Mythical creatures have fascinated and terrified humans since the dawn of storytelling. This is why their stories have been passed down through the generations. Here are a few of our favorite legendary beasts who have accompanied us on our journeys from the past to the present.
The mysterious, hairy (and reportedly smelly) bipedal man/beast who roams the wilderness has been given several names, but Bigfoot is the one that has stuck. Bigfoot has been reported since the 1950s, but no teeth, hair, bones, or other traces of the creature have been discovered.
The Griffin, a powerful, majestic creature from ancient Egyptian and Persian mythology, was a hybrid of a lion and an eagle. Historically, Griffins were depicted with a lion’s body, tail, and hind legs, as well as an eagle’s head, wings, and talons. However, Griffins with lions’ front paws were occasionally depicted in Griffin art. According to legend, the Griffins guarded vast sums of money and treasure.
The Loch Ness Monster, also known as Nessie, is an aquatic beast that is said to live in Scotland’s Loch Ness. Since the first sighting of Nessie in 1933, many locals and tourists have claimed to have seen something in the cold, deep water. Despite reports, doctored photos, and scientific investigations (using everything from submarines to sonar beams), there has yet to be hard evidence of Nessie.
Mermaids have captivated people throughout history because of their unique allure. The origins of myths about half-human, half-fish creatures can be traced all the way back to Babylon . Some cultures portrayed mermaids as beautiful and romantic (in Irish folklore, mermaids could transform into human form and marry humans), while other cultures portrayed them as sinister and capable of foretelling and bringing disaster.
The werewolf, or lycanthrope, has a long and varied history, with tales from Germanic pagan cultures, Slavic Europe, and Greek mythology. Werewolves have obviously remained popular until today, despite their ancient origins! A werewolf is a human who can transform or shapeshift into a wolf in general, though stories vary depending on lore. It’s possible that the full moon will play a role, but it’s also possible that it won’t.