Hybrid beasts in folklore

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Further information: Human–animal hybrid

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Assyrian Shedu from the entrance to the throne room of the palace of Sargon II at Dur-Sharrukin (late
8th century BC), excavated by Paul-Émile Botta, 1843–1844, now at the Department of Oriental
antiquities, Richelieu wing of the Louvre.

Hybrid beasts are creatures composed of parts from different animals,

appearing in the folklore of a variety of cultures as legendary creatures.

Contents

 1In burial sites

 2Description

o 2.1Paleolithic

o 2.2Ancient Egypt

o 2.3Ancient Middle East

o 2.4Mediterranean

o 2.5Hinduism

 3Known mythological hybrids

 4See also

 5References

o 5.1Sources
  6External links

In burial sites[edit]
Remains similar to those of mythological hybrids have been found in burial sites
discovered by archaeologists. Known combinations include horse-cows, sheep-
cows, and a six-legged sheep. The skeletons were formed by ancient peoples
who joined together body parts from animal carcasses of different species. The
practice is believed to have been done as an offering to their gods. [1]

Description[edit]
These forms' motifs appear across cultures in many mythologies around the
world.
Such hybrids can be classified as partly human hybrids (such
as mermaids or centaurs) or non-human hybrids combining two or more non-
human animal species (such as the griffin or the chimera). Hybrids often originate
as zoomorphic deities who, over time, are given an anthropomorphic aspect.
Paleolithic[edit]
Partly human hybrids appear in petroglyphs or cave paintings from the Upper
Paleolithic, in shamanistic or totemistic contexts. Ethnologist Ivar Lissner
theorized that cave paintings of beings combining human and animal features
were not physical representations of mythical hybrids, but were instead attempts
to depict shamans in the process of acquiring the mental and spiritual attributes
of various beasts or power animals.[2] Religious historian Mircea Eliade has
observed that beliefs regarding animal identity and transformation into
animals are widespread.[3] The iconography of the Vinca culture of Neolithic
Europe in particular is noted for its frequent depiction of an owl-beaked "bird
goddess",[4] although this interpretation is being criticized as feminist archeology. [5]
Ancient Egypt[edit]

The falcon-headed Horus and crane-headed Seth.

Examples of humans with animal heads (theriocephaly) in the ancient Egyptian

pantheon include jackal-headed Anubis, cobra-headed Amunet, lion-
headed Sekhmet, falcon-headed Horus, etc. Most of these deities also have a
purely zoomorphic and a purely anthropomorphic aspect, with the hybrid
representation seeking to capture aspects of both of which at once. Similarly,
the Gaulish Artio sculpture found in Berne shows a juxtaposition of a bear and a
woman figure, interpreted as representations of the theriomorphic and the
anthropomorphic aspect of the same goddess.
Non-human hybrids also appear in ancient Egyptian iconography as
in Ammit (combining the crocodile, the lion, and the hippopotamus).
Ancient Middle East[edit]
Mythological hybrids became very popular in Luwian and Assyrian art of the Late
Bronze Age to Early Iron Age. The angel (human with birds' wings, see winged
genie) the mermaid (part human part fish, see Enki, Atargatis, Apkallu) and
the Shedu all trace their origins to Assyro-Babylonian art. In Mesopotamian
mythology the urmahlullu, or lion-man served as a guardian spirit, especially of
bathrooms.[6][7]
The Old Babylonian Lilitu demo