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SEP 29, 2022

30 Most Mythical Creatures

From Folklore, Legends and
Fairytales
Find the ultimate list of supernatural, mythological
creatures, monsters and more.

BY MARYN LILES

F
or centuries or more, tales of
mythological creatures and
mythical beasts have captured our
minds. Stories of mythical animals,
supernatural monsters, and other cool
fantasy creatures continue to spread
across the world through books, film,
television, and many other media
sources.

Sometimes, these mystical creatures

are purely symbolic and offer us a closer
look at a particular culture’s fears,
desires, or values, while other folk tales
about cute mythical creatures are based
on human nature—or perhaps simply
invented to keep disobedient children in
line.

Whatever the origin or purpose of these

myths and folklore, people seem to be
intrinsically drawn to them. So, let’s dive
in (sometimes literally—I’m looking at
you, mermaids) and learn more about this
list of mythical creatures.

30 Mythical Creatures

1. Golems

Famous in Jewish folklore, golems are

most often depicted as beings created
from inanimate matter such as clay or
mud, which have been brought to life to
serve some purpose. For example, in
some stories, a golem is created to
defend against antisemitic attacks.
According to legend, golems are uniquely
obedient and will follow exact and literal
orders, so their creators definitely had to
be careful with what they asked them to
do.

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2. Oni

In Japanese myth, oni are people who

were so truly wicked in their lives that
they transformed into demons in hell.
Some were even bad enough to be
transformed while still alive! These giant,
scary monsters with red or blue skin,
horns, and tusks are traditionally the
servants of hell. They enact violent
punishment on evil-doers and will eat just
about anything, including humans. While
stories or depictions of oni may vary, they
are always seen as dangerous and
powerful villains.

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3. Cyclops

Most often depicted as a giant with one

eye, the cyclops (which means ‘circle-
eyed’) first appeared in ancient Greek
mythology. Somewhat lesser known than
the classic Greek gods, the cyclopes lived
in isolation and tended sheep or goats
without any government, society, or
community. While scorned for their
lawlessness, it was the cyclopes who
created Zeus’ thunderbolts, Hades helmet
which made the wearer invisible,
Poseidon’s trident, and Artemis’ silver
bow. So, we should give them some
credit for their creativity.

Related: 32 Creatures From American

Folklore (That Aren't Bigfoot!)

4. Ogre

Ogres are featured in folktales from all

around the world, and though the word is
of French origin, the creature itself is
derived from the man-eating ancient
Etruscan god Orcus. Now many of us
know ogres from Shrek, but Shrek is not
your typical ogre. Ogres are usually large,
tall, and strong with plenty of hair and a
huge appetite. They are depicted as
either dull and dim-witted or violent, but
who knows? Maybe they have layers like
an onion.

5. Leprechauns

Leprechauns are widely known and easily

recognizable, especially if you’ve ever
had a certain breakfast cereal. While
leprechauns originated in medieval Irish
folklore, they did not become prominent
until much later. Smaller, diminutive
human-like beings, leprechauns are
known to be solitary creatures with a love
for mischief and practical jokes.
Interestingly enough, according to
folktales, a leprechaun’s appearance and
dress could change by region!

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6. Gnomes

When you think of a gnome, you might

picture your standard garden gnome: a
small, cheerful guardian of flora and
fauna. In some senses, this depiction isn’t
entirely incorrect. In European folklore,
dwarf-like earth spirits called gnomes
guarded underground treasures.
Medieval myths depicted gnomes as
creatures resembling little old men, often
with hunched over backs.

7. Goblins

First appearing in Germanic and British

folk tales, goblins vary in abilities,
physical appearances, and purposes
depending on the story and purpose. Like
many other European legends, the origin
of goblin mythology is not exactly clear.
However, whether with devious tricks or
real harm, they are universally known to
be troublemakers and possess qualities
of malice and greed.

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8. Faeries (or Fairies)

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Faeries, also known as fairies, fey, or fae,

can be traced back to Old French
medieval romance stories. These
supernatural creatures or spirits are
popular across a wide variety of myths,
legends, and stories, leading up to the
present day. Generally, when we think of
fairies or faeries, we think of small,
winged, magical creatures. However,
faeries were rarely depicted with wings
outside of Victorian artwork. In folk tales,
faeries flew using magic and occasionally
caught a ride on the back of a friendly
bird!

