Throughout history, people have come up with countless tales of mythical creatures, legendary monsters, and supernatural monsters. Despite their obscure origin, these mythical creatures are described in the folklore of various peoples and in many cases are part of the culture. It is amazing that there are people around the world who are still convinced that these monsters exist, despite the absence of any meaningful evidence. So, today we will take a look at a list of 25 legendary and mythical creatures that never existed.
Budak is featured in many Czech fairy tales and legends. This monster is usually described as a creepy creature that resembles a scarecrow. It can cry like an innocent child, thus luring its victims. On the full moon night, Budak allegedly weaves fabric from the souls of those people whom he killed. Sometimes Budak is described as an evil version of Santa Claus, who travels around Christmas in a cart pulled by black cats.
The ghoul is one of the most famous creatures in Arabian folklore and is found in the collection of The Thousand and One Nights. The ghoul is described as an undead 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 the 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.
Loosely translated from Japanese, Yorogumo means "temptress spider", 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 who seduces her male victims, captures them in a web, and then devours them with pleasure.
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, the end of which 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 guardians in history and is often referred to in the epic of Homer.
The legend of the Kraken came from the North Seas and its presence was initially limited to the shores 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 the sea monster as a gigantic animal that was as large as an island and posed a danger to passing ships not from a direct attack, but from the giant waves and tsunami caused by its body movements. However, later people began to spread stories about the violent attacks of the monster 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 imaginations of sailors.
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. 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 got 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.
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Those familiar with psychology have probably heard the term "Wendigo psychopathy", which describes a psychosis that prompts a person to eat human flesh. The 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, like a cross between a man and a monster, something 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 the elders of the Algonquins who tried to prevent people from practicing cannibalism.
In ancient Japanese folklore, Kappa is a water demon that lives in rivers and lakes and devours naughty children. Kappa in Japanese means "child of the river" and has the body of a turtle, frog limbs and a head with a beak. In addition, there is a water cavity on the top of the head. According to legend, Kappa's head should always be moisturized, otherwise it will lose its strength. Oddly enough, many Japanese consider the existence of Kappa a reality. Several lakes in Japan have posters and signs warning visitors that there is a serious risk of being attacked by this creature.
Greek mythology has given 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 defended a woman named Europa (from which the European continent got its name) from pirates and invaders. For this reason, Talos patrolled the coast of the island three times a day.
According to legend, Menehune was an ancient race of gnomes who lived in the forests of Hawaii even before the arrival of the Polynesians. Many scientists explain the existence of ancient statues in the Hawaiian Islands just by the habitation here of Menehune. Others argue that the legends of Menehun 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 Menehune had built.
However, no one has found skeletons. Therefore, it still remains a big mystery what kind of race built all these amazing ancient structures in Hawaii even before the arrival of the Polynesians.
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 kings of the animal kingdom, who were a symbol of power and domination. Griffins can be found in many depictions of Minoan Crete and later in the art and mythology of Ancient Greece. However, some believe that the creature symbolizes the struggle against evil and witchcraft.
According to one version, Medusa was a beautiful virgin intended 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 those who looked at her face turned to stone. In the end, Perseus killed Medusa with the help of Athena.
Pihiu is another legendary monster hybrid originally from China. Even though no part of its 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 creature 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.
Sukuyant, according to Caribbean legends (especially in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Guadelupe), is an exotic black version of the European vampire. By word of mouth, from generation to generation, Sukuyant has become a part of local folklore. He is described as a hideous-looking old woman during the day, transforming at night into a gorgeous-looking young black woman resembling a goddess. She seduces her victims in order to then suck their blood or make them her eternal slaves. It was also believed that she practiced black magic and voodoo, and could transform into ball lightning or enter the houses of her victims through any opening in the house, including cracks and keyholes.
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 male, while others described him as a female deity with good intentions.
The tale of Tarasque is reported in the story of Martha, which is included in the biography of the Christian saints Jacob. Tarasque was a dragon with a very intimidating appearance and bad intentions. According to legend, he possessed 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 scorpion sting. Tarasque terrorized the Nerluk region of France.
It all ended when a young devoted Christian named Martha came to town to spread the gospel of Jesus and found that people had been fearful of the fierce dragon for years. Then he found a dragon in the forest and sprinkled it with holy water. This action tamed the dragon's wildlife. After that, Martha led the dragon back to the city of Nerluk, where angry 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.
Draugr, according to Scandinavian folklore and mythology, is a zombie that emits 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. Typical Draugr was somewhat similar to Freddy Krueger, who, apparently, was created under the impression of the tales of the Scandinavian monster.
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 Hydra and when he cut off one head, two appeared. For this reason, Hercules' nephew Iolaus burned every head as soon as his uncle cut it off, only then they stopped multiplying.
According to Jewish legend, Brox is an aggressive monster, similar to a giant bird that attacked goats or, in rare cases, drank human blood at night. The legend of Brox spread throughout the Middle Ages in Europe, where it was believed that witches assumed the form of Brox.
Baba Yaga is perhaps one of the most popular paranormal creatures in the folklore of the Eastern Slavs and, according to legend, looked like a fierce and terrible old woman. Nevertheless, Baba Yaga is a multifaceted figure capable of inspiring researchers, capable of transforming into a cloud, a snake, a bird, a black cat and symbolizing the Moon, death, winter or the Goddess of Mother Earth, the totemic progenitor of matriarchy.
Antaeus was a giant with immense 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. After defeating the alien in a deadly wrestling match, he killed him. He collected the skulls of the people he had defeated in order to one day build a temple dedicated to Poseidon from these "trophies".
But one day, one of the passers-by turned out to be 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 lifted Antaeus off the ground and crushed him in a bear hug.
The fierce and powerful Dullahan is the headless horseman in Irish folklore and mythology. For centuries, the Irish have described him as a harbinger of doom, traveling 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 perfectly synchronizes with nature. However, according to legend, when someone tries to cut down the tree in which Kodama lives, bad things and a series of misfortunes begin to happen to him.
A strange creature named Corrigan hails from Brittany, a cultural region in the northwest of 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 who looked like a dwarf and danced around the fountains. He seduced people with his charm in order to kill them or steal their children.
1. Fish-man Learhans.
10 mythical creatures, did they really exist? As they say, there is truth in every joke. The same can be said about myths, which are considered fiction, because there is also a particle of reality in them. It only at first glance seems that all mythical creatures, such as cyclops, unicorns and others, were invented in distant antiquity. Taking a closer look at these mysterious animals, one can understand that people only slightly embellished the creatures existing in the past, and invented myths about them. So we will analyze 10 mythical creatures, and let's see where these legends came from.
You probably won't meet a person who has no idea what a unicorn looks like. Even young children know perfectly well that unicorns are horses with one horn sticking out of their foreheads. These animals have always been associated with chastity and spiritual purity. In almost all world cultures, unicorns have been described in legends and myths.
The first images of these unusual creatures were found in India over 4 thousand years ago. Following the Indian people, unicorns were described in legends in western Asia, and then in Greece and Rome. In the 5th century BC, unicorns began to be described in the West as well. What is most surprising, in ancient times these animals were considered quite real, and myths were passed off as stories that happened to people.
Most of all animals that have existed in the world are unicorns like Elasmotherium. These animals lived in the steppes of Eurasia and resembled our rhinos. Their habitat was located slightly south of that of woolly rhinos. This happened during the Ice Age, at the same time the first rock carvings of Elasmotherium were recorded.
These animals reminded of our horses, only the Elasmotherium had a long horn on their forehead. They disappeared in the same period of time as the rest of the inhabitants of the megafauna of Eurasia. However, some scientists still believe that the Elasmotherium managed to survive and survive for a long time. It was in their image that the Evenks laid down the legends about bulls with a black color and a large horn on their foreheads.
