41. These creatures are the Azure Dragon of the East, the White Tiger of the West, the Black Tortoise of the North, and the Vermillion Bird of the South. Ahuizotl: Dog-like creature (Aztec Mythology), 67. This is one of the best-known Japanese female names: Yuki-onna, the woman who leaves people frozen with her breath. Scottish folklore is full of mythical water creatures, but Nessie is definitely the most famous. Naga is humanoid with a snakes lower body, right? Ammit: Human devourer with a body believed to be part hippopotamus, crocodile, and lion (Egyptian Mythology), 54. What's your favourite Fairy Tales (and their possible origins), Ancient Egypt: The Primal Age of Divine Revelation Volume I Genesis (Revised Edition). Cipactli was described in many fashions: a crocodile with toad and fish characteristics, a sea demon , or a monster. Sleipnir: Eight-legged Horse believed to be ridden by Odin (Norse Mythology), 86. The legend of the Piasa Bird dates back to long before European explorers came to region. Indus Worm: Gigantic white carnivorous worm (Medieval Bestiaries), 66. After Nian was captured, everyone had a big celebration and the ritual involved in banishing him was repeated the following year - and so the ritual was passed down from generation to generation and the custom of celebrating the New Year with firecrackers, noise, and the color red has persisted to this day. She is another of the most fascinating mythological creatures in Japanese folklore. Be very afraid. While many believe creatures in their different forms did exist in traditional mythology, the truth is far from known. Sirin: Creature with Body of a bird and chest and head of a woman (Russian Mythology), 70. We’re the only Pop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. Harpy: Half-bird and half human associated with storm winds (Greek Mythology), 52. A number of references of the presence of mythical beings through the Middle Ages have been made in books. In English folklore, however, a boggart was a kind of evil creature which attached itself to families or households and was a nuisance. The human skull that challenges the Out of Africa theory, The origins of human beings according to ancient Sumerian texts, Unearthing Ancient Magic in The Runes –Messages with Hidden Symbols and Powerful Numbers, Petroglyphic Features of Portable Rock Art, The Northern Mysteries Current: Futhark and Mystery Schools of the Viking Age, Floki and the Viking Discovery of Iceland. Nevertheless, there is compelling evidence, both archaeological and in the numerous legends passed down over generations, that suggests that there was indeed an ancient race of highly-skilled people who inhabited the Hawaiian islands long before the Polynesians arrived. @ Stonehenge, United Kingdom, not to mention it's an unauthorized reuse of Magic the Gathering card art. They claim that his passing might hold a message for today’s leaders amidst the threats of the current Covid-19 pandemic. It is a devilish man, who like the creature in Frankenstein, is sewn onto the rotting corpse of a horse, and rises from the sea to terrorise and exterminate the people of the Orkney Islands. Ogre: Predatory grotesque hominid monster (European Mythology/Folklore), 42. Children, be afraid. Did mythical animals exist? Folklore is considered the root that stems belief. Yacuruna: Mythical people with head and feet backwards believed to live in underwater colonies. However, the presence of these creatures has often been described in folklore, legends, fables, poetry, mythology, fairy tales, novels, myths and varied forms of fiction. From then on, Nian never came to the villages again.  According to legend, the Nian was eventually captured by Hongjun Laozu, an ancient Taoist monk, and Nian became Hongjun Laozu's mount. Kappa: Demon or Imp (Japanese Folklore), 15. Pegasus: Divine winged stallion (Greek Mythology), 16. Tarasque: Fearsome Dragon-like hybrid (French Mythology), 50. Even today, these beings, from the powerful dragon to the soaring phoenix, continue to thrill, terrify, entertain, and inspire us. The Penanggalan is one of the scary mythical creatures in the Southeast Asian folklore. A Mythological creature also referred to as legendary creature and mythical creature is a fictional, supernatural and imaginary animal, or hybrid being also associated sometimes with being part human. Leprechaun: Fairies depicted as little men (Irish Folklore), 24. See Also: 10 Interesting Creatures from Japanese Folklore. While ancient paintings, art and sculpture signify the existence of creatures, there is not enough evidence or strongly significant explanations to prove mythical beings did exist. Little is known about these creatures except the fact that belief made their existence. 