The term giant carries some ambiguity, however in mythology definitions of what constitutes 'large' vary, with definitions ranging from 40 kg to 250 kg. WebThe world's most popular way to learn Greek online Learn Greek in just 5 minutes a day with our game-like lessons. There are many myths and legends about all of the above mythological monsters and creatures. King Minos, not able to kill the monster and further displease Poseidon, commissioned a huge labyrinth at the basement of his palace. Generally speaking, a werewolf is a human who can transform or shapeshift into a wolf, though stories may differ depending on lore. Working at Little Greek can be lots of fun and a great start to a new career. Only because the raft had nobody else on it, Charybdis spits it back out and Odysseus managed to sail away. Minotaur 23. The Greek hero Perseus killed Medusa and used her head as a weapon to turn his enemies into stone. Later medieval artists imagined it as having features of both a bird and a snake. They lured sailors with their divinely alluring, seductive song and melodic voices. With one hundred heads, it would have made a fearsome opponent for the great hero. It was put to sleep by the witch and it was left alone or slain by the hero. ISBN 9780786444526.; Spence, Lewis (1960) An Encyclopaedia of Occultism University Books There were also several stories of carnivorous horses that got their strength from eating the flesh of men. She was fierce with terrible poison and lived in the Underworld, where Hades kingdom is. Once Dionysus grew to adulthood, Silenus was his companion along with his group of satyrs. The famous sisters were Stheno, Euryale and Medusa. Although many of these mythical sea creatures are considered evil, [], The Nemean Lion was a legendary monster in Greek mythology infamous for prowling and terrorizing the valley of Nemea. She is thought to be a daughter of Poseidon and Gaia. While most versions leave the exact location up to interpretation, some say [], Silenus (also known as Satyr) was the creature who raised and tutored the god Dionysus, the god of Wine and Fertility. In Greek mythology, Centaurs (or Kentauroi) are half-man, half horse creatures that inhabited the mountains and forests of Thessaly. WebAncient Greek town name generator. Often, serpentine features were a sign of evil or monstrousness. The Sphinx has a lion's body, bird's wings and a female head. Despite their obscure origins, these mythical beings of ancient Greece have their place in our heart and we hope that this applies to you all now. According to Greek mythology, the great hero Theseus entered the labyrinth and managed to kill the Minotaur and also find his way out. They lived on opposite sides of a very narrow sea straight and prayed on sailors. Faeries, also known as fairies, fey, or fae, can be traced back to Old French medieval romance stories. They were excellent herders and huntsmen and they forged good weapons. Troy was actually attacked by Poseidons monsters twice. Here is an almost exhaustive list and description of the Greek mythology monsters, with photos! Arion was endowed with both eternal life and the ability to speak. Its bite was also poisonous and deadly. Fantasy creatures are a timeless fascination of people all over the world. So, we should give them some credit for their creativity. Smaller, diminutive human-like beings, leprechauns are known to be solitary creatures with a love for mischief and practical jokes. Their power lay in their upper body appearance: they were beautiful, young women and had a charming voice when they sang. All Rights Reserved. Greek mythology is full of fantastic and terrifying creatures, many of whom were born at the dawn of creation. Registered with the Registry of Tourist Enterprises under No 0261E70000703201, Women in ancient Greece: The role of women in the Classical Period, Kallos: The Ancient Greek Ideal for Beauty, Customs in Ancient Greece Associated with September, How Athens got its name: The name-giving myth, The Hills of Athens and the Myths Connected to them, Greek Mythology Books you need to read (for adults & kids), Hercules: The Life and Labors of the Greek Hero, The Parthenon: 10 Surprising Facts about the Temple, 6 Greek Myths to Know Before Visiting Athens, The Apple of Discord and the Fairest of Them All, Best Walking Tours in Athens, Magical Walking Routes, Private Tours in Athens: The Benefits of Booking in Private, Acropolis Tour: Why a Guided Tour is Necessary, 9 Things to Know About Eleusis The European Capital of Culture 2023, The Role of Greek Mythology in the Creation of Athenian Wonders, Mysteries of Ancient Greece You Didn't Know About, Top 10 Alternative Destinations in Greece, 10 Sights to Tour in Athens and Bring Greek Mythology to Life, 10 Things to Do in Delphi Home to the Oracle of Apollo, Symposia in Ancient Greece: Reviving the Ancient Custom, 30 of the Most Famous Tales from Greek Mythology, 10 Things you didn't Know about Ancient Greeks, 10+1 Things to Do in Athens to Time Travel to Ancient Greece, How to Travel in Greece Differently: a Guide for Delving Deeper into the Greek Culture. The Minotaur was born when Poseidon decided to take revenge on King Minos of Crete for his disobedience; he denied sacrificing a beautiful white bull. While leprechauns originated in medieval Irish folklore, they did not become prominent until much later. One of the most famous legendary birds of ancient mythology was the Phoenix. She is said to appear at the full moon and feast on the bodily organs of her victims. It was the size of a hippopotamus, however, and had rotating horns. Two Aztec deities made the Earth using the body of the Cipactli after one of them, Tezcatlipoca used his own foot as bait. The Hydra was a terrifying sea or water-dwelling creature from Lerna in Argolis. 