In folk art, there are many stories about dragons and their varieties. The image of these mythical animals also changed depending on the culture of the people. So, in Europe, dragons were described as large creatures living in the mountains and breathing out fire. This description is classic for most people. However, in China, these animals were described in a completely different way, and looked more like huge snakes. In most cases, in legend, dragons represented a serious obstacle that had to be overcome in order to receive a generous reward. It was also believed that by defeating the dragon and invading its torso, one could gain eternal life. That is, the dragon meant both rebirth and temporary death at the same time.
In mythological stories, mentions of dragons most likely appeared due to the found remains of dinosaurs, which were mistaken for the bones of mythical animals. Of course, the legends about dragons did not appear groundless, and in reality there were animals that served as a pretext for the emergence of myths.
The largest terrestrial lizards known in the scientific field were called magalania. They lived in the Pleistocene era in Australia. It has been proven that they existed from 1.6 million to 40,000 years ago. The Magalania ate exclusively on mammals, and the size of the prey did not matter. Their habitat was sparse forests and grassy savannas.
It is believed that some varieties of Magalania managed to survive until the time when ancient people appeared. From there, images of huge lizards appeared, the length of which could reach up to 9 meters, and the mass of up to 2200 kilograms.
Icelandic sailors from ancient times described terrible monsters that resembled cephalopods. It was from the sailors of those times that stories began about a monster called the kraken. The first mention of this animal was recorded by a naturalist from Denmark. According to his descriptions, this animal was the size of a floating island, and possessed such strength that it could pull the most bulky warship to the bottom with its tentacles. Also, the conquerors of the seas were afraid of the eddies that arose when the kraken suddenly plunged under the water.
Many scientists today are convinced that the kraken still exist. They just call them big squids and do not find anything mythical about them. There is also evidence of the vital activity of these animals, from a large number of fishermen. Disputes are only about the size of the mollusk. So, more recently, in the southern seas, scientists managed to find a huge squid, the size of which was about 14 meters. It is also said that this mollusk, in addition to the usual suckers, had pointed claws at the ends of the tentacles. Having met such a monster, even a man of our time could be frightened. What can we say about medieval fishermen, who in any case would have considered a huge squid for a mythical creature.
There are many legends and stories about basilisks. In them, these monsters are most often described as snakes of unimaginable sizes. Basilisk venom was fatal to any living creature. Stories about this animal date back to the first century BC. However, at that time a basilisk was called a small, thirty centimeter snake, on the head of which there was a white speck. A little later, in the 3rd century, the basilisk acquired a new image and was described as a fifteen centimeter snake. Half a century later, numerous legend authors began to add new details to the basilisks, making a monster out of an ordinary snake. So, he had black scales that were located all over his body, large wings, claws like those of tigers, an eagle's beak, emerald eyes and a lizard's tail. In some cases, the basilisks were even "put on" a red crown. It was about such a creature that legends were made in Europe in the thirteenth century.
Modern scientists put forward a logical version that the basilisk is a prototype of some types of snakes. For example, it could be a well-known cobra. The rather fierce behavior of this snake, as well as the ability to inflate the hood and spit poison, could well have caused a violent fantasy in the heads of ancient writers.
In ancient Egypt, the basilisk was considered a viper with horns. This is how he was portrayed in hieroglyphs. Many believe that this was the reason for talking about the crown on the head of the snake.
Talk about centaurs has come down to us from ancient Greece. They were described as creatures with a horse body, but at the same time with a human torso and head. It was also mentioned that centaurs were mortal, just like ordinary people. It was possible to meet them only in the thicket of the forest or high in the mountains. Ordinary people feared these creatures, as it was believed that the centaurs were violent and unrestrained. Centaurs have been described in various ways in mythology, claiming that some of them shared their wisdom and experience with humans, teaching and mentoring them. Other centaurs were hostile and constantly fought with ordinary people.
It is believed that these creatures were invented by people from nomadic tribes who lived in the north. Despite the fact that at that time civilization already existed, and people learned to ride horses, in some places they did not know about it. So, the first mention of centaurs is attributed to the Scythians, Taurus and Kassites. These tribes lived at the expense of cattle breeding, in particular they raised fierce and huge bulls, from which the disposition for the centaur was taken.
Griffins have been described as having the bodies of lions and heads like eagles. In addition, these creatures had huge and sweeping wings, large claws, and lion tails. In some cases, the wings of the griffins were golden in color, in other stories they were snow-white. The nature of the griffins was described ambiguously: sometimes they were the embodiment of evil that could not be contained by anything, and they could also be wise and kind patrons responsible for justice.
The first mentions of these mythical animals also appeared in ancient Greece. It is believed that the inhabitants of this country were told about the outlandish animals by the Scythians from Altai, who were looking for gold in the Gobi Desert. Wandering through the sandy expanses, these people accidentally found the remains of a protoceratops and took him for an unprecedented creature.
Nowadays, scientists have found that the description of the griffin is almost identical to the dinosaurs of this species. For example, the size of the fossil and the presence of the beak matched. In addition, protoceratops had a horny growth on the back of the head, which could eventually decay and become like ears and wings. This was the reason for the appearance of griffins in all kinds of myths and legends.
Bigfoot has a huge number of different names. In some places he is known as a yeti, in others bigfoot or saskoch. However, according to descriptions, Bigfoot is almost the same everywhere. He is presented as a creature similar to a person, but large in size. It is completely covered with wool and lives only in the mountains or thickets of forests. There is no scientific proof of the existence of this creature, although the legend that it wanders in the forests still exists in our time.
People who talk about their encounters with the Yeti claim that these monsters have a muscular body, a pointed skull, disproportionately long arms, a short neck and a weighty, protruding lower jaw. Everyone describes the color of the coat differently, to someone it seemed red, to someone white or black. There were even individuals with a gray cover.
Until now, among scientists, there is a debate about what species the Bigfoot can be attributed to. Among the plausible speculations is that this creature is a mammal, which is related to humans and primates. It was born in the prehistoric period and somehow managed to survive. It is also believed that Bigfoot is a native of another planet, that is, an extraterrestrial form of life.
Today, most opinions agree that the Yeti is none other than a species of Gigantopithecus. These animals were humanoid apes, whose height could reach up to 4 meters.
The mentions of encounters with the sea serpent are found all over the world. According to eyewitnesses, this mythical creature resembled a snake and was large in size. The head of the snake looked like a dragon's mouth, in other sources it resembled a horse's.
The image of a sea serpent could arise in people not only of the ancient, but also of the modern world after meeting with the herring king or with the belt fish. Due to its belonging to the belt fish, the herring king has a ribbon-like shape. However, only the length of the body is striking, it can reach up to 4 meters. The height of the body usually does not exceed 30 cm. Of course, there are also larger individuals, whose weight reaches 250 kilograms, but this is very rare.
Even by the name of the dragon, one can understand that it was invented in Korea. At the same time, the creature was endowed with such features that are characteristic of this particular country. The Korean dragon was a serpentine creature without wings, but with a large and long beard. Despite the fact that in most countries of the world these animals were described as fire-breathing creatures that destroy everything in their path, the Korean dragon was a peaceful creature. They were the protectors of paddy fields and water bodies. Also in Korea, it was believed that their mythical dragon was capable of causing rain.
The appearance of such an amazing creature is confirmed by science. In the not so distant past, scientists managed to find the remains of a huge snake. It was this creature, who lived on earth from 61.7 to 58.7 million years BC, that was given the name Titanoboa. The dimensions of this snake were simply colossal - an adult was about 13 meters long and at the same time weighed more than 1 ton.
Cyclops beliefs came from ancient Greece. There they were described as humanoid creatures with great stature and only one eye. Cyclops were mentioned in many myths, where they were described as aggressive-minded creatures with superhuman powers. In those days, the Cyclops were considered a whole people living separately from all of humanity.
Scientifically speaking, the legends of the Cyclops are due to the dwarf elephants. Finding the remains of these animals, people could mistake the central hole on the elephant's head, for the eye socket of the cyclops.