61. In ancient Japanese folklore, the Kappa is a water demon that inhabits rivers and lakes and devours disobedient little children. Cockatrice: Two-legged serpent like dragon creature with head of a rooster (Medieval Bestiaries), 51. The Odyssey mentions fierce and monstrous creatures such as Scylla, Charybdis and Cyclops. Unktehila: Reptilian monster or Serpentoid creature (Lakota Mythology), 80. The Norimitsu Odachi is a huge sword from Japan. In the ancient Buddhist caves of India there can be found a number of carved and painted dragons that easily fit with the descriptions of Piasa. A number of theories that make mythical creatures real, or rather seem real are based on accounts of real life encounters of man in early times. They claim that his passing might hold a message for today’s leaders amidst the threats of the current... Gold is arguably the human race’s most valued commodity and a lot could be written about the history of this metal. Since ancient times people have chosen to believe or not believe legends about mythological creatures. The Real Story of Medusa: Protective Powers from a Snake-Haired Gorgon, The Story of Ragnarok, The Ancient Norse Apocalypse, Unforgettable Death Mask: The Unknown Woman of the Seine, The Man Who Stopped a Desert Using Ancient Farming, Romans Mastered Nanotechnology and Used it for Eye Catching Decoration, Ten amazing inventions from ancient times. Cipactli: Sea monster associated with being part frog, part fish and part crocodilian (Aztec Mythology), 27. Mermaids/Sirens and Fairies. A-senee-ki-wakw: Stone giant race (Abenaki Mythology), 87. In ancient Chinese astronomy , the sky ecliptic was divided into four sections. The Kappa is one of the most well-known folk legends in Japan and many believe the mythical creature to be real. That so many cultures and groups of people separated by thousands of miles and years have similar tales of immense flying creatures is curious to say the least. How can we classify our Polish demons? grandfathers and great-grand fathers). Each of these sections contained seven mansions, and together they formed the 28 Mansions. Cipactli put up a fight, but in the end the gods prevailed. Questing Beast: Serpent-leopard-lion-hart hybrid (Arthurian legend). There are a lot of theories and evidence of sightings mentioned in books that lead one to believe certain mythical animals do exist. Mares of Diomedes: Quartet of flesh eating/Man-eating horses (Greek Mythology), 63. It’s probably no surprise that the most popular mythical creature in England is the dragon. Mermaids appear in folklore from around the world and are associated with misfortunes such as … Leviathan: Huge Sea Monster (Jewish Mythology), 57. B&N Exclusives Baby Boutique The Best Books of 2020 Black Vocies Everyone's Talking About Kids' Book Awards STEAM/STEM Books & Toys. Indrik: One-horned gigantic bull with deer-legs and head of a horse vaguely resembling a rhinoceros (Russian Mythology/Folklore), 95. Whether Grendel (meaning quite literarily ‘the destroyer’) originally existed in some less legendary form – perhaps symbolizing a malevolent spirit responsible for disease and death, or a particularly fierce-looking human enemy – is as yet unknown. Mythical creatures have also been associated with superstition and luck in terms of a good omen or bad omen. As the gods began the process of creation, they soon realized that their other creations would fall into the void and be devoured by the demon, so they decided to destroy Cipactli. ), this impressive sword is shrouded in mystery. Aspidochelone: Giant Sea Monster with spines on back (Medieval folklore), 69. A certain holiday is coming up this week, and if there is anything I learned from Jewish day school, it’s that we do not acknowledge this holiday exists.. That said, if you are feeling in a spooky, creepy, supernatural mood—for whatever that reason may be—here’s a list