Magical creatures. Myths and legends of the peoples of the world - list of magical animals

" starts in theaters this Thursday. In honor of this epoch-making event, we have collected for you descriptions of some of the incredible animals you will meet in the film. Read on to know what you have to deal with.

The plant-like lechuria is difficult to detect in its natural habitat - not only is it very small, but it is also easily camouflaged in any foliage. No more than 20 centimeters tall, the lechurka appears to consist of plant shoots with roots, tiny leafy branches and two brown eyes. Newt has at least six such creatures - Pickett, Titus, Finn, Poppy, Marlow and Tom - and the first is his favorite and, carefully kept, lives in a pocket on his chest. Lechurkas feed exclusively on insects, are peaceful and extremely shy.

The naughty sniffer is a small, fluffy black animal with an elongated, rounded muzzle, looking like a cross between a mole and a platypus. Fall on All Shiny: He will steal or steal any shiny object that catches his eye. The niffler stores its treasures in a pouch on its belly, which is much more capacious than it actually seems. Friendly and even affectionate, they can be quite destructive in pursuit of sparkles, so be careful not to keep them as pets.

The thunderbird is a large and majestic winged creature native to the arid climate of Arizona. Her head looks like an eagle's or, if we draw analogies with creatures from magical world, on the head of a hippogriff. Numerous powerful wings flicker in patterns similar to the rays of the sun breaking through the clouds; their flapping can give birth to real storms. The thunderbird can also sense danger. In Egypt, Newt saved one of the smugglers' paws, named his new pet Frank and promised to return him to his homeland in Arizona.

The owner of the cacophonous name - the diving sinister - resembles a cross between a reptile and a giant butterfly. When at rest, it hides in a green, spiny cocoon, but when it spreads its colorful spiky wings, it attracts the eye with its extraordinary beauty. This creature is dangerous because it can literally suck out the brain. On the other hand, diluted in the right proportion, its poison can erase bad memories.

Despite its friendly and playful disposition, the African rhinoceros is one of Newt's largest and most feared magical animals. From a distance, it can easily be mistaken for an ordinary rhinoceros, until you notice that its horn glows, and it is significantly larger in size than its non-magical relative. Its thick skin can repel b O most spells, and the horn contains a deadly liquid that causes anything it comes into contact to explode. Newt has taken up residence with a female rhinoceros, which, unfortunately, has “come into heat” and is now actively looking for a mate.

Camouflori looks like a monkey. He has the amazing ability to become invisible, and he also has the gift of foresight. Therefore, the only way to catch him is to do something completely unpredictable. Kamuflori is an absolutely peaceful creature, but in case of provocation or threat, it may well fight back. Unfortunately for camouflora, it is their long, silky, silvery fur that is woven into their invisibility cloaks, making their pelts extremely valuable.

A feathered, winged creature with a snake body, a sort of cross between a dragon and a bird. It hatches from an egg whose shell is pure silver and is worth a fortune. The size of an okkami depends on the shelter in which it lives. The thing is that these creatures are choranaptyxes and can increase and decrease in size, adapting their body to the available space.

The Ugrob is a huge carnivore found in the mountainous regions of Europe. Unfortunately, on this moment There is only one fertile couple, which is safe under Newt's care and has already produced a pair of cubs. Their grey-purple hide is even tougher than dragons and can deflect most spells. They walk on four legs, have humped backs and long, very sharp horns. Ugroids are known for being extremely aggressive and difficult to tame.

This insect is from Australia. Half an inch long, bright sapphire blue. The godwit flies so fast that Muggles hardly see it, and wizards only notice it when it stings them. The wings are attached to the top of the head and rotate very quickly - so that the spindle spins around its axis during flight. At the bottom of the abdomen there is a long, thin sting. The sting of the godwit causes dizziness and then levitation. For the sake of this side effect, little wizards and witches in Australia catch godwits and try to tease them so that they sting them. True, as a result too large quantity bites, the victim can hang in the air for several days, and in the case of a severe allergic reaction, never come down to the ground at all. Dried godwit stings are used to prepare various potions.

This inhabitant East Africa, probably the most dangerous animal in the world. The giant leopard moves completely silently, despite its enormous size, and its breath causes an illness from which entire villages die out. As practice shows, it can only be defeated by the joint efforts of at least a hundred skilled wizards.

Throughout history, people have created countless tales of mythical creatures, legendary monsters, and supernatural monsters. Despite their unclear origins, these mythical creatures are described in the folklore of various peoples and in many cases are part of the culture. It's amazing that there are people all over the world who are still convinced that these monsters exist, despite the lack of any meaningful evidence. So today we will look at a list of 25 legendary and mythical creatures that never existed.

Budak is present in many Czech fairy tales and legends. This monster is usually described as a creepy creature, reminiscent of a scarecrow. It can cry like an innocent child, thus luring its victims. On the night of the full moon, Budak allegedly weaves fabric from the souls of those people whom he killed. Budak is sometimes described as an evil version of Father Christmas who travels on Christmas Day in a cart pulled by black cats.