Now we know the fundamental principle and understand what mythical creatures meant when talking about unicorns, dragons and cyclops. Perhaps a very real justification can be found for other myths as well?
And there is no other creature that would be as quarrelsome and as sociable as a person: the first - because of his vices, the second - because of his nature.
Michelle Montaigne
Ancient Russia included many tribes, and each of them had their own mythical creatures unknown to neighboring peoples: all kinds of banniks, barnmen, anchutkas and others. The Slavic people endowed heavenly bodies and natural phenomena, mountains, trees and reservoirs with supernatural powers. It is very difficult to list all the ancient mythical creatures of the Slavs: most of them are very poorly studied and represent local varieties of spirits - forest, water or domestic, and some of them were very similar to each other.
Brownie is a kind spirit among the Slavs, the keeper of the house and everything that is in it. The brownie looks like a little old man with a beard. It is believed that the older the brownie, the younger it looks, since they are born old and die as babies. The brownie in the house is most often invisible, and appears only before some important event. Then people will find out what a real brownie looks like. Each brownie has its own disposition, quirks and characteristics. Our ancestors tried to establish contact with the Brownie - they invited him to a new house when they moved, they read him on special days.
The drum is a mythical creature, a petty domestic spirit. Its appearance is a matte fluffy gray ball. However, like many natural energy spirits, it can create an illusion that is very difficult for an ordinary person to distinguish without tactile contact. That is, a reel can easily turn into a cat. If he seemed to you in his true guise, then he is on good terms with your Brownie and trusts you. In this situation, it is quite possible to establish contact with him and even communicate, these spirits do not understand much, but they see and hear a lot thanks to their abilities.
Bannik in Slavic mythology was the master of the embodiment of a rather dangerous place, where people were cleansed of bodily and spiritual filth. Hence the image is not very friendly to people, strict, but sometimes fair. It was believed that the bathhouse was washed at night, often together with other household, sometimes forest spirits. If you get up after midnight at the door to the bathhouse, you can hear characteristic sounds: the splash of water, the spanking of brooms. The most daring, who looked into the bathhouse, saw Bannik or Obderikha himself (they consider either a female Bannik or his wife, her other name is Shishiga).
Kikimora is an evil spirit that sends nightmares to a person. During the day they are inactive, and at night they begin to be naughty. For the most part, this mythical creature does not cause serious harm to a person, mostly they only arrange small pranks: they knock, then they creak at night. But if the kikimora disliked one of the family members, then the leprosy will become much more serious: the spirit will begin to break furniture, break dishes, harass livestock. The kikimora's favorite hobby is spinning yarn: sometimes he will sit in the corner at night and start working, and so on until the morning, but there is no sense in this work, it will only confuse the threads and tear the yarn.
In Slavic mythology, many creatures are not only the helpers of the gods, but they themselves have magical abilities. People were afraid of evil monsters and believed in the kindness of spirits.
Gamayun is, according to Slavic mythology, a prophetic bird, the messenger of the god Veles, his herald, singing divine hymns to people and foreshadowing the future for those who know how to hear the secret. Gamayun knows everything about the origin of earth and sky, gods and heroes, people and monsters, birds and animals. According to ancient belief, the cry of the Gamayun bird portends happiness. It was believed that if a heavenly feathered creature flies low and touches the head of a person with its wings, good luck will accompany him in everything. Ho, besides fortune, patronage and protection, Gamayun could predict the future. And if someone managed to get her pen, then he received fame and fortune.
Sirin is one of the birds of paradise, even its very name is consonant with the name of paradise: Iriy. Sirin is a dark bird, a dark force, a messenger of the ruler of the underworld. From the head to the waist, Sirin is a woman of incomparable beauty; from the waist, she is a bird. The songs of the dark maiden force people to forget about everything completely. Hearing her voice, a person plunges into a state of numbness, stops eating and drinking, cannot sleep and dies from physical exhaustion. This extraordinary impact continues even after the enchanting chant is over.
Alkonost is a wonderful bird, a woman's face, a bird's body, and his voice is sweet, like love itself. Having heard the singing of Alkonost with delight, he can forget everything in the world, but there is no evil from her to people, unlike her sister, the bird Sirin. The creature is patronized by the Slavic god Khors. Alkonost spends almost all his life in Iria, and only once a year they go down to earth to lay their eggs at the bottom of the sea. After 7 days they emerge and chicks hatch. All this time there is clear, calm weather around the nest, and the mother sings her wonderful songs, hiding nearby in the forest thicket. When the chicks hatch, the alkonost takes them and for another 7 days is on the ground with the offspring.
Orally transmitted Slavic myths have survived to this day. They tell about an amazing and magical world inhabited by omnipotent deities, fairy creatures and capricious spirits. Ancient legends are an inexhaustible source of folk rituals and beliefs, pagan ideas about the structure of the world, magic symbolism. Moreover, the Slavs did not have sea or mountain monsters, but forest and river evil spirits were in abundance.
Water - in Slavic mythology, the spirit that lives in water, the master of the waters. The grandfather of the water in the mythology of the Slavs is the real master of the river or lake bottom. He has his own farm, cattle, consisting of fish and waterfowl, and mermaids and other inhabitants are considered his subjects. Although the merman is not too vicious, he will not miss the chance to lure unwary bathers to the bottom to entertain him there. That is why, in the mythology of the Slavs, the merman is not considered a positive character. His image personifies the very element of water: dangerous, unpredictable.
Goblin is a forest spirit among the Slavs, the owner of the forest. He is not kind and not evil - it depends on his mood. It can help a lost mushroom picker or berry picker get out of their possessions, or it can lead it into the thicket, and destroy it. But usually he harms those who did not follow the rules of conduct in the forest. The forester is able to arrange dangerous natural phenomena, up to hurricanes. Birds and animals, trees and herbs in the forest are also subject to him. Our ancestors believed that the favorite time of the devil, like many spirits, is night. However, you can see it in the morning and afternoon.
Polevik is the owner of the fields, one of the characters of Slavic mythology. Many customs and beliefs that accompanied sowing, cultivation and harvesting are associated with it. As mythology describes, the field runs very fast. He helps diligent, hardworking owners and does not like working carelessly - he will turn the plow out of the ground, and slip a stone under it. He is one of the lower spirits, mostly hostile to humans. If he is not appeased, the field worker will torment the cattle in the pasture or dry the ears.
Scum, or undead, according to the beliefs of the ancient Slavs, inhabited all corners of nature: water, forests, fields and even dwellings. As a rule, evil spirits personified an evil, dark force, so they feared it, tried to protect their home from it, and even performed special rituals and ceremonies. This type of creature includes the souls of people who did not die of their own death and wander the earth in search of tranquility.
Mavki is a kind of mythical creature among the Slavic peoples. Mavki look like girls and children in long shirts, but they have no skin from the back, which is why the internal organs are visible, they are called without a back. They hide in forests, fields, rivers and lakes, often get close to mermaids and take revenge on people for allowing their early death, knocking travelers off the road, leading them into swamps and killing them, they can tickle to death. Just like mermaids, they often lure men to them and then kill them. In ancient Russia, it was believed that stillborn children and dead babies become Mavks.
The mermaid is a half-woman, half-fish. Instead of legs, the mermaid has a tail similar to a dolphin, otherwise she is no different from a person, and when she gets out on land, her tail dries up and turns into human legs. The word mermaid itself means white, pure. In fact, mermaids cannot be classified as evil creatures: they do not attack people, at least with the aim of killing, since their main diet is fish. They are very lonely: mermaids have no males, therefore, when they meet men, they seek communication in every possible way, attracting them to themselves, but since a person is not able to breathe under water, he dies.
Navi are special evil creatures, unclean spirits. Navi, they are the mortal pledges - according to Slavic beliefs, people who died an unnatural death and did not receive reassurance after death. It was assumed that they return to the world of the living and continue their existence on earth as mythical creatures. It was believed that they could send disease to people and livestock, as well as natural disasters. At night, the navi rush through the streets, striking everyone who leaves the house. People were dying of wounds. Then the navi began to appear on horses for the day, but they were invisible.
