treasures in Slavic mythology.

Famously

Famously - in the traditions and legends of the Eastern Slavs, this creature symbolizes evil fate. Likha's appearance is frightening - most often she is a thin, crooked, single-eyed woman of enormous stature or a one-eyed giant. He lives in a large hut that stands in a dense and dark forest. Often also settles in an old abandoned mill. Instead of a bed, he has a large pile of human bones: according to some information, this creature does not disdain cannibalism and is capable of devouring any living creature that comes to hand. Sometimes Likho is depicted as completely blind, but this option is rare in fairy tales. Has a little magic. Likh's closest relatives in Russian legends are called Grief-Misfortune, as well as Dolya and Nedolya.

Seraphim

Seraphim - In Jewish and Christian mythology, angels especially close to God.

Thrones

Thrones - In the Christian tradition, one of the nine angelic ranks. This is the third order of the first triad, where he is included along with the seraphim and cherubim.

Cherubim

Cherubim - Guardian angels in Jewish and Christian mythology. The cherub guards the tree of life after Adam and Eve were expelled from paradise.
The prophet Ezekiel describes the cherubim that appeared to him in a vision of the temple as follows: “... cherubim and palm trees were made; a palm tree between two cherubs, and each cherub has two faces. On one side a human face is facing the palm tree, on the other side a lion’s face is facing the palm tree...” (Eze 41:18-19)