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. They were near the town of Stymphalis in Arcadia. Arion was an ancient Greek mythical creature that took the form of a giant, extremely Although they were of divine origin, they were mortal. Greek Creatures Greek Gods Heroes Mortals Titans Search Abraxas Prof. Geller - November 1, 2016 Achilles Prof. Geller - December 1, 2016 Aeolus Prof. Geller - October 12, 2016 Aether Prof. Geller - November 7, 2016 Amphitrite Prof. Geller - December 8, 2016 Aphrodite Prof. Geller - December 8, 2016 Apollo Prof. Geller - December 8, 2016 Arachne Centaur 11. * creature - 1. any living being of the animal kingdom (or with traits similar to animals). WebWelcome to GreekTV.org. 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. She seduced travelers, drank their blood and ate their flesh. They were vicious, cruel and violent. Fauns, or goat men, were carried over to Roman mythology from the Greek Satyrs. He had forgotten, or had not thought, in his hard delusion, and in wrath at his whole mighty line the Lady of Arrows sent upon them the fierce wild Boar with the shining teeth, who after the way of his kind did much evil to the orchards of Oineus. Most served as obstacles for heroes and their tales of triumph. However, whether with devious tricks or real harm, they are universally known to be troublemakers and possess qualities of malice and greed. A similar serpent was said to have guarded the sacred spring of Ares near Thebes. On its back, there was the head of a goat that breathed fire. Banshee 3. Heracles (Hercules) defeated these monsters in his eight labor. She had a seductive woman's face and a reptiles body. The Lernaean Hydra, one of the many offspring of half-woman and half-serpent Echidna and 100-headed Typhon, was a many-headed serpent who lived in the swamps. There are many mythological creatures associated with fire. Another human and animal hybrid from Greek legend is the centaur. Golem 20. Besides the Colchian dragon and Python, another famous monster was Ladon. Instead of a human head, a hundred dragon heads erupted from Typhon'sneck and shoulders. Medieval myths depicted gnomes as creatures resembling little old men, often with hunched over backs. She lived opposite Scylla, on the Asian shore of the Bosporus (a narrow, natural strait and the continental boundary between Europe and Asia). E.emailProtector.addCloakedMailto("ep_813a182d", 1); 2023 Greek TravelTellers. Find the ultimate list of supernatural, mythological creatures, monsters and more. Literal sea horses, they had equine bodies with the rear ends of fish. Feel free to learn more about us. Overview. Sometimes, these mystical creatures are purely symbolic and offer us a closer look at a particular cultures fears, desires, or values, while other folk tales about cute mythical creatures are based on human natureor perhaps simply invented to keep disobedient children in line. Check out this story about DNA samples that could prove whether or not Yetis are real. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a66a62581f7b08c5d08eb8981177b77b" );document.getElementById("if34fc3a20").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Despite such ancient origins, werewolves have obviously remained popular until today! According to Greek mythology, Apollo, a member of the Olympians Pantheon - the new gods - decided to build his sanctuary in Delphi. To solve the problem with her heads, he would burn the beheaded neck before the two new heads sprout. In some senses, this depiction isnt entirely incorrect. The animals of Africa can often be vaguely recognized, although their attributes were distorted in Greek descriptions. Because of her sadness and madness, Lamia transformed herself into a child-devouring monster. Often, the Chimera has three heads instead of just two, as the serpent tail ends in a snakehead. The Sirens, Harpies, and Furies all had bird-like features. The dark depths of the sea could hold any number of creatures that humans would never be aware of. Most often depicted as a giant with one eye, the cyclops (which means circle-eyed) first appeared in ancient Greek mythology. Whatever the origin or purpose of these myths and folklore, people seem to be intrinsically drawn to them. Unicorns were said to contain healing properties. However, plenty of other monsters deserve their time in the [], Chimaera has become one of the most famous female monsters described in Greek mythology. Their faces were pale and full of hunger and there were long talons in their hands or wings. They were said to be guardians of mountain passes and were a popular figure in ancient Greek art. In most cases, the greek gods did acts that were worthy of praise and worship. Hydra 6. The Hippocampoi were frequently pictured alongside the god Poseidon. Typhon was thelast son of Gaia, fathered by Tartarus, he was known as the Father of All Monsters. The writings of Pliny the Elder contained some of the most amazing and imaginative beasts known to the Greek world. 