Sinister is an evil spirit that brings poverty to the house in which it has settled. These spirits are subordinate to the navia. Sinister is invisible, but you can hear him, sometimes he even talks to people, besides this, the spirit can climb on the inhabitants of the house and ride them. It is difficult for an evil spirit to get into the house, since the brownie will not let him go there, but if he has already managed to slip into the dwelling, then it is very difficult to get rid of him. Sinister people often live in groups, so that in one house there can be up to 12 creatures. Sinister people prefer to settle in human houses behind the stove, in chests or closets.
A ghoul is a living corpse who has risen from the grave. Outwardly, ghouls practically do not differ from humans, their only difference is their sharp teeth, so all the teeth of a ghoul are sharpened, resembling a shark's mouth, and not a human. Usually, after death, sorcerers and wolves turn into ghouls, but a living person who has become a victim of a curse can also become a living dead. Usually, the living dead settle in cemeteries and do not leave far from their graves, but sometimes in search of food or, fleeing from pursuers, ghouls can settle in the forest or even in villages, where they choose dark places for housing, where sunlight does not penetrate.
Anchutka is a little evil spirit. Anchutki are only a few centimeters tall, their bodies are covered with hair and have a black color, and the heads of these evil spirits are bald. A characteristic feature of anchutka is the absence of heels. It is believed that you cannot pronounce the name of this evil spirit aloud, since the anchutka will immediately respond to it and will be right in front of the one who pronounced it. Anchutka can live almost everywhere: most often the spirit can be found in a field, in a bathhouse or on a pond, he also prefers to settle closer to people, but avoids encounters with stronger creatures.
Slavic tales are a bottomless storehouse of wisdom, which, however, over the past centuries has undergone significant changes, both natural, due to the cultural characteristics of the development of our people, and artificial, introduced (first of all, it means distortions deliberately introduced by Christians, which will be discussed below). Nevertheless, many legends, epics and tales of Slavic mythology still retain the original images and symbols that can tell us a lot about our ancestors.
Baba Yaga is a dark sorceress, the daughter of Viya, the wife of Veles, initially caring Bereginya, who later, during the time of Christianity, turned into a terrible, demonic creature that frightened children. Many old tales, when our ancestors have already lost the original meaning of the mythological images of antiquity, show Baba Yaga in the guise of an old terrible woman who lives in the Hut-on-Chicken Legs on the very border of the Dark Forest. Meanwhile, the essence of this legendary character appears to be a much more curious tangle of diverse and sometimes contradictory information.
The Firebird is a fabulous bird with bright, golden plumage overflowing with red. the embodiment of the God of thunder, thunder and lightning of the Almighty Thunderer Perun, arriving to us from the divine Iriy or from the distant thirtieth kingdom. In the thirtieth kingdom there are fabulously rich people and lands, which is why the color of the Firebird itself is golden. The Firebird feeds on rejuvenating apples, which give everyone immortality, youth and beauty. The firebird cannot be taken with bare hands, since its plumage burns, while the firebird is not surrounded by fire.
Koschei the Immortal- a cult character of Slavic mythology, whose folklore image is extremely far from the original. Koschey Chernobogovich was the youngest son of Chernobog, the great Serpent of Darkness. His older brothers - Goryn and Viy - feared and respected Koshchei for his great wisdom and equally great hatred for his father's enemies - the Irian gods. Koschey owned the deepest and darkest kingdom of Navi - the Koscheev kingdom, in which the Lunar Hall was probably located, the abode of Chernobog, the ruler of Dasun.
Serpent Gorynych - personifies evil in folk tales and epics of the Slavs. In different legends, the description of the Serpent differs, which is why it is very difficult to draw up an accurate portrait of this character. But it is generally accepted that the Serpent-Gorynych is a talking dragon-like creature, with three heads, with a tail and copper claws, with the ability to breathe fire. The Serpent can have from 3 to 12 heads, and from 1 to 7 tails, depending on the source. The Serpent moves through the air, but fairy tales are silent about the presence of wings.
Bayun the cat is a character of Russian fairy tales, a huge man-eating cat with a magical voice. He speaks and lulls with his tales the travelers who have approached and those of them who do not have enough strength to resist his magic and who are not prepared for battle, the cat-sorcerer ruthlessly kills. But the one who can catch the Cat will find salvation from all diseases and ailments - Bayun's tales are curative. Bayun the cat is endowed with a voice that can be heard seven miles away, as it purrs, it lets out on whom it wants an enchanted dream, which you cannot distinguish, I don’t know, from death.
If you think that in Slavic mythology, the most terrible were Baba Yaga and the Serpent Gorynych, who constantly appear in fairy tales. In fact, in the mythology of our ancestors, there were truly scary and evil creatures that you would hardly want to meet.
Asp is a winged snake with two trunks and a bird's beak. Lives high in the mountains and periodically makes devastating raids on villages. Gravitates towards rocks so much that he cannot even sit on damp ground - only on a stone. Asp is invulnerable to conventional weapons, it cannot be killed with a sword or arrow, but can only be burned. However, the snake never flies up to the fire, and it does not land on the ground. Only a trumpet sound is able to infuriate the asp, in this state he rushes at everything that makes this sound, therefore, Asp can be defeated only by luring him into a fiery trap with the help of pipes.
Dashing one-eyed - an evil humanoid creature, there are both males and females. He is famously tall and thin in physique, he has only one eye, so he sees in a narrow range. It famously feeds on the flesh and suffering of people and animals, usually it tries not to appear in large settlements, and most of its life lives in the forest, feeding on local animals and birds, which often angers the goblin. But if a lonely person or a small group of people is famously caught, then it will not miss its chance. Attacking one person, it plunges that person into despondency and feeds on negative emotions.
Viy is a character from the underworld, whose gaze kills. His eyes are usually covered with huge eyelids and eyelashes, which he cannot lift without assistance. He looks like a terrible, ugly old man, very tall and powerful build. Viy is all overgrown with tree roots and moss, but the gaze of this creature is considered the most terrible, if someone helps him to open his eyelids, then with his gaze he will be able to kill not only a person, but also burn entire villages. Viy's voice is very scary and disgusting, its lingering monotonous sound can drive any person crazy.
Volkolak is a person capable of transforming into a wolf (bear). You can become a wolf voluntarily and against your will. Sorcerers often transform themselves into a wolf in order to gain the power of the beast. They are able to transform into a wolf and back into a human of their own free will. To do this, it is enough for the sorcerer to roll over a stump, or 12 knives stuck in the ground with a tip, while if during the time the magician was in the guise of an animal, someone pulls out at least one knife from the ground, then the sorcerer will no longer be able to return to human appearance. A person can turn into a wolf and after a curse, then the damned is not able to regain his human form on his own.
Slavic mythology is a collection of epics, myths, beliefs and cults of the Slavic peoples, where a significant part of our history is associated with little-known keepers of tradition and heroes of ancient legends.
The Berendei were pagans and inspired the whole nature around them. those. considered the nature around them a living being with a soul - every pebble, especially a large boulder, every tree and every bush and leaf. In addition, the Berendei possessed secret magical knowledge. For a long time of its existence, Rod Berendeev has developed the ability not only to werewolf. They can easily dissolve in stone, underground and underwater labyrinths, where an uninitiated modern person will never be able to find them for anything.
Volot is a small race of powerful giants that inhabited the territory of ancient Russia. Volots were once one of the most widespread races, but by the beginning of the historical era they were practically extinct, driven out by people. The giants are considered the ancestors of the Slavs, which is confirmed by the appearance of heroes in the human race. Volots try not to contact or interfere with people, settling in hard-to-reach places, preferring to choose high-mountain areas or hard-to-reach forest thickets for housing, much less often they settle in steppe regions.