24. Ghoul

The ghoul is one of the most famous creatures in Arabian folklore and appears in the collection of tales One Thousand and One Nights. The ghoul is described as an undead creature that can also take the form of an immaterial spirit. He often visits cemeteries to eat the flesh of recently deceased people. This is probably 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.

23. Yorogumo.

Loosely translated from Japanese, Yorogumo means “seductress spider,” and in our humble opinion, the name perfectly describes this monster. According to Japanese folklore, Yorogumo was a bloodthirsty monster. But in most fairy tales it is described as a huge spider, which takes the form of a very attractive and sexy woman, who seduces her male victims, captures them in a web, and then happily devours them.

22. Cerberus.

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 whose end is the head of a dragon. Cerberus was born from the union of two monsters, the giant Typhon and Echidna, and is himself a brother Lernaean Hydra. Cerberus is often described in myth as one of the most loyal guards in history and is often mentioned in Homer's epic.

21. Kraken

The legend of the Kraken came from the Northern Seas and its presence was initially limited to the shores of Norway and Iceland. Over time, however, its fame grew, thanks to the wild imagination of storytellers, which led subsequent generations to believe that it also lives in all the seas of the world.

Norwegian fishermen initially described the sea monster as a gigantic animal that was as large as an island and posed a danger to passing ships not from direct attack, but from giant waves and tsunamis caused by the movements of its body. However later people Stories of the monster's violent attacks on ships began to spread. 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 imagination of sailors.

20. Minotaur

The Minotaur is one of the first epic creatures we meet in human history and takes us back to the heyday of Minoan civilization. The 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. Anyone who entered the labyrinth became a victim of the Minotaur. The exception was the Athenian king Theseus, who killed the beast and came out of the labyrinth alive with the help of the thread of Ariadne, the daughter of Minos.

If Theseus were hunting the Minotaur these days, then a rifle with a collimator sight would be very useful to him, a huge and high-quality selection of which is on the portal http://www.meteomaster.com.ua/meteoitems_R473/.

19. Wendigo

Those familiar with psychology have probably heard the term “Wendigo psychopathy,” which describes the psychosis that compels 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 that looked like a cross between a human and a monster, something similar to a zombie. According to legend, only people who ate human flesh were able to become Wendigos themselves.

Of course, this creature never existed and was invented by Algonquin elders who were trying to stop people from engaging in cannibalism.

In ancient Japanese folklore, Kappa is a water demon who lives in rivers and lakes and devours naughty children. Kappa means "child of the river" in Japanese and has the body of a turtle, the limbs of a frog, and a head with a beak. In addition, there is a cavity with water on the top of the head. According to legend, Kappa's head must always be kept moist, otherwise he will lose his strength. Oddly enough, many Japanese consider the existence of Kappa to be a reality. Some lakes in Japan have posters and signs warning visitors that there is a serious risk of being attacked by this creature.

Greek mythology gave the world the most epic heroes, gods, and beings, and Talos is one of them. A huge bronze giant supposedly lived in Crete, where he protected a woman named Europa (from whom European continent got its name) from pirates and invaders. For this reason, Talos patrolled the shores of the island three times a day.

16. Menehune.

According to legend, the Menehune were an ancient race of gnomes who lived in the forests of Hawaii before the arrival of the Polynesians. Many scientists explain the existence of ancient statues on Hawaiian Islands just the Menehune lived here. Others argue that the legends of the Menehune began with the arrival of Europeans in these areas and were created by 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 had been built by the Menehune.

However, no one found the skeletons. Therefore, it still remains a big mystery what kind of race built all these amazing ancient structures in Hawaii before the arrival of the Polynesians.

15. Griffin.

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 king of the animal kingdom, a symbol of power and dominance. Griffins can be found in many depictions of Minoan Crete and later in art and mythology Ancient Greece. However, some believe that the creature symbolizes the fight against evil and witchcraft.

14. Medusa

According to one version, Medusa was a beautiful maiden destined 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 instead of hair. Medusa's ugliness was so disgusting that anyone who looked at her face turned to stone. Perseus eventually killed Medusa with the help of Athena.

Pihiu is another legendary monster hybrid native to China. Even though no part of his body resembled human organs, mythological creature 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 the pihiu, the Tian Lu, is also sometimes considered a sacred being 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 help accumulate wealth.

12. Sukuyant

The soucouillant, according to Caribbean legends (especially in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Guadeloupe), is an exotic black version of the European vampire. By word of mouth, from generation to generation, Sukuyant has become part of local folklore. He is described as a hideous-looking old woman by day, who at night transforms into a magnificent-looking young black woman resembling a goddess. She seduces her victims in order to later suck their blood or make them her eternal slaves. She was also believed to practice black magic and voodoo, and could transform herself into ball lightning or enter the homes of her victims through any opening in the house, including cracks and keyholes.

11. Lamassu.

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-looking man, while others described him as a female deity with good intentions.

10. Tarasca

The tale of the Tarasca is reported in the history of Martha, which is included in Jacob's biography of the Christian saints. Tarasca was a dragon with a very scary appearance and bad intentions. According to legend, it had the head of a lion, six short legs like a bear, the body of a bull, was covered with the shell of a turtle and a scaly tail that ended with a scorpion sting. Tarasca terrorized the Nerluc region of France.