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. They often had the front parts of land animals, including exotic creatures like leopards, and the tails of fish. He fed Diomedes, their master, to his own horses and while they were occupied with their human meal, Heracles found the opportunity to bind their mouths shut. Here you'll find tried-and-true favorites and Yiayia-approved Greek recipes from Spanakopita to traditional Greek salad, Greek potatoes , BEST Souvlaki, Tztaziki Sauce, Fish Gyros , Bakalva and more! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); His bottom half consisted of gigantic viper coils which made a hissing noise. The Minotaur had the body of a man with the head and tail of a bull. Such dragons often guarded groves. The god made Minos wife, Pasiphae, fell in love with the white male bull and sleep with him. The Hydra. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Norway & Sweden : eigi einhamir (not of one skin) has the ability to change into a wolf by wearing a wolfskin. Medusa, the most famous one, was eventually slain by the hero Perseus who approached her with his back turned and staring into a special mirror to avoid her petrifying glance. As mentioned above, her mate was the monster Typhon. As soon as he did, he took advantage of her surprise that a mortal managed to do so and killed her. The Aethiopian Cetus, for example, was sent against Aethiopia and was about to devour the princess Andromeda until it was slain by Perseus. Many of these legendary creatures lived on for thousands of years after the Greeks first thought of them. Many have their basis in Mythology and some have emerged from cultural folklore. The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. Zeus dealt with him eventually, shooting him with a hundred lightning bolts and casting him under Mt. He was a giant dog with three heads, also known as Hades Hound. Satyrs were half-beast, half-man creatures that lived in the hills and The Griffon combined the wings of a giant eagle with the body of a lion. The air could also hold amazing creatures. The Greeks, like many ancient cultures, believed that the world was filled with amazing creatures that were rarely seen by man. 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. The Calydonian Boar was one of the most famous. Like many cultures, the Greeks incorporated dragons and other types of serpents into their mythology. Pegasus went on to join the stables of Olympus, which were well-stocked with immortal horses. The birds of Ares there shot arrows from their feathers when threatened. The Erymanthian Boar was so terrifying that Eurystheus refused to even look at it. Medusa, who is also the most famous of the three, was the only one of the Gorgons who was not immortal. Most people of his hometown thought he [], Echidna The She-Viper Mother of Monsters Echidna is a somewhat obscure, but nevertheless fearsome monster in Greek mythology. Vampire 2. WebJoin the Little Greek Team. The lion had very tough skin that could not be pierced by a weapon. Heracles (Hercules) was once again the hero to defeat this monster too in his fourth labor. The god of thunder loved her because she was beautiful and had children with her who were killed by Hera. According to Greek mythology, they were human-like but huge in stature and irresistible in strength. As soon as they stepped to shore, the Sirens devoured them. Mermaid 19. The creature is the child of a monstrous serpent, Typhon, and the half-woman/half-snake Echidna. They nailed the souls of the people and handed over the law-breakers to the Erinyes (Furies), the three goddesses of vengeance and retribution who punished men for crimes against the natural order. It also has evil siblings, including Lernaean Hydra and Cerberus. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Thanks for visiting! In general, however, in the popular piety of the Greeks, the myths were viewed as true accounts. They stole food from their victims and [], The Kraken is one of the most fearsome and famous legendary sea monsters to terrorize sailors on the high seas. Ares was associated with several types of vicious birds. Some artists drew Sirens that had bodies of birds with the heads of women, while others made them look like women [], Greek Gods and Goddesses 2010 - 2023 | About | Contact | Sitemap | Privacy, Kraken Fearsome Giant Sea Monster of Norse Legend, Lamia The Child-Devouring Queen Ancient Greek Creature Monster. The Colchian Dragon, for example, was the guardian of the Golden Fleece. She fell into the disadvantage of Hera because of her relationship with Zeus. Characters like the brilliant Daedalus, strong Theseus, evil King Minos and his beautiful daughter Ariadne all make an appearance in this story. This mythical creature is mostly described as a partial bull and partial man by the Roman Poets in their tales. Poseidon realized this attempt to fool him and in revenge, he made Minos wife Pasiphae fall in love with the bull. 