Among Slavic mythical creatures there are very few monsters as such. Our ancestors led a calm, measured life, and therefore the creatures they invented for themselves were associated with elementary elements, neutral in nature. If they opposed people, then, for the most part, only protecting mother nature and ancestral traditions. The stories of Russian folklore teach us to be kinder, more tolerant, love nature and respect the ancient heritage of our ancestors.
Almost every one of us has heard of certain magical and mythical creatures that inhabit our world. However, there are many more such creatures, the existence of which we know little or do not remember. In mythology and folklore, many magical entities are mentioned, some are described in more detail, others less.
Homunculus, according to the ideas of medieval alchemists, a creature similar to a small person, which can be obtained artificially (in a test tube). To create such a man, the use of a mandrake was required. The root had to be plucked at dawn, then it had to be washed and "nourished" with milk and honey. Some prescriptions said that blood should be used instead of milk. After which this root will fully develop into a miniature person who can guard and protect its owner.
Brownie- the Slavic peoples have a domestic spirit, a mythological master and patron of the house, providing a normal family life, fertility, health of people and animals. They try to feed the brownie, leave a separate saucer with food and water (or milk) on the floor for him on the floor. Otherwise (which happens more often), he begins to dirty things, breaks and hides things, encroaches on the light bulbs in the bathroom, creates an incomprehensible noise. It can "choke" the owner at night by sitting on the owner's chest and paralyzing him. The brownie can change its appearance and pursue its owner when moving.
Babay in Slavic folklore, it is a night spirit, a creature mentioned by parents to intimidate naughty children. Babai does not have a specific description, but most often he was presented as a lame old man with a bag over his shoulders, into which he takes naughty children. Usually, parents remembered Babai when their child did not want to fall asleep.
Nephilim (observers - "sons of God") described in the book of Enoch. They are fallen angels. The Nifilim were physical beings, they taught people the forbidden arts and by taking human wives as wives, they gave birth to a new generation of people. In the Torah and several non-canonical Hebrew and early Christian letters, nephilim means "who make others fall." The Nephilim were gigantic in stature, and their strength was enormous, as was their appetite. They began to eat up all human resources, and when they ran out, they could attack people. The Nephilim began to fight and oppress people, which was a huge destruction on the earth.
Abaasy- in the folklore of the Yakut peoples, a huge stone monster with iron teeth. Lives in forest thickets away from human eyes or underground. It is born from a black stone, similar to a child. The older he gets, the more the stone looks like a child. At first, the stone child eats everything that people eat, but when he grows up, he begins to eat the people themselves. Sometimes referred to as anthropomorphic one-eyed, one-armed, one-legged monsters as tall as a tree. Abaases feed on the souls of people and animals, tempt people, send misfortunes and diseases, and can deprive them of their minds. Often the relatives of the sick or the deceased sacrificed an animal to Abaasy, as if exchanging his soul for the soul of a person whom they threaten.
Abraxas- Abrasax is the name of a cosmological being in the minds of the Gnostics. In the early era of Christianity, in the 1st-2nd centuries, many heretical sects arose, trying to combine the new religion with paganism and Judaism. According to the teachings of one of them, everything that exists is born in a certain higher Kingdom of light, from which 365 discharges of spirits emanate. At the head of the spirits is Abraxas. His name and image are often found on gems and amulets: a creature with a human body and a cock's head, instead of legs there are two snakes. Abraxas holds a sword and shield in his hands.
Baavan shi- in Scottish folklore, evil, bloodthirsty fairies. If a raven flew up to a person and suddenly turned into a golden-haired beauty in a long green dress, it means that in front of him is a baavan shi. They wear long dresses for a reason, hiding under them the deer hooves, which the baavan shi have instead of feet. These fairies lure men into their homes and drink their blood.
Baku- "Eater of dreams" in Japanese mythology is a kind spirit that eats bad dreams. He can be called by writing his name on a piece of paper and placing it under the pillow. At one time, images of Baku were hung in Japanese houses, and his name was written on pillows. They believed that if Baku was forced to eat a bad dream, then it had the power to turn the dream into a good one.
There are stories where Baku looks not very kind. Eating all dreams and dreams, he deprived sleeping people of beneficial effects, or even completely deprived them of sleep.
Kikimora- a character of Slavic-Ugric mythology, as well as one of the types of brownies, causing harm, damage and minor troubles to the economy and people. Kikimors, as a rule, settle indoors if a child died in the house. Kikimors may appear in the form of a runaway left on the way The swamp or forest kikimora was accused of kidnapping children, leaving an enchanted log instead. Her presence in the house could be easily identified by the wet footprints. The caught kikimora could be turned into a human.
Basilisk- a monster with the head of a rooster, the eyes of a toad, the wings of a bat and the body of a dragon that exists in the mythologies of many peoples. All living things turn to stone from his gaze. According to legend, if the Basilisk sees his reflection in the mirror, he will die. The habitat of the Basilisks are caves, they are also its source of food, since the Basilisk eats only stones. He can leave his shelter only at night, because he cannot stand the crow of a rooster. And he is also afraid of unicorns because they are too "clean" animals.
Baggain- in the folklore of the inhabitants of the Isle of Man, an evil werewolf. He hates people and harasses them in every possible way. Baggain is able to grow to gigantic proportions and take on any form. He can pretend to be human, but if you look closely, you can see the pointed ears and horse hooves, which will still give away the buggein.
Alkonost (alkonst)- in Russian art and legends, a bird of paradise with the head of a virgin. Often mentioned and depicted with the other bird of paradise, Sirin. The image of Alkonost goes back to the Greek myth of the girl Alcyone, turned by the gods into a kingfisher. The earliest depiction of Alkonost is found in a miniature book of the 12th century. Alkonst is a safe and rare creature living closer to the sea. According to folk legend, in the morning on the Apple Spas, the Sirin bird arrives in the apple orchard, which is sad and crying. And in the afternoon, the Alkonost bird arrives at the apple orchard, which rejoices and laughs. The bird brushes off the living dew from its wings and the fruits are transformed, an amazing power appears in them - all the fruits on the apple trees from this moment become healing
Water- the master of waters in Slavic mythology. Aquatic animals graze their cows at the bottom of rivers and lakes - catfish, carp, bream and other fish. Commands mermaids, undines, drowned men, aquatic inhabitants. More often he is kind, but sometimes he drags a gape of a person to the bottom so that he entertains him. It dwells more often in pools, likes to settle under a water mill.
Abnawayu- in Abkhaz mythology ("forest man"). A gigantic, ferocious creature with extraordinary physical strength and fury. The entire body of Abnauayu is covered with long hair, similar to stubble, he has huge claws; eyes and nose - like people. It lives in dense forests (there was a belief that one Abnauayu lives in each forest gorge). A meeting with Abnauay is dangerous, the adult Abnauay has an ax-shaped steel protrusion on his chest: pressing the victim to his chest, he cuts it in half. Abnauayu knows in advance the name of the hunter or shepherd he will meet.
Cerberus (Spirit of the Underworld)- in Greek mythology, a huge dog of the Underworld, guarding the entrance to the afterlife. In order for the souls of the dead to enter the underworld, they must bring gifts to Cerberus - honey and barley biscuits. The task of Cerberus is not to allow living people who want to rescue their beloved from there into the realm of the dead. One of the few living people who managed to enter the underworld and leave it unharmed was Orpheus, who played beautiful music on the lyre. One of the feats of Hercules, which the gods ordered him to do, was to bring Cerberus to the city of Tiryns.
Griffin- winged monsters with a lion's body and an eagle's head, guardians of gold in different mythologies. Griffins, vultures, in Greek mythology, monstrous birds with an eagle beak and the body of a lion; they. - "Zeus's dogs" - guard gold in the country of Hyperboreans, guarding it from the one-eyed Arimasps (Aeschyl. Prom. 803 next). Among the fabulous inhabitants of the north - the Issedons, Arimasps, Hyperboreans, Herodotus also mentions the Griffins (Herodot. IV 13).