It all ended when a young devoted Christian named Martha arrived in the city to spread the gospel of Jesus and discovered that the people had been afraid of a fierce dragon for years. Then he found the dragon in the forest and sprinkled it with holy water. This action has tamed wildlife dragon. After this, Martha led the dragon back to the city of Nerluk, where the angry local residents Tarasque was stoned to death.

On November 25, 2005, UNESCO included Tarasca in the list of masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.

9. Draugr.

The draugr, according to Scandinavian folklore and mythology, is a zombie that emits a surprisingly powerful putrid odor of the dead. It was believed that the Draugr eats people, drinks blood, and has power over the minds of people, driving them crazy at will. A typical Draugr was somewhat similar to Freddy Krueger, who, apparently, was created under the influence of fairy tales about the Scandinavian monster.

8. Lernaean Hydra.

The Lernaean Hydra was a mythical water monster with many heads that resembled large snakes. A ferocious monster lived in Lerna, a small village near Argos. According to legend, Hercules decided to kill the Hydra and when he cut off one head, two appeared. For this reason, Hercules' nephew Iolaus burned each head as soon as his uncle cut it off, only then did they stop reproducing.

7. Broxa.

By Jewish legend Broxa is an aggressive monster, similar to a giant bird, that would attack goats or, in in rare cases, drank human blood at night. The legend of Broxa spread in the Middle Ages in Europe, where it was believed that witches took the form of Broxa.

6. Baba Yaga

Baba Yaga is perhaps one of the most popular paranormal creatures in folklore Eastern Slavs and, according to legend, looked fierce and scary old woman. However, Baba Yaga is a multifaceted figure capable of inspiring researchers, capable of turning into a cloud, snake, bird, black cat and symbolizing the Moon, death, winter or the Goddess of Mother Earth, the totemic ancestor of matriarchy.

Antaeus was a giant enormous power, 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 a fight. After defeating the stranger in a deadly wrestling match, he killed him. He collected the skulls of the people he defeated in order to one day build a temple dedicated to Poseidon from these “trophies.”

But one day one of the passersby turned out to be Hercules, who was making his way to the Garden of the Hesperides to complete his eleventh labor. Antaeus made a fatal mistake by challenging Hercules. The hero lifted Antaeus off the ground and crushed him in a bear hug.

4. Dullahan.

The fierce and powerful Dullahan is a headless horseman in Irish folklore and mythology. For centuries, the Irish described him as a harbinger of doom who traveled 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 is perfectly in sync with nature. However, according to legend, when someone tries to cut down the tree where Kodama lives, bad things and a series of misfortunes begin to happen to him.

2. Corrigan

Strange creatures called Corrigan come from Brittany, cultural area in the north-west of France with a very rich literary traditions and folklore. Some say Corrigan was beautiful good fairy, while other sources describe him as an evil spirit who looked like a dwarf and danced around fountains. He seduced people with his charm to kill them or steal their children.

1. Fish-man Lyrgans.

The fish-man Lyrgans existed in the mythology of Cantabria, an autonomous community located in northern Spain.

According to legend, this is an amphibious creature that looks like a sullen man who was lost at sea. Many people believe that the fish-man was one of the four sons of Francisco de la Vega and Maria del Casar, a couple who lived in the area. It was believed that they drowned in the waters of the sea while swimming with their friends at the mouth of Bilbao.

Unicorns and mermaids - fact or fiction? We present a list of mythical creatures, evidence of whose existence people continue to search for over the centuries.

Water creatures

Loch Ness monster

The next mention of a “water beast” occurs in 1880 - due to a sailboat that drowned in Loch Ness. The circumstances of the crash were very unusual: according to eyewitnesses’ descriptions, as soon as the ship reached the middle of the reservoir, it was suddenly broken in half by something that resembled tentacles or a tail.

Rumors about the existence of the monster began to spread widely after 1933, when the Evening Couriers newspaper published a detailed account of an “eyewitness” who noticed an unknown creature in the lake.

In September 2016, amateur photographer Ian Bremner managed to take a photo of a 2-meter snake-like creature cutting through the surface of Loch Ness. The photograph is quite convincing, but in the press Bremner was accused of a hoax, and someone decided that the photo depicted three frolicking seals.

Mermaids

In Slavic folklore, the souls of drowned women turned into mermaids. Some ancient Slavic peoples also believed that the mermaid was the spirit of a deceased child who died during the Rusal (preceding the Trinity) week. It was believed that during these 7 days mermaids walked the Earth, emerging from the water after the Ascension of the Lord.

Mermaids are classified as evil spirits, capable of harming a person, for example, drowning him. It was customary to depict these creatures naked and without a headdress, less often in a torn sundress.

Sirens

According to another version, they became winged because they could not fulfill the orders of the gods. As punishment thunderer Zeus He left them a beautiful girl’s body, but turned his arms into wings, which is why they could no longer remain in the human world.