of season-appropriate creatures for the occasion from Jewish folklore. Then Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl created the heavens and the Earth and everything therein from Cipactli’s body. The belief of existence of mythical creatures is prevalent in many cultures. Mythical creatures have been central to folklore traditions and storytelling around the world and throughout history. If you have a view, opinion, or creature suggestion, let us know in the comments section. The bits and pieces of sightings and encounters of early man have given shape to theories of existence of the unknown. In County Wexford Pookas are said to take the form of large, dark eagles while in Laois, Pookas take the form of a terrifying boogeyman character. Here are the best inspired by real folklore. Ushi-oni: Bull-headed monster with a horn (Japanese Mythology), 88. Merrylin Cryptid Museum: Proof for the Existence of Mythical Beings or Elaborate Hoaxes? Regardless of the description, the Aztecs considered this asexual sea being as the source of the cosmos. The Aztecs of Mexico held the belief that the Earth was created from the destruction of a large sea demon, created by and known to the gods as Cipactli. This tribe, led by a chief named Owatoga, hunted and fished the valley and the river and lived a contented life until the "great beast" came, described by French missionary priest Jacques Marquette in 1673 as follows: “it is as large as a calf, with horns like a roebuck, red eyes, a beard like a tiger and a frightful countenance . This mythological creature in Irish folklore is the equivalent of a boogeyman. According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called Nian, which had the body of a bull and the head of a lion. They are fairies, usually resemble humans, and possess supernatural abilities. April, those are Ten marvelous, breathtaking, awe-inspiring, magnificent, wonderful, jaw-dropping, amazing, impressive, excellent, and mind-blowing Images of me. However, others maintain it is much more likely that the legend of the Kappa is connected with sightings of the Japanese Giant Salamander, or ‘hanzaki’, which is known to be aggressive and to grab its prey with its powerful jaws. She has a rich and varied career, ranging from teaching... Read More. Cacus: Fire-Breathing Giant (Roman Mythology), 37. Ekek: Bird-like flesh eating creature (Philippine Mythology), 74. Garuda: Human-eagle hybrid known to be a protector (Hindu/Jain/Buddhist Mythology), 55. Minotaur: Creature with Human body and Bull’s head (Greek Mythology), 29. It wa… So, take a look at 10 creepy creatures from Australian folklore that have terrified the country for years. Most Kaliyatran believe that the superior God directs the actions of the nagas, and these sea serpents are honored with many titles such as the "Maharaja Sarpa" and the "Naga who is God". I am passionate about books, philosophy, music, and the music industry. They would set out at dusk to build something in one night, and if this was not achieved, it would be abandoned. The belief in regard with existence of mythical beings is strong because of the mention of certain mythological creatures in holy books. Some, such as the Loch Ness Monster or Sasquatch, continue to be "sighted" and sought out. about Mystery of Genghis Khan’s Death Considered Solved, about The Shining History of Gold: From Ancient Treasure to Modern Tech, about Solar Goddess Amaterasu, Divine Ancestor of the Japanese Imperial Family, about The Jade Emperor: Taoist Ruler of Heaven - and Celestial Bureaucrat, about The Sisyphus Myth: Cruel King Gets Eternal Punishment for Annoying Zeus, about The Planet Venus as a Symbol of Death and Resurrection in Ancient Mesoamerica, Hidden in Plain Sight: The Pterodactyl of New Guinea, Mummy With Golden Tongue Found At Possible Site Of Cleopatra’s Tomb, New Anglo-Saxon Cemetery Finds Compared to Sutton Hoo Hoard, Princes in the Tower Were Murdered by Richard III, Concludes Historian, The Anglo-Saxon Conquerors: Creators of Medieval England. Legends about mythical animals on land, in the sky, in water, and the underworld are numerous and fascinating in every sense. Nagas are traditionally worshipped as personifications of water deities and considered bringers of rain and clouds. The beliefs and mindsets associated with mythical beasts are varied bringing to life a plethora of theories about existence and non-existence. The Hafgufa is supposed to be a reference to the Kraken. It was said to be a ferocious animal that lived in the mountains and hunted for a living. Myrmecoleon: Ant-Lion hybrid (Medieval Bestiaries), 72. Water Leper: Gigantic frog with a tail similar to lizard and bat wings in place of forelegs (Welsh Mythology/Folklore), 78. ... Zashiki Warashi are best described as ghost children but this isn’t as scary as it sounds. The horse has one eye and it breathes disease and has really long arms that reach the ground from where the human part is ‘sitting.’