There are also griffins in Slavic mythology. In particular, they are known to guard the treasures of the Ripean Mountains.
Gaki... in Japanese mythology - eternally hungry demons. Those who, during their lifetime on Earth, gobbled or threw out completely edible food, are reborn in them. The gaki's hunger is insatiable, but they cannot die from it. They eat anything, even their children, but they cannot get enough. Sometimes they get into the Human World, and then they become cannibals.
Vuivre, Vuivra... France. The king or queen of snakes; in the forehead - a sparkling stone, a bright red ruby; the form of a fiery serpent; keeper of underground treasures; can be seen flying across the sky on summer nights; dwellings - abandoned castles, fortresses, dungeons, etc .; his images - in the sculptural compositions of Romanesque monuments; when he bathes, the stone is left on the shore, and whoever manages to take possession of the ruby will become fabulously rich - he will receive part of the underground treasures that are guarded by the snakes.
Dressing- a Bulgarian vampire who feeds on dung and carrion, because he is too much of a coward to attack people. It has a bad temper, which is not surprising with such a diet.
Ayami, in the Tungus-Manchu mythology (among the Nanai), the ancestor spirits of shamans. Each shaman has his own Ayami, he instructed, indicated what kind of costume a shaman (shaman) should have, how to heal. Ayami appeared to the shaman in a dream in the form of a woman (a shaman - in the form of a man), as well as a wolf, a tiger and other animals, possessed shamans during prayers. Ayami could also have spirits - the owners of various animals, it was they who sent Ayami to steal the souls of people and cause them diseases.
Duboviki- in Celtic mythology, evil magical creatures living in the crowns and trunks of oak trees.
They offer delicious food and gifts to every person passing by their home.
In no case should you take food from them, let alone taste it, since food prepared by oak woods is very poisonous. At night, Duboviks often go in search of prey.
You should know that passing by a recently felled oak tree is especially dangerous: the oak trees who lived in it are angry and can do a lot of misfortunes.
Damn (old spelling "damn")- an evil, playful and lustful spirit in Slavic mythology. In the book tradition, according to the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, the word devil is a synonym for the concept of demon. The devil is social and most often goes hunting with groups of devils. The trait is attracted to drinking people. When the devil finds such a person, he tries to do everything so that the person drinks even more, driving him to a state of complete madness. The very process of their materialization, popularly known as "getting drunk to hell", is colorfully and in detail described in one of Vladimir Nabokov's stories. "Through prolonged, stubborn, lonely drunkenness," the famous prose writer reported, "I brought myself to the most vulgar visions, namely: I began to see devils." If a person stops drinking, the devil begins to waste away without receiving the expected recharge.
Vampal, in the mythology of the Ingush and Chechens, a huge shaggy monster with supernatural strength: sometimes Vampal has several heads. Vampalas come in both male and female genders. In fairy tales, Vampal is a positive character, distinguished by nobility and helping the heroes in their battles.
Hyana- in Italian folklore, mostly female perfumes. Tall and beautiful, they lived in the forests, were engaged in handicrafts. They could also predict the future and knew where the treasures were hidden. Despite their beauty, the hyanas, among whom the majority were women, found it difficult to find a mate. There were very few hyana men; the dwarfs were not good husbands, and the giants were real rude ones. Therefore, the gians could only do their work and sing sad songs.
Yrka in Slavic mythology- an evil night spirit with eyes on a dark face, glowing like a cat's, is especially dangerous on the night of Ivan Kupala and only in the field, because the goblin do not let him into the forest. It becomes a suicide. Attacks lonely travelers, drinks their blood. Ukrut, his assistant, brings him rascals in a sack, from whom Yrka drank life. He is very afraid of the fire, does not approach the fire. To save yourself from him, you cannot look around, even if they call out in a familiar voice, do not answer anything, say “mind me” three times or read the prayer “Our Father”.
Div- Demonic character of East Slavic mythology. Mentioned in medieval teachings against pagans. There are echoes of the latter meaning in the episodes of The Lay of Igor's Campaign, where the expression “the divas crashing to the ground” is perceived as a harbinger of misfortune. Divus turned people away from dangerous affairs, appearing in the form of never seen. Seeing him and being surprised, people forgot about the unrighteous deed that they wanted to do. The Poles called him esiznik ("There is also a znik", there is and was lost), that is, the god of vision.
Ayustal, in Abkhaz mythology, devil; brings harm to people, animals. According to popular beliefs, if Ayustal possesses a person, he falls ill, and sometimes dies in agony. When a person suffers greatly before death, they say that Ayustal has taken possession of him, but often a person wins a victory over Ayustal by cunning.
Sulde "vitality", in the mythology of the Mongolian peoples, one of the souls of a person, with which his vital and spiritual strength is connected. Sulde of the ruler is the spirit - the guardian of the people; its material embodiment is the ruler's banner, which in itself becomes the object of a cult, is guarded by the ruler's subjects. During wars, human sacrifices were made to raise the military spirit of the Sulde Banners. The Suldi banners of Genghis Khan and some other khans were especially revered. The character of the shamanic pantheon of the Mongols Sulde-tengri, the patron saint of people, is apparently genetically related to the Sulde of Genghis Khan.
Shikome in Japanese mythology, a warlike race of creatures vaguely similar to European goblins. Bloodthirsty sadists, slightly taller than humans and much stronger, with developed muscles. Sharp teeth and burning eyes. Do not do anything other than wars. They often set up ambushes in the mountains.
Buka - scarecrow... Small evil creature that lives in the closet of the nursery or under the bed. Only children see him, and the children suffer from him, since Buka loves to attack them at night - to grab their legs and drag them under the bed or into the closet (his den). He is afraid of the light, from which the faith of adults can also perish. Afraid that adults will believe in him.
Beregini in Slavic mythology, spirits in the guise of women with tails, living along the banks of rivers. Mentioned in ancient Russian historical and literary monuments. They protect people from evil spirits, predict the future, and also save small children left unattended and falling into the water.
Anzud- in Sumerian-Akkadian mythology, a divine bird, an eagle with a lion's head. Anzud is an intermediary between gods and people, at the same time embodying good and evil principles. When the god Enlil took off his insignias while washing, Anzud stole the tablets of fate and flew with them to the mountains. Anzud wanted to become more powerful than all the gods, but by his act he violated the course of things and divine laws. The god of war, Ninurta, set off in pursuit of the bird. He shot Anzud with a bow, but Enlil's tablets healed the wound. Ninurta managed to hit the bird only on the second attempt or even on the third attempt (in different versions of the myth in different ways).
Bug- in English mythology and spirits. According to the legends, the bug is a "childish" monster, even nowadays English women scare their children with it.
Usually these creatures have the appearance of shaggy monsters with matted, ragged fur. Many English children believe that bugs can enter rooms using open chimneys. However, despite their rather frightening appearance, these creatures are not at all aggressive and practically harmless, since they have neither sharp teeth nor long claws. They can frighten in only one way - by twisting a terrible ugly face, spreading their paws and raising the hair on the nape.
Alraune- in the folklore of European peoples, tiny creatures living in the roots of the mandrake, the outlines of which resemble human figures. Alrauns are friendly to people, but they do not mind playing a joke, sometimes very cruel. They are werewolves, capable of transforming into cats, worms, and even small children. Later, the Alrauns changed their way of life: they liked the warmth and comfort in human houses so much that they began to move there. Before moving to a new place, the Alrauns, as a rule, test people: they scatter any garbage on the floor, throw clods of earth or pieces of cow dung into the milk. If people do not sweep the garbage and drink milk, Alraun understands that it is quite possible to settle here. It's almost impossible to drive him away. Even if the house burns down and people move somewhere, the alraun follows them. Alraun had to be treated with great care due to its magical properties. You had to wrap or dress him in white robes with a gold belt, bathe him every Friday, and keep him in a box, otherwise Alraun would start yelling for attention. Alrauns were used in magical rituals. It was assumed so that they bring great luck, in the likeness of a talisman - a four-leafed leaf. But possession of them carried the risk of prosecution for witchcraft, and in 1630 three women were executed in Hamburg on this charge. Due to the high demand for the Alrauns, they were often cut from the roots of bryony, as genuine mandrakes were difficult to find. They were exported from Germany to various countries, including England, during the reign of Henry VIII.