The meeting of people with sirens is described in Homer's poem "Odyssey". Mythical maidens enchanted sailors with their singing, and their ships crashed on the reefs. Captain Odysseus ordered his crew to plug their ears with beeswax to resist the sweet-voiced half-women, half-birds, and his ship escaped destruction.

Kraken

200 years later, in 1897, researchers discovered the giant squid Architeutis, reaching 16.5 meters in length, in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It has been suggested that this creature was mistaken for a kraken two centuries earlier.

It is not so easy to spot a kraken in the vastness of the ocean: when its body protrudes above the water, it is easy to mistake it for a small island, of which there are thousands in the ocean.

Flying creatures

Phoenix

Mentions of the phoenix are found in the myths of Ancient Greece in the mythology of the ancient Egyptian Heliopolis, in which the phoenix is ​​described as the patron of large time cycles.

This fabulous bird with bright red plumage represents renewal and immortality and modern culture. Thus, a phoenix rising from a flame, accompanied by the inscription “One Phoenix of the whole world,” is depicted on the medals of Queen Elizabeth II of England.

Pegasus

The constellation Pegasus, which is located southwest near Andromeda and consists of 166 stars, is named after this fictional winged horse.

Dragon

The first mentions of the Snake date back to the 11th century. On the harp made by the settlers of the Novgorod lands, you can find images of a three-headed lizard, which was originally considered the king of the underwater world.

In some legends, Gorynych lives in the mountains (therefore it is believed that his name comes from the word “mountain”). In others, he sleeps on a stone in the sea and combines the ability to control two elements at once - fire and water.

Wyvern

It is known that the first legends about wyverns appeared in the Stone Age: this creature personified ferocity. Subsequently, his image was used by the leaders of the troops to instill fear in the enemy.

A wyvern-like creature can be found on Orthodox icons, depicting the fight of St. Michael (or George) with the dragon.

Land creatures

Unicorns

The earliest evidence of unicorns dates back to the 5th century BC. The ancient Greek historian Ctesias was the first to describe “Indian wild asses with one horn on their forehead, blue eyes and a red head,” and whoever drinks wine or water from the horn of this donkey will be cured of all diseases and will never get sick again.

No one except Ctesias saw this animal, but his story became widespread thanks to Aristotle, who included a description of the unicorn in his History of Animals.

Bigfoot/Yeti

The first mentions of Bigfoot were recorded from the words of Chinese peasants: in 1820, they met a tall, shaggy monster with large paws. In the 1880s, European countries began organizing expeditions to search for traces of Bigfoot. Valkyries carry the dead to Valhalla

On rare occasions, the maidens are allowed to decide the outcome of a battle, but most often they carry out the will of their father Odin, who decides who will be the victor in a bloody battle.

Valkyries are most often depicted wearing armor and helmets with horns, and a shining light emanates from their swords. The story goes that the god Odin endowed his daughters with the ability of compassion so that they would accompany those killed in battle to the “hall of the slain.”

Sphinx

Legend has it that a female sphinx guarded the entrance to the city of Thebes. Everyone who met her on their way had to guess the riddle: “Who walks in the morning on four legs, in the afternoon on two, and in the evening on three?” People who did not guess right died from the clawed paws, and only Oedipus was able to name the correct answer: man.

The essence of the solution is that when a person is born, he crawls on all fours, in mature age- walks on two legs, and in old age is forced to rely on a cane. Then the monster threw itself from the top of the mountain into the abyss, and entry into Thebes became free.

The editors of the site invite you to learn about the most unusual non-fictional creatures.
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History knows many mythical creatures of the world that live only in people's imaginations. Some of them are absolutely fictional, some resemble real animals. The variety of mythical creatures is difficult to describe - if you collect them in one book only by names, you will get a volume of more than 1000 pages. In each country, the creatures are different - depending on the territory of residence, the legends also differ. Some legends are dominated by good mythical creatures, while others are dominated by beautiful but dangerous ones.

Varieties of mythical creatures

Each creature has so different, and sometimes even contradictory characteristics, that it is extremely difficult to attribute it to any species. But experts in the field of mythology were able to combine all the diversity of creatures into one list, which includes 6 main categories.

The first group includes humanoid creatures, i.e. those who look like humans. They have classic characteristics people - upright posture, similar body structure, ability to manual labor, the use of intelligence in complex life situations. Such creatures usually differ from people in strength, height and magical abilities.

1. Giants are distinguished by their gigantic size. In legends they are described as huge, menacing, embittered creatures. Relationships with people are usually bad - hostile. Intellect is reduced, temperament is hot-tempered. The main types of giants are orcs, cyclops, cavemen.
2. Dwarfs are the opposite of giants. Their height is usually about 1 m or less depending on the species. For example, hobbits reach more than 1 m, and fairies can be very tiny and fit in the palm of a child. Dwarfs include boggarts and leprechauns.
3. A separate point is worth highlighting human-created creatures. These include golems and homunculi. Alchemists have been working on their creation for a long time, and mythology tells about successful attempts, which have not been officially confirmed.

