UPDATE: I HAVE MOVED THE MYTHOLOGY MANUAL TO MY NEW BLOG. GO HERE TO CHECK IT OUT.
Since I kicked off my Mythology Monday meme, starting with the awesome Marchosias in April 2011, I’ve accumulated a long list of mythological creatures, and rather than list them at the bottom of each blog, I’m going to update this page with all the mythological creatures I have researched and blogged. I hope you find it as useful as I have.
Click on each creature you want to find out more information on.
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Abatwa: African folklore sees these legendary little people coexisting peaceably with the ants in the anthills of Southern Africa.
Afanc: A fierce water monster from Wales, the Afanc was known for terrorising people who lived near its lake, thrashing about, causing devastating floods.
Alkonost: It is said whoever hears the song of a alkonost will become mesmerised and forget everything they know.
Anka: An enormous, Arabic bird with a wingspan said to be the breath of five elephants.
Banshee: The banshee comes from Irish mythology and is seen as an omen, a messenger from the underworld.
Cait Sith: A large black cat that is said to be a fairy creature, though this seems to be in debate, as others believe it is a witch in cat form.
Cockatrice: Creatures of legend, cockatrice or basilisks (if they don’t have wings) have recieved their fair share of fame, appearing in such movies as Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, yet this animal is one to be wary of, after all a single glance can turn you into stone.
Doppelganger: A paranormal double or look-alike of a living person, and usually represent something evil.
Draugr: A draugr (or draug or draugur or draugen) is an undead creature from Norse mythology.
Dryad: Dryads are female spirits of nature who live in individual trees, unseen by humans unless they want to be seen.
Echidna: The mixture of a serpent and a woman, this beautiful fair-faced female is a nymph from the waist up and a horrible serpent below.
The Erlking: The Earlking is often shown as a malevolent creature, haunting woodlands and carrying off people to their deaths.
Fomorian: Said to be a semi-divine race who once inhabited Ireland in ancient times. They were pretty much giants.
Ga-Gorib: Ga-gorbi is a legendary monster, which comes from an belief of the KhoiKhoi – an ethnic group from southern Africa.
Golem: From Jewish mythology, a golem is an animated anthropomorphic being who is created entirely from inanimate matter (clay, though it’s been known to also be made of wood or mud).
Grim Reaper: Death is often given the name Grim Reaper. It is also given the name of the Angel of Death or Devil of Death or the angel of dark and light stemming from the Bible
Gulon: The gulon comes from Scandinavian legend. Long associated with gluttony, this animal was renowned for gorging on carrion until it bloated and was unable to eat any more.
Hantu Demon: A legendary evil spirit or demon in Philippine mythology, notorious for possessing people with the intention to drive them insane.
Hellhound: A demonic dog said to have been created by demons to server as heralds of death.
Hippocampus: While the hippocampus, half horse, half sea monster is not commonly talked about, they are found in greek and roman mythology and strongly associated with Poseidon.
Homunculus: A tiny humanoid created through alchemy, the homunculus could easily carry out your commands.
Huldra: A seductive forest spirit from Norse mythology that has been known to offer rewards to those who satisfy them sexually and death to those who fail to do so.
iele: An iele is similar to an elf or fairy from Romanian mythology with seductive powers, magical skills and attributes similar to the Greek Nymphs or Naiads.
Joan The Wad: In Cornish folklore, Joan The Wad is referred to as the Queen of the Piskies (pixies), not to mention she’s a consort of Jack o’ Lantern, and is a fire spirit.
Kobold:A prankster spirit from Germanic mythology.
Krampus: The legend of Krampus is well recognized in Apline and other European countries. During the festive, Christmas season the Krampus sends out warnings and punishments to bad children, compared to St. Nicholas who gives goods kids gifts.
Landvaettir: The landvaettir are considered the underground elf guardians of Iceland.
Leshy:A male forest spirit from Slavic mythology – some see them as belonging to the fairies.
Lich: Lichs were once living necromancers that have become powerful enough to live on after death as an undead necromancer or lich.
Manananggal: A mythical creature from the Philippines, the manananggal is not too much different to a vampire when it comes to it being an evil, human devouring monster. The most distinguishing characteristic of a manananggal is its ability to detach its torso from its legs
Manticore: A legendary creature, similar to the Egyptian sphinx in that it has a red lion’s body, a man’s head but much meaner, plus a dragon’s or scorpion’s tail.
Marchosias: An angel who, before he fell, belonged to the order of dominations.
Ningyo: Every culture has a mermaid, and the Japanese call them ningyo.
Oni:A mythical race of creatures that were once considered Gods in ancient times, invisible to humans, but after the introduction of Buddhism, they began to take on more demonic characteristic, visible to everyone.
Ordog: A Hungarian shapeshifting demon.
Rakshasa:Said to be a semi-divine race who once inhabited Ireland in ancient times. They were pretty much giants.
Rusalka: In Slavic mythology, Rusalka are ghosts of maidens who are thought to have died in or near lakes, rivers or streams, and were usually the result of murders.
Salamande: The name salamander applies to both a real and mythical lizard, and the legend was influenced by the real deal.
Shedu: A bull with a human face, the Shedu originates from ancient Babylon myth.
Sleipnir: Sleipnir is Odin’s steed – a magical horse whose eight legs represent the eight directions of heaven and eight dimensions.
Tarasque: An evil, legendary dragon from southern France unleashing terror upon villagers who crossed its path.
Tengu: In Japanese mythology, the tengu was thought to take the forms of birds of prey, and often protected mountains and forests with both Shinto and Buddhist attributes.
Three-Legged Crow: A creature which is commonly found in various mythologies, the three-legged crow is said to inhabit and represent the sun.
Wadjet: From Egyptian mythology, Wadjet is believed to be one of the oldest Etyptian goddesses.
Wendigo: A creature appearing in the mythology of the Algonquian people – the most populous and widespread North American native language groups.
Will-O’-Wisp: A ghostly light seen by travellers at night, especially over bogs, swamps or marshes.
Zmey: Slavic dragon – multi-headed, green, spits fire and deadly.
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I am proud for you T.F.Walsh,
You are so visionary into past and into future!
Ioan
Great list. I’m currently penning a story that features a Ningyo. She cries pearls…
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Interesting information! Just visiting, we were in a the same campaigners group for young adult 8 last campaign. Hope all is well and looking forward to reading more of your blogs!
Good to see you back:)
Wow, great resource! You put a lot of work into this. If I ever write a book with mythical creatures, I’ll know where to come for research!
Thanks Annie:)
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