Authorities- in Christian mythological representations, angelic beings. Authorities can be both good forces and minions of evil. Among the nine angelic ranks, the authorities close the second triad, which, in addition to them, also includes dominions and powers. As Pseudo-Dionysius says, “the name of the holy Powers signifies an equal to the Divine Dominions and Powers, an orderly and capable of receiving Divine insights, and the device of premium spiritual dominion, which does not use autocratic powers for evil given sovereign powers, but freely and respectfully to the Divine as itself ascending and others sacred to Him leading and, as much as possible, likening to the Source and Giver of all power and depicting Him ... in a completely true use of his dominion power. "
Gargoyle- the fruit of medieval mythology. The word "gargoyle" comes from the old French gargouille - a throat, and its sound imitates the gurgling sound that occurs when gargling. Gargoyles sitting on the facades of Catholic cathedrals were presented in two ways. On the one hand, they were like ancient sphinxes as guardian statues, capable of reviving and protecting a temple or a mansion in a moment of danger, on the other hand, when they were placed on temples, it showed that all evil spirits were fleeing from this holy place, since they could not bear the temple purity.
Make-up- according to medieval European beliefs, they lived throughout Europe. Most often they can be seen in old cemeteries located near churches. Therefore, scary creatures are also called church make-up.
These monsters can take on a variety of guises, but most often they turn into huge dogs with coal-black fur and eyes that glow in the dark. You can see the monsters only in rainy or cloudy weather, they usually appear at the cemetery in the late afternoon, as well as during the day during the funeral. They often howl under the windows of sick people, foreshadowing their imminent demise. Often, some make-up, not afraid of heights, climbs into the church bell tower at night and starts ringing all the bells, which is considered a very bad omen among the people.
Ahti- a water demon among the peoples of the north. Neither evil nor kind. Although he loves to joke and with jokes can go too far so that the person will be dying. Of course, if you make him angry, then he can kill.
Attsys“Without a name”, in the mythology of the West Siberian Tatars, an evil demon who unexpectedly at night appears in front of travelers in the form of a shock, a cart, a tree, a fireball and strangles them. Attsys was also called various evil spirits (matskai, oryak, uyr, etc.), the names of which they were afraid to pronounce aloud, fearing to attract a demon.
Shoggoths- creatures mentioned in the famous mystical book "Al Azif" better known as "Necronomicon", written by the crazy poet Abdul Alhazred. About a third of the book deals with the management of Shoggoths, which are presented as shapeless "eels" of protoplasmic bubbles. The ancient gods created them as servants, but the Shoggoths, possessing intelligence, quickly got out of control and since then have acted of their own free will and for their strange incomprehensible goals. It is said that these entities often appear in narcotic visions, but there they are not subject to human control.
Yuvha, in the mythology of the Turkmens and Uzbeks of Khorezm, the Bashkirs and Kazan Tatars (Yukha), a demonic character associated with the water element. Yuvkha is a beautiful girl, whom she turns into after living for many (for the Tatars - 100 or 1000) years. According to the myths of the Turkmens and Uzbeks of Khorezm, Yuvkha marries a man, setting a number of conditions to him in advance, for example, not to watch her comb her hair, not stroking the back, bathing after intimacy. Having violated the conditions, the husband discovers the snake scales on her back, sees how, combing her hair, she removes her head. If you do not destroy Juvha, she will eat her husband.
Ghouls - (Russian; Ukrainian upir, Belarusian ynip, Old Russian Upir), in Slavic mythology, a dead man attacking people and animals. At night, the Ghoul rises from the grave and, in the guise of a bloodshot corpse or a zoomorphic creature, kills people and animals, sucks blood, after which the victim either dies or can become a Ghoul itself. According to popular belief, people who died "an unnatural death" became ghouls - forcibly murdered, drunken drunkards, suicides and also sorcerers. It was believed that the earth does not accept such dead and therefore they are forced to wander around the world and harm the living. Such deceased were buried outside the cemetery and away from their homes.
Chusrym in Mongolian mythology - the King of fish. He freely swallows ships, and when he protrudes out of the water, he looks like a huge mountain.
Shuffle, in Hungarian mythology, a dragon with a serpentine body and wings. You can distinguish between the two layers of Shuffle concepts. One of them, associated with the European tradition, is presented mainly in fairy tales, where Sharkan is a fierce monster with a large number (three, seven, nine, twelve) heads, the hero's opponent in battle, often an inhabitant of a magic castle. On the other hand, there are known beliefs about the one-headed Shuffle as one of the assistants of the sorcerer (shaman) taltosh.
Shilikun, Shilihan- in Slavic mythology - hooligan petty spirits that appear on Christmas Eve and before Epiphany run through the streets with burning coals in pans. Drunk people can be pushed into the hole. At night they will make noise and chatter, and turning into black cats, they will crawl under their feet.
They grow from a sparrow, legs like a horse - with hooves, fire breathes from the mouth. In Baptism, they go to the underworld.
Faun (Pan) - spirit or deity of forests and groves, god of shepherds and fishermen in Greek mythology. This is a cheerful god and companion of Dionysus, always surrounded by forest nymphs, dancing with them and playing the flute for them. It is believed that Pan possessed a prophetic gift and endowed Apollo with this gift. Faun was considered a crafty spirit who stole children.
Kumo- in Japanese mythology - spiders who know how to turn into people. Very rare creatures. In normal form, they look like huge spiders, the size of a person, with glowing red eyes and sharp stings on their paws. In human form - beautiful women with cold beauty, luring men into a trap and devouring them.
Phoenix- an immortal bird personifying the cyclical nature of the world. Phoenix is the patron saint of anniversaries, or large time cycles. Herodotus expounds with emphasized skepticism the original version of the legend:
“There is another sacred bird there, its name is Phoenix. I myself have never seen it, except as drawn, for in Egypt it rarely appears, once every 500 years, as the inhabitants of Heliopolis say. According to them, she flies when her father dies (that is, she herself) If the images correctly show her size and size and appearance, her plumage is partly golden, partly red. Its shape and size are reminiscent of an eagle. " This bird does not multiply, but is reborn after death from its own ashes.
Werewolf- Werewolf is a monster that exists in many mythological systems. This means a person who knows how to turn into animals or vice versa. An animal that knows how to turn into people. This skill is often possessed by demons, deities and spirits. The wolf is considered a classic werewolf. It is with him that all the associations born of the word werewolf are associated. This change can occur both at the wish of a werewolf, and involuntarily, caused, for example, by certain lunar cycles.
Viryava- the mistress and spirit of the grove among the peoples of the north. Presented as a beautiful girl. The birds and animals obeyed her. She helped the lost travelers.
Wendigo- a cannibalistic spirit in the myths of the Ojibwe and some other Algonquian tribes. Served as a warning against any excesses of human behavior. The Inuit tribe calls this creature by various names, including Windigo, Vitigo, Vitiko. Wendigos enjoy hunting and love to attack hunters. A lone traveler who finds himself in the forest begins to hear strange sounds. He looks around for the source, but sees nothing but the flicker of something moving too fast for the human eye to detect. When the traveler begins to run away in fear, the Wendigo attacks. He is powerful and strong like no other. Can imitate people's voices. In addition, the Wendigo never stops hunting after eating.
Shikigami... in Japanese mythology Spirits summoned by the magician, expert Onmyo-do. They usually look like they are small, but can take on the forms of birds and beasts. Many shikigami can take over and control the bodies of animals, and the shikigami of the most powerful magicians can take over people. It is very difficult and dangerous to control shikigami, as they can break out of the magician's control and attack him. An expert Onmyo-do can direct the power of alien shikigami against their master.