This is only the first of all the many creatures ever described in mythology. Naturally, there are much more humanoids than those listed in the list; here are only the most famous ones. The creatures that are most similar to humans deserve a separate description.

The subtype of people is the most extensive. It includes various creatures that are most similar in anatomy to humans. Large creatures include yetis, orcs and trolls.

1. The Yeti, or as it is also called - Bigfoot, appeared in mythology relatively recently. Its height exceeds 2-3 m, and its entire body is covered with thick hair, white or gray. Bigfoot tries not to go out to people, avoids them. There are eyewitnesses who claim that they met Bigfoot. But science has not yet confirmed its existence - this automatically makes it mythical. The Yeti is very popular in the culture of the peoples of the north - many souvenirs with its image are produced there.
2. Orcs are mythical humanoid creatures native to Europe, with slight similarities to trolls and goblins. Orcs are usually depicted as small creatures with ugly facial features. The body is unevenly covered with hair, the arms and legs are disproportionately large in relation to the body. Orcs were mentioned in Tolkien's legendarium, where they are presented as a cruel people who served dark forces. Their peculiarity was their absolute intolerance to light, since they were created in complete darkness.
3. Trolls are huge creatures native to Switzerland. They live on rocks, in forests or in caves. Legends describe trolls as huge, ugly creatures that intimidate people if they enter their territory. Trolls, according to legend, could kidnap human women and children and eat them among the rocks. You can only protect yourself from monsters with the help of Christian symbols - crosses, holy water and bells. At the sight of these things, the trolls run away. This is what it says in the encyclopedias of the monks.

Of the famous creatures, it is worth highlighting gnomes, which are mountain, ravine and dark. These creatures are similar to humans, but smaller in stature. Dwarves are depicted as spirits of the earth and rocks who work in the mines, extracting gems. The attitude towards people is rather friendly. However, if a person shows aggression, the gnome can fly into a rage and injure the offender.

Elves are classified as a separate subgroup and are most similar to humans. They are usually fair-haired, tall and intellectually gifted, easily blending in with people in a crowd. In some tales, elves have translucent wings. In Tolkien's books, elves are warriors who are skilled with bows and swords.

Winged creatures

These creatures have wings different colors and sizes, capable of long or short distance flights.

The most famous winged mythical creatures are angels. These are God's messengers, according to legend, they help maintain order in the world. In all cultures they look like people who have large white wings behind their backs.

Although angels are usually depicted as men, they are asexual. Creatures do not have a physical body, are weightless and invisible to human eye. They materialize only when they need to convey some information to people.

Angels, as the highest winged creatures close to God, can control the elements, natural phenomena and the destinies of people - these are very powerful mythical creatures.

There is a belief that each person has his own Guardian Angel, who is called upon to protect and protect “his” ward.

There are subclasses of angels. Cupid is not a classic angel, but he is one. He is a messenger of love and helps lonely souls find their soulmate.

Winged creatures include bats - usually their wings are not behind their backs, like the previous subgroup, but are, as it were, connected to their arms by fusion. Harpies belong to this group. They look like humanoid birds. Their body is female, as is their head, but the arms and legs are replaced by vulture paws with long sharp claws.

They are usually aggressive towards people, kidnapping women and children. They tend to rob people, taking their food, clothing and jewelry. Harpies fear only one thing in the world - the sound of wind instruments made of copper. From the melody on the trumpets, they scatter in horror and hide.

Group of demihumans

These creatures, unlike humanoid ones, combine features of both humans and animals. They are present in the legends of almost all countries and nationalities of the world. Habitat - as far as possible from people, somewhere in hard-to-reach places:

• in the mountains;
• in the centers of deserts;
• on the seabed.

The group of demihumans can be divided into several small subgroups.

1. Creatures with the head of a beast. Many creatures are described in ancient times Egyptian mythology, where all the deities had both human and animal forms. They took the best features from animals, combining them with human intelligence - the result was creatures that were an order of magnitude more developed than ordinary people, which is why the Egyptians worshiped them. The Minotaur, which belongs to the group of beast-heads, is a creature from ancient Greek mythology. He had the head of a bull, large horns, and was unusually fast and strong. He lived in a labyrinth named after him. This labyrinth was impossible to pass through, because the Minotaur killed and ate anyone who got inside.
2. Werewolves are people who, under special circumstances, could turn into animals. The most famous are werewolves. These are wolf people whose transformation occurs during the full moon.
3. Having the body of a human and an animal. There are a lot of such creatures, different cultures There are dozens of similar images. These include mermaids, newts and centaurs. All of them have part of the body from an animal, and part from a person. Their intelligence is higher, and their relationships with people are ambiguous. Depending on the mood, they can either help or harm a person.
4. Furries are creatures that have the body of an animal and the consciousness of a human; there are furries of dogs, wolves and foxes. Some legends feature dragonoids.

Group of animals and birds

Animals in collections of legends were sometimes given supernatural powers. Many of them had developed intelligence, thanks to which they made contact with humans. Some of these creatures had mystical properties, or the organs of these animals were valued as medicine. Many generations of ancient people spent years finding such animals. The rulers promised a huge reward for them.