9. Gorgon

Another memorable mythical creature

from ancient Greece, the Gorgons, such
as the famous Medusa, were vicious
monsters capable of turning victims to
stone with just one look. The Gorgons’
appearance was an interesting mix of
beautiful and frightening, with their most
notable feature being the fact that they
had live snakes instead of hair. Gorgon
myths are important lessons in not being
tricked by beauty alone.

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10. Mermaid

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Mermaids have a unique allure that has

captivated people throughout history.
Myths of half-human, half-fish creatures
can be traced all the way back to ancient
Babylon. Similarly, merpeople are
featured in Syrian, Polynesian, and Greek
mythology. While some cultures depicted
mermaids as beautiful and romantic (in
Irish folklore, mermaids could transform
into human form and marry humans),
sometimes mermaid stories took on a
more sinister tone where they were
capable of foretelling and bringing
disaster.

11. Aqrabuamelu

The aqrabuamelu, or scorpion man, is a

monstrous creature that originated in
ancient Mesopotamia, specifically in
Babylonian creation myths. They are a
hybrid of a scorpion and a man, with the
body of a scorpion and the face, torso,
and arms of a man. While they are
terrifying in appearance and were created
to wage war against gods, they also
stand as guardians and often warn
travelers who might be in danger.

12.Minotaur

According to Greek myth, the Minotaur

was the offspring of the queen of Crete
and a majestic bull that came from the
sea. The Minotaur had the body of a man
with the head and tail of a bull. King
Minos, was so horrified by this creation
that he had a complicated maze called
the Labyrinth built in order to imprison
him.

13. Centaurs

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Another human and animal hybrid from

Greek legend is the centaur. Centaurs
have the body of a horse with the head
and chest of a human. While these
creatures were widely depicted as wild,
there was a centaur named Chiron (or
Cheiron) who possessed great wisdom.
He tutored several characters of Greek
myth.

14. Fauns

Fauns, or goat men, were carried over to

Roman mythology from the Greek Satyrs.
In turn, Satyrs’ appearance was based on
the god Pan. With the legs and tail of a
goat and the upper body of a man. In art,
they also feature other goatlike features
such as horns and pointed ears. These
goat men offered guidance to travelers in
need.

15. Werewolf

The history of the werewolf or lycanthrope

is incredibly diverse, with stories from
Germanic pagan cultures, Slavic Europe,
and classic Greek mythology. Despite
such ancient origins, werewolves have
obviously remained popular until today!
Generally speaking, a werewolf is a
human who can transform or shapeshift
into a wolf, though stories may differ
depending on lore. The full moon may or
may not be involved.

Related: What Are Angel Numbers?

16. Loch Ness Monster

Surprisingly, the myth of the Loch Ness

Monster, colloquially referred to as
Nessie, dates back all the way to the
Picts, a people group in ancient Scotland.
Scottish folklore is full of mythical water
creatures, but Nessie is definitely the
most famous. In appearance, the Loch
Ness Monster resembles a plesiosaur, a
water-based dinosaur. Since most
photographic or eye-witness accounts are
considered hoaxes, the creature is widely
assumed to be a myth. However, many
still believe Nessie is out there today!

17. Griffin

A hybrid of a lion and an eagle, the griffin

was a powerful, majestic creature of
ancient Egyptian and Persian mythology.
Traditionally, griffins were depicted with
the body, tail, and hind legs of a lion in
addition to the head, wings, and talons of
an eagle. However, sometimes, the art of
griffins featured the creatures with lions
front paws as well. In legend, griffins were
guardians over great treasure and riches.

18. Phoenix

The phoenix is a mythical eagle-like

creature, generally known for bursting
into flame at the end of their life, only to
emerge from the ashes as a young
phoenix. In both ancient Egyptian and
Classical myth, the phoenix was
associated with sun worship and was
depicted as a large bird, with gold and red
feathers that could live for hundreds of
years. The phoenix was a symbol of
immortality, eternity, and resurrection.

19. Basilisk

In European legend, the basilisk is a

serpentine creature who, much like the
Gorgons of Greek myth, can kill with one
look. Basilisks, sometimes called the
kings of serpents, are featured in
literature, including works by Chaucer
and Leonardo da Vinci, as well as
religious texts such as the Bible. It was
hypothesized that basilisks could be killed
by subjecting them to the odor of
weasels, griffins’ tears, or seeing its own
reflection.