Hydra monster, described by the ancient Greek poet Hesiod (VIII-VII centuries BC) in his legend about Hercules ("Theogony"): a multi-headed snake (Lernaean hydra), in which two new ones grew instead of each severed head. And it was impossible to kill her. The hydra's lair was at Lake Lerna near Argolis. Under the water was the entrance to the underground kingdom of Hades, which was guarded by a hydra. The hydra hid in a rocky cave on the shore near the source of Amimona, from where she came out only to attack the surrounding settlements.
Fights- in English folklore, water fairies who lure mortal women by appearing to them in the form of wooden dishes floating on water. As soon as a woman grabs onto such a dish, the drag immediately takes on its true, ugly appearance and drags the unfortunate woman to the bottom so that she can look after his children there.
Sinister- pagan evil spirits of the ancient Slavs, the personification of Nedoli, navi servants. They are also called kriks or hmyri - swamp spirits, which are dangerous to those who can stick to a person, even move into him, especially in old age, if in life a person did not love anyone and he did not have children. Sinister can turn into a beggar old man. In the Christmas-time game, evil person personifies poverty, misery, winter gloom.
Incubus- in medieval European mythology, male demons coveting female love. The word incubus comes from the Latin "incubare", which means "recline". According to ancient books, incubus are fallen angels, demons, carried away by sleeping women. Incubuses showed such an enviable energy in intimate affairs that whole nations were born. For example, the Huns, who, according to medieval beliefs, were descendants of "outcast women" of the Goths and evil spirits.
Goblin- the owner of the forest, a forest spirit, in the mythology of the Eastern Slavs. This is the main owner of the forest, he makes sure that no one in his household does any harm. He treats good people well, helps to get out of the forest, but not too good people - badly: he confuses, makes them walk in circles. He sings in a voice without words, claps his hands, whistles, auk, laughs, cries. The goblin can appear in various plant, animal, human and mixed images, it can be invisible. Most often appears to be a lonely creature. Leaves the forest for the winter, sinking into the ground.
Baba Yaga- a character of Slavic mythology and folklore, mistress of the forest, mistress of animals and birds, guardian of the borders of the kingdom of Death. In a number of fairy tales, it is likened to a witch, a sorceress. Most often - a negative character, but sometimes acts as an assistant to the hero. Baba Yaga has several stable attributes: she knows how to conjure, fly in a mortar, lives on the border of the forest, in a hut on chicken legs surrounded by a fence of human bones with skulls. She lures good fellows and small children to her, ostensibly in order to eat them.
Shishiga, an unclean spirit, in Slavic mythology. If he lives in the forest, he attacks people who accidentally wander in, in order to gnaw their bones later. At night they like to make noise and chatter. According to another belief, shishimora or shishigi are mischievous restless house spirits mocking a person who does things without praying. We can say that these are very instructive spirits, correct, accustoming to a pious routine of life.
Good afternoon, dear movie lovers and readers who just happened to be here. Every blogger knows to keep the blog active as often as possible. But bad luck - today is the most boring day. On July 13, 2013, nothing happens in the world of cinema. In connection with such a boring to the same rainy day, I will step aside a little from the topic. If you paid attention, there are articles on mystical films on my blog. As part of the "" section, today we will recall mythology and conduct a top of female mythical creatures.
The most interesting thing is that the word " Banshee“The translator translated me as“ a spirit whose groans portend death. ”In principle, Google's translation has already revealed the intrigue of this creature. It is better not to anger such a lady, otherwise her cry promises you a short life.
Banshees are cool because they belong to Irish myths and Irish women have a cool accent. If the banshees were in fact, they would have shouted more abruptly than Nuki from the Slot group (if anyone is in the subject).
Dryads are the souls of trees. Two news follows from this. First, trees have souls. I just remember that I said something like that to my teacher in the 3rd class, and she said that there were no souls in the trees and gave me two points. I hope the dryads will take revenge on my teacher ignorant of mythology, or the Banshee will shout in her ear.
Oh yes, the second news. Dryads are only women - so all trees are women? With a bit of a rush of information, I found the answer to this question. Dryads take the form of hot chicks, and the souls themselves are sexless.
The lack of relations with Dryads is that they are rooted to the ground and you can't go to the movies with this. But they are immortal as long as their tree is alive.
I want to note right away that female centaurs are practically not mentioned in films or books - what kind of sexism in relation to these creatures? The ancient Greeks did not say that Centaurs were only men - and how would they then multiply?
Centaurs are quite famous to talk about, but anyone can read this post, therefore: centaurs are half-humans / half-horses. Centaurs in our time, it would be difficult to live. There are cars all around, and they smoke here and there. And a drop of nicotine ...
Gargon is a very ancient creature. According to the description, she looks like a woman, except for the snakes for hair ...
The most famous Gargon was Medusa-Gargon, well, the one that fell at the hands of the hero Perseus. I previously thought Gargon was the name of a jellyfish, but no - take a bite, this is the name of a creature.
The Gargons have become extinct for a long time, probably due to the fact that they turned everything into stone. Or because of the popularization of mirrors, because Gargon can turn himself into stone if he sees a reflection. One more thing about the snake hair, what's going on with these creatures in the bikini area? o.o
Closing the top five female mystical creatures is a very interesting character. Harpies are winged beauties who love to steal children like witches. I do not know why in many films the Harpies are shown as monsters with sharp teeth, when the Greeks presented them as graceful girls?
Harpies usually have long, luxurious hair. The harpy, in principle, could not steal the young boy, since he himself could gladly wish to visit such a lady .. The most disadvantage from the relationship with the harpy is her sharp bird claws. Your back will be scratched bless you.
If we analyze their proportions of wings and body, then we can conclude that the wings of a harpy are not able to lift a woman's body. Harpies in fact turned out to be more like chickens, which is why they probably died out.
Snake? This is what my mother-in-law looked like when she was young! Just kidding, where does she care about the grace of this mystical snake ...
All Lamias are women, and they are all demonic creatures with a serpentine tail instead of legs. These evil creatures are capable of taking the form of an ordinary woman. If you've ever met real bitches in your life, maybe it was Lamia?
Like harpies, these cold girls are greedy for young guys. But they are not interested in sex (remind you of the snake's tail?), They prefer to devour a young guy in the literal sense.
These creatures are usually lured by the male population, seducing them. So, if a girl seduces you - think twice, maybe she will turn out to be that snake. (Damn, how vital - the Greeks are great.)
We continue the snake theme. They are often confused with the creatures described above, but although both species have a serpentine tail, Nagi not demonic creatures. Another difference: Nagas are also men - this is a full-fledged biological species, and it also reproduces biologically, therefore there are both males and females. To be honest, I don’t know how snakes breed ... I’m a shitty biologist.
Nagas also have 4 arms, unlike Lamia. Although the Nagas were always friendly to people, people probably exterminated them, since they were mistaken for Lamia.
Sirens for a campaign have an unrealistically wide range of voices, as they lure sailors from afar. An interesting fact is that you can easily confuse a siren woman from a siren man (oh yes, my dears, there are some). It turns out that the sirens look like Korean prostitutes ...
So the attempt to present boring mythology in a funny entertaining style has come to an end. The first place in the top goes to the Succubus.
Succubi are a typical type of girl who gets anything for sex. These demonesses are completely immoral and shamelessly seducing men and making them slaves in hell. According to legend, the slaves of the Succubus mine hellish gold, working in the hellish mines (Well, at least they do not boil in a cauldron as Catholicism promises us ...).
Succubi love to have fun and are only women. Seductress demoness usually have small horns, hooves, and wings. Their wings prevent them from flying, but rather cushion their fall as Succubi jump from stone to stone in Hell.
Do not look for logic in the distribution of seats - it does not exist, it is just a psychological technique for attracting attention. We look at more posts.