The largest subgroup consists of chimeras - ancient mythical creatures.

Horse-like creatures had a structure similar to a horse. They were often depicted with wings. This subgroup includes:

• griffins;
• hippogriffs;
• pegasi.

All of them have the ability to fly. Many people of ancient times dreamed of riding such a horse. Seeing a winged horse was considered great luck. According to legends, they lived high in the mountains, so brave souls went there to receive a little happiness as a gift. Many of them did not return.

Sphinxes are often found in Egyptian mythology. They were a symbol of wisdom and were considered guards who protected the tombs of the pharaohs. Sphinxes look like cats or lions with a human head.

Manticores are fictional, rare creatures that have the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion. Sometimes their heads were crowned with horns. These creatures are extremely aggressive towards people, like lions, and are poisonous. According to legend, anyone who met a manticore died in its teeth.

In addition to chimeras, this group includes unicorns, which are distinguished separately from the rest. The creatures have the body and head of a horse, but their difference is a horn from the middle of their forehead. According to legend, a crushed unicorn horn has magical properties- it was added to various potions to improve health. The blood of the creature gave longevity, even immortality, if a person took it constantly. However, according to legend, anyone who drinks the blood of a unicorn will be damned forever, so there were no people willing to do it.

There is a separate subgroup of dragons. In ancient times, they were considered the most powerful on the planet. Their prototype was dinosaurs - majestic lizards. Dragons are divided into European and Slavic. IN ancient Russian folklore dragons could have up to 12 heads. Slavic dragons were more willing to interact with people and had higher social skills. Sometimes they were depicted with many eyes, as a symbol of the fact that all knowledge is available to them, and they observe everything that happens in the world.

Elemental creatures and elemental group

In the Middle Ages, elementals were those that were directly related to the forces of nature. Such creatures could influence the elements and control them for the benefit or harm of people.

1. Gargoyles - artificially created mythical creatures. At first, people built gargoyles from stone and clay to scare away evil spirits and demons, but one day some inexperienced young wizard brought them to life, thus creating dangerous creatures. Gargoyles can fly and move quickly on land and in water. They are very dangerous for humans, because they like to attack people and tear them into small pieces.
2. Mermaids are sea creatures associated directly with the element of water. They are divided into sea and river mermaids. These creatures have the body of a girl and instead of legs, a powerful scaly tail. In legends, mermaids look different - from unimaginable beautiful sirens who lure unlucky fishermen to the bottom, to unsightly ones from the legends of the Japanese, who usually did not harm people. In many cultures, girls who drowned from unhappy love became mermaids.
3. Nymphs represent the elements of nature and also represent fertility. There are a great many nymphs in mythology. In the legends of the ancient Greeks, there are more than 3,000 nymphs. Their habitats are almost any piece of land - seas, rivers, and forests. They all have their own names. For example, the cute nymphs of the sea are called Nereids, and the rivers are called Naiads. Nymphs treat humans favorably and, if necessary, are able to provide a little help. However, if a person treated them or nature with disrespect, he could be punished by insanity.
4. Golems are earth elementals. These creatures were created by ancient magicians using one or more elements. Golem comes from Jewish mythology, where it was believed that they were created for protection and battles. Golems do not have intelligence - they only blindly obey the creator, who gives them his blood to fuel their vitality. Defeating the Golem is difficult; it requires great physical strength and the will to live. These creatures can be made of sand, clay or earth.

Forest creatures

A separate group of nature guardians is distinguished. They are very common in Slavic mythology- these are mermen, bogworts, kikimoras, goblin and boletus. They all live in places inaccessible to ordinary people, protecting nature and preserving it. These creatures are neutral towards people as long as they do not violate territorial boundaries.

Wood goblins live in the forests. These are creatures from Slavic mythology, which have long been considered the masters of the forest. They are usually depicted as wizened old men with emerald green eyes. They look harmless. But if you offend nature and behave inappropriately in the forest, you can receive punishment from the forest spirit.

Distinguish a devil from ordinary person You can dress according to his peculiarities - he likes to wear all his clothes inside out, even the bast shoes on his feet are mixed up.

Boletuses live in forests and are guardians of mushrooms. They are usually depicted as short people who live near mushroom places. Boletus are usually friendly with goblin and conduct forestry together.

Kikimora

Kikimoras live in swamps and forests, luring unlucky travelers into the quagmire. They are depicted as scary women, with one leg, long and thin, which holds them above the marshy area. Swampmen - male spirits - live next to them.

Mermen usually live in rivers and lakes. They are neutral towards people, but can lure into the water someone who seems dangerous to them.

Fiery mythical creatures

These creatures are inextricably linked with flame. Fire is the element of purification and bright thoughts, therefore all creatures associated with it are revered by people.