. The mythology of the Menehune is as old as the beginnings of Polynesian history. Or to be more precise, they are the apes we now call gorillas. Many scholars attribute ancient structures found on the Hawaiian Islands to the Menehune. (Mapuche Mythology/Folklore), 90. Mishkan 1.2m below Heel Stone How about a "Books and Literature" forum? J. E. Bright is the author of Famous American Folktales, which gathers the most popular and shared tall tales in the USA.Beautifully illustrated, it is a perfect book for bedtime. Fenrir: Gigantic monstrous wolf (Norse Mythology), 25. Australian folklore is full of terrifying creatures and the vast landscape of Australia makes the country a perfect spot for mysterious creatures to hide undetected for centuries. Ancient Mythology Informs Modern Series: The Fantastical Folktales of Harry Potter, The Bird and the Serpent: From the Neolithic Goddesses to Ancient Chinese Symbols of Nobility and Benevolence, Buddhist Lama says Loch Ness monster is mythological water deity, Dragons: Exploring the Ancient Origins of the Mythical Beasts. The existence of legendary creatures or mythological creatures referred to in ancient traditional circles as Fabulous Beast or Fabulous creature has not been proved. Psoglav: Dog-headed monster with human body and horse legs (Serbian Mythology), 68. A banshee Banshee. While the origins of fabulous creatures are varied, and often disputed, they have played significant roles in human society, and have served to stimulate the imagination and desire that is ingrained in human nature to experience more than this physical world. Geryon: Monster with three human-like heads (Greek Mythology), 39. The Jade Emperor is not only a notable figure in Chinese mythology, but also one of the most important deities in Taoism and in Chinese folk religion. Redcap: Murderous goblin (Border Folklore), 20. 1 - 20 of 249 results. Some theories talk about a mythical existence in a parallel universe. Typhon: Deadly Serpentine Giant (Greek Mythology), 22. Not all Irish folklore creatures are sinister, there are those that are actually generally good such as the Daoine Maithe. Hippogriff: Hind half of horse and front half of an eagle (Medieval Bestiaries), 13. Just want to point out that you have the picture of a immensly large Hydra pictured under the Naga headline. Creatures found in the legends and folktales of German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria or Switzerland.. Subcategories. Add to Wishlist. Werewolf is the best choice for the modern age movies. In the Middle Ages, all of nature was unfriendly to people – people died both in the forests and in the mountains, or in the swamps. The story of Mithras truly does come from astronomical discoveries in the ancient world. Although any mention to Kraken was omitted in later editions of the Systema Naturae, Linnaeus described it in his later work, Fauna Suecica [1746], as a "unique monster" that "is said to inhabit the seas of Norway”. 11 Werewolf A werewolf or lycanthrope is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or a therianthropic hybrid wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse or affliction. I have been an online writer for over five years. Erchitu: Ox-humanoid (Sardinian Mythology), 98. While they are primarily water creatures , they are believed to occasionally venture onto land. Towards the end of winter when there was nothing to eat, Nian would come on the first day of New Year to the villages to eat livestock, crops, and even villagers - especially children. Top 10 Greatest Mythological Creatures and Legendary Creatures of Myth and Folklore. NEW RELEASE. 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