20. Unicorn

Unicorns, a horse or goat-like animal with

a single horn, are a commonly depicted
mythical creature. From ancient
mythology (in Mesopotamia, India,
Greece, and China) all the way into the
modern age, people have been
fascinated by these majestic creatures.
Unicorns were said to contain healing
properties. For example, if you drank from
a cup made out of a unicorn horn, you
would be protected from poisons.

21. Dragon

Dragons are giant serpent-like, winged

monsters that have been featured in
myths from all around the world. Despite
being so well-known, the origin of the
dragon myth is something of a mystery.
Furthermore, there are some cultures that
believe that the creatures are not in fact
mythical, but rather giant creatures who
had previously died out, like dinosaurs.

22. Bigfoot

While many believe that this creature is

the missing link between apes and
human beings, Bigfoot or Sasquatch is
widely considered to be a mythological
being. Bigfoot is described as being a
large, hairy humanoid creature,
somewhere between six and nine feet
tall. Specific to North American folklore,
supposed Bigfoot sightings have occurred
in Northern California, Oregon,
Washington, and British Columbia.

23. Chimera

In Greek mythology, the Chimera was a

fire-breathing mythical creature, usually
depicted as a lion merged with a goat and
a snake, which was related to monsters
such as Cerberus. However, the term
chimera is now often used to describe
any creature that is a hybrid of multiple
animals, often composed of wildly
different parts.

24. Hydra

Another mythical creature from ancient

Greece, the Hydra was depicted as a
gigantic, snake-like monster with many
heads, each of which could dispel acid. In
mythological accounts, cutting off one of
the Hydra’s heads would result in two
more growing into its place. Before his
death at the hands of Hercules, the Hydra
was known to terrify the people living in
the marshes of Lerna.

25. Zombie

For anyone who likes horror films, you’ll

know that zombies have a long and
varied history not only in Hollywood but in
legend. Zombies originated in Haitian
folklore, with the Haitian French term
“zombi” or Haitian Creole “zonbi” used to
describe a corpse reanimated through
magic or other means. Across the years,
zombie stories have shifted to meet
current cultural fears and contexts, and
bodies are often reanimated through
viruses or other scientific processes.

26. Pontianak

One of the scariest ghost stories from

around the world is the story of the
pontianak. In Indonesian and Malay
mythology, the pontianak is a female spirit
of a woman who died while pregnant. The
pontianak is a pale creature with long
dark hair and red eyes and while
objectively frightening, she can transform
into a beautiful woman to prey on men.
She is said to appear at the full moon and
feast on the bodily organs of her victims.
Talk about spooky!

27. Banshee

Originating in Irish folk tales, the banshee

is a female spirit said to appear preceding
the death of a loved one. She will wail or
shriek to warn family members of the
coming disaster. Physically, descriptions
of the banshee vary, from a one-foot tall
old woman to a young woman in the
family who died at a young age.

28. Dybbuk

The dybbuk is a Jewish folk tale of the

ghost or dislocated soul of a dead person
which then possesses a living human.
Derived from the Hebrew for “adhere” or
“cling”, this malevolent spirit is said to
only depart from its host once it has
achieved some sort of goal, allowing it to
pass on.

29. Vampire

Over the years, vampires have taken

many forms. And I don’t mean just turning
into bats. While the vampire myth
originated in Europe, most cultures have
folk tales surrounding vampiric creatures.
The most predominant feature of
vampires (or vampyres) is the
consumption of a person’s vital essence,
most often in the form of blood. It’s
interesting to note that the pale and
sophisticated vampire which has become
commonplace in the media did not exist
before the 19th century.

Related: These Are the Bloody Best 50

Vampire Movies of All Time—Ranked!

30. Bogeyman

Did you grow up thinking that if you didn’t

behave, the bogeyman (also boogeyman)
would get you? The bogeyman was
created with the sole purpose of scaring
children into good behavior. Because
there are variations of the bogeyman in
every culture, it is difficult to pinpoint a
place of origin. Furthermore, the
appearance of the bogeyman differs
culturally, as he is sometimes depicted
with horns, claws, talons, or hooves.
However, the legend of the bogeyman, in
all its varying forms, is an almost
universal myth.

Are all mythical creatures a tall tale?

Check out this story about DNA samples
that could prove whether or not Yetis are
real.

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