1. Phoenixes - they are subject to fire. They are born in the flame and die in it. Phoenixes are immortal creatures; after spontaneous combustion, they are reborn again in the form of a small chick. Their feathers are hot to the touch, and their tears have healing properties - they can heal even the most serious wounds and injuries. In Christianity, the phoenix bird signifies the victory of life over death. These creatures are described in literature, they are mentioned in the treatises of ancient Greek and Roman philosophers such as Herodotus and Tacitus.
2. Salamanders are small fire spirits, which can live in ovens or fires, feeding on fire. They do this thanks to their icy body, which cannot be warmed by any method. The salamander has a neutral attitude towards humans and brings neither happiness nor grief. The appearance of the salamander varies - from a small lizard to a large reptile the size of a house. The salamander is not only a symbol of fire, but also philosopher's stone. In alchemical literature it is described as a lizard and can transform into stone and back.

Group of demons and imps

Different cultures have ambiguous attitudes towards demons. In Greek mythology, demons are a bundle of energy endowed with intelligence that is capable of changing a person's destiny both for good and for bad.

In the mythology of the ancient Slavs, demons are evil forces that wreak havoc and destruction. Translated, the word “demons” means “carrying fear.” Demons are hellish creatures, but they used to be angels, as evidenced by the presence of wings. Unlike angels, demons have dark-colored wings and resemble webbed rather than feathered wings. Demons can take on any form and disguise themselves. More often they turn into humans, but the most arrogant ones can take on the appearance of angels. It is not difficult to distinguish them - it is unpleasant to be in their presence, causing unreasonable melancholy and sadness, or an attack of uncontrollable hysterical laughter.

Among demons, there are two types of lovers: incubi and succubi. They need a constant supply of energy, which they can only obtain through sexual contact with a person. During an act with a demon lover, the victim is in a zombified state and is unable to resist. She feels great pleasure at the same time.

An incubus was a male demon who entered the homes of women, virgins and nuns, and raped them in their sleep. A succubus is a female demon whose prey was strong, attractive men. The greatest success for a succubus was to seduce a priest, preferably one who had only recently been ordained.

Incubi are able to reproduce by transferring their seed to a woman. From such a union, according to legend, disgustingly deformed children were born with animal body parts or having extra limbs. They tried to kill such children immediately after birth, because, according to legend, evil forces were hidden in them.

Fighting succubi and incubi is not easy, but it is possible. They cannot stand the smell of incense, so if you leave a small lamp overnight, the demons will not come. Prayers help from them.

Fauns also belong to the family of demons. These are deities that are characteristic of Italian culture. They are considered favorable to people. Fauns live in forests and mountains. They can warn people from possible danger by appearing in their dreams. Usually fauns protect herds and livestock from attacks by wild animals, helping shepherds. Some animal mythical creatures can only be seen by fauns.

Undead

This group includes the so-called living dead. They differ from each other - depending on the species, undead can be incorporeal or tangible. IN modern world The image of the undead is actively used in games and films of such a genre as horror.

The bulk of the undead are vampires - creatures with sharp fangs that drink human blood. They can transform at will into bats or bats. They come to people at night while they are sleeping and suck out every last drop of blood from the victim. Sometimes vampires like to torture the victim - then they drink blood gradually, over several days, watching with sadistic pleasure the torment of the unfortunate person. The image of vampires is widely covered in literature. Bram Stoker first did this in his novel Dracula. Since then, the theme of vampires has become popular - books, plays, and films are based on it.

Zombies can also be considered undead - these are dead people who feed on human flesh. Description of zombies in literature: creatures devoid of consciousness and intelligence, extremely slow, but deadly. According to legend, zombies make people like themselves through a bite. To kill a zombie, you need to cut off its head and burn its body. Then they won't be able to regenerate.

Mummies are considered undead. They were once human, but after death their bodies were embalmed, so they remained in earthly world. Mummies are in a state of sleep and therefore harmless. However, if anyone wakes them up, ancient power will be reborn and chaos will begin. Egyptian mummies are divided into several categories.

1. Pharaohs are strong and fast, have good physical training. They have enormous fortitude, so they are capable of subjugating ghosts. It is not easy to neutralize such creatures; you need to have strength and endurance, and possess secret knowledge from ancient Egyptian treatises.
2. Priests are not as strong as pharaohs, but they have magic and are able to influence a person without resorting to physical contact. There are much fewer of them than pharaohs.
3. Bodyguards are the personal security of the pharaoh. They are extremely slow, but have remarkable strength, so it is better to flee from them rather than engage in battle.

Dangerous magical creatures

Mythical creatures are not always neutral towards people; many of them represent real danger for a person.

1. Furies. In ancient times, people were in awe of them, afraid to even name them out loud, but if they had to do this, they usually added some epithet before the name. The furies look truly terrifying - their heads are like dogs, and their bodies are like those of hundred-year-old women. The hair is unusual: instead of the usual hair, the furies have a hairstyle of long snakes. These creatures attack everyone who, in their opinion, has done something wrong. As punishment, they beat the unfortunate man to death with metal sticks.
2. Sirens, although considered the most beautiful creatures on the planet, do not become any less deadly. Sirens look like birds with the heads of women, and their voices can cloud the mind of even the most experienced and stern sailor. They lure travelers to caves and rocks with angelic singing and then kill them. It is almost impossible to get out of their captivity.
3. The Basilisk is a deadly monster from ancient legends. According to legend, the basilisk - giant snake, up to 50 m long. It is born from a chicken or duck egg, which was hatched by a toad. The head of the basilisk is decorated with huge curved horns, and fangs of varying lengths protrude from its mouth. The snake is so poisonous that it can poison rivers if it drinks from them. You can fight against the basilisk only with the help of a mirror - if the creature sees its reflection, it will turn to stone. He is also afraid of roosters - their singing is disastrous for the snake. You can tell about the approach of a basilisk by the behavior of spiders - if they quickly leave their home, you can expect the appearance of a snake.
4. Will-o'-the-wisps in marshy areas are small, little-known spirits that are not at all dangerous. However, travelers mistake them for the lights of houses, which they try to follow. These creatures are insidious and lure people either into an impenetrable thicket or into a quagmire. People usually come to their senses too late, when they can no longer get out of the swamp.

Good creatures from legends

Creatures from ancient legends can also be kind to humans or help them. There are especially many of them in Greek and Japanese mythology.

1. The unicorn is a fairy-tale creature that has a gentle disposition and kind hearted. He is very peaceful and never attacks people. Seeing a unicorn is good luck. If you feed him an apple or a piece of sugar, you can gain good luck for the whole year.
2. Pegasus is a real flying horse that emerged from the body of the Gorgon Medusa after her death. Usually depicted as a snow-white horse. Has the ability to save those in trouble. Pegasus will help only those who have pure thoughts - he simply ignores the rest.
3. Tanuki is a creature from Japanese mythology, which is depicted as a raccoon or a bear cub. According to legend, a person who saw a tanuki called good luck and wealth into his home. To lure them into the house, the Japanese usually place a small bottle of sake near the figurine of the deity. In almost every Japanese home you can find a small image or figurine of this creature.
4. Centaurs, although considered tough warriors, are usually favorably disposed towards humans. These are creatures with the torso and head of a man and the croup of a horse. All centaurs are educated, know how to navigate by the stars and cardinal directions, and are soothsayers. Based on the location of the planets, centaurs are able to determine the future.
5. Fairies - look like little girls with translucent wings, living in flower buds. They feed on pollen and drink dew in the morning. Fairies usually help people with minor everyday problems, but they can also regulate the elements and protect pets.
6. Brownies are magical representatives of Slavic mythology. Brownies have long lived side by side with humans and protect them and their homes. Brownies help protect the home from the invasion of evil forces and get along well with pets, especially cats. Brownies look like little elderly people. Dressed in red trousers and caftan, like characters from ancient Russian fairy tales. To ensure that the house is always cozy, it is worth appeasing the brownie from time to time by offering him milk on a saucer or candy.

Conclusion

There are thousands of creatures in mythology. It is not known whether these animals exist - we know about them only from legends. However, I would like to believe that there is still room for a fairy tale in this world. Various mythical creatures - interesting, good, evil, big or small.

To interact with them, you need to thoroughly study their preferences and habits, but the main thing in communicating with legendary creatures is respect - then they can not only make contact, but also help. You should not deal with potentially dangerous animals; it is better to choose safe creatures in this regard. You can read about the classification of these creatures and their danger in a special alphabetical reference book or atlas dedicated to mythology.

The world knows great amount myths in which various creatures play an important role. They have no scientific confirmation, but new reports appear regularly that in different corners In the world, entities have been noticed that are not similar to ordinary animals and people.

Mythical creatures of the peoples of the world

There are a huge number of legends that tell about mythical monsters, animals and mysterious entities. Some of them have features in common with real animals and even people, while others personify the fears of people living in different times. Every continent has legends that involve unique mythical animals and creatures associated with local folklore.

Slavic mythical creatures

Legends that arose during the times of the ancient Slavs are familiar to many, since they formed the basis of various fairy tales. The creatures of Slavic mythology hide important signs of that time. Many of them were held in high esteem by our ancestors.

Mythical creatures of ancient Greece

The most famous and interesting are the myths of Ancient Greece, which are filled with gods, various heroes and entities, both good and bad. Many Greek mythical creatures have become characters in various modern stories.

Mythical animals in Scandinavian mythology

The mythology of the ancient Scandinavians is part of ancient Germanic history. Many entities stand out for their enormous size and bloodthirstiness. The most famous mythical animals:

English mythical creatures

Various entities that, according to legends, lived in England in ancient times are among the most famous in the modern world. They became heroes of various cartoons and films.

Mythical creatures of Japan

Asian countries are unique, even if we consider their mythology. This is due to geographical location, unpredictable elements and national flavor. The ancient mythical creatures of Japan are unique.

Mythical creatures of South America

This territory is a mixture of ancient Indian traditions, Spanish and Portuguese culture. Over the years they have lived here different people who prayed to their gods and told stories. The most famous creatures from myths and legends in South America:

Mythical creatures of Africa

Considering the presence of a large number of nationalities living on the territory of this continent, it is understandable that the legends telling about the entities can be listed for a long time. Good mythical creatures are little known in Africa.

Mythical creatures from the Bible

While reading the main holy book, one may encounter different entities that are unknown. Some of them are similar to dinosaurs and mammoths.