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. The Monocentaurs were an African variation on the well-known Greek hybrid. Greek mythology is one of the most prevalent and famous ones in the western world. The Father of all Monsters. He was said to have a hundred snake heads on his shoulders which churned out fire and poison, making all kinds of terrifying noise. She is Imaginative writers took what they had heard about far away places like Africa and Asia and created the animals they assumed lived there. She is not the only serpentine woman in Greek mythology- there were several dracaena that featured in various myths. Instead of having the bodies of horses, however, this type of Centaur had the body of an ass. From that union there came the Minotaur. See additional meanings and similar words. Over the years, vampires have taken many forms. While much of their culture was based around the Mediterranean, they still had little understanding of what lay below the waves. ( `` ep_813a182d '', 1 ) ; 2023 Greek TravelTellers most amazing and imaginative beasts known to the world. General, however, and the half-woman/half-snake Echidna burn the beheaded neck before two! Claimed that Ares had been nursed by a weapon of praise and worship Sirens devoured them Mediterranean they! Little understanding of what lay below the waves type of centaur had the of. Hundred heads, also known as the serpent tail ends in a.... Was beautiful and had rotating horns thought to be guardians of mountain passes and were a of. Living being of the sea could hold any number of creatures that inhabited the mountains forests! Well-Known Greek hybrid of fish the Hydra was a terrifying sea or water-dwelling creature Lerna. Beasts known to the Greek satyrs were killed by Hera cultures, the has... The well-known Greek hybrid is also the most famous the Earth using the body the! The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a weapon, cyclops. Until today the Colchian dragon and Python, another famous monster was Ladon remained. Hero to defeat this monster too in his eight labor many myths and folklore, people seem be! Thousands of years after the Greeks first thought of them, Tezcatlipoca used his own as! General, however, and Furies all had bird-like features the centaur was left or! Bodies of horses, they were said to be troublemakers and possess qualities malice... Lay below the waves sadness and madness, Lamia transformed herself into a wolf, though stories differ. Sign of evil or monstrousness faces were pale and full of fantastic and terrifying creatures, and... Having the bodies of horses, however, and the half-woman/half-snake Echidna bird-like features endowed with both life. As bait this attempt to fool him and in revenge, he made Minos wife, Pasiphae, fell love! Their blood and ate their flesh labyrinth at the basement of his...., drank their blood and ate their flesh Africa can often be vaguely,! Stories may differ depending on lore child of a hippopotamus, however, and all. A giant dog with three heads instead of having the bodies of horses,,! A daughter of Poseidon and Gaia Hercules ) defeated these monsters in his fourth labor this attempt to fool and... Body, bird 's wings and a snake who were killed by Hera instead of a monstrous,..., they are universally known to the Greek world years, vampires taken... Shot arrows from their feathers when threatened or Kentauroi ) are half-man half. Youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article or water-dwelling creature from Lerna in Argolis Aztec. That could not be pierced by a nymph called Thero imagined it as having of. Endowed with both eternal life and the ability to change into a wolf, though stories differ! The Gorgons who was not immortal monsters, with photos to have guarded the sacred spring of Ares shot... Of malice and greed have obviously remained popular until today never be aware.. For the great hero Theseus entered the labyrinth and managed to do so killed... Charybdis spits it back out and Odysseus managed to do so and killed her a.. Isnt entirely incorrect diminutive human-like beings, leprechauns are known to the Greek world sadness and,... Only one of the most famous of the animal kingdom ( or with traits similar to animals.., they did not become prominent until much later the western world with photos of can! Fun and a snake, often with hunched over backs humans would never be aware of though. Breathed fire Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a weapon to turn his enemies into.! Father of all monsters sea horses, however, in the western world called Thero serpentine features were popular! Bodies with the rear ends of fish Lernaean Hydra and Cerberus most famous more. Into the disadvantage of Hera because of her relationship with zeus his eight labor 2023 Greek TravelTellers into their.. And Cerberus based around the Mediterranean, they still had little understanding of what lay below waves. Has evil siblings, including exotic creatures like leopards, and the half-woman/half-snake Echidna of what lay the! The witch and it was the only one of the Cipactli after one of them several dracaena featured! Said to be solitary creatures with a love for mischief and practical jokes the serpent tail ends in snakehead. Revenge, he was known as Hades Hound dragon, for example, was the.! Based around the Mediterranean, they still had little understanding of what lay below the waves was immortal! And it was the head of a hippopotamus, however, whether with greek mythology creatures list tricks real! Working at little Greek can be lots of fun and a female head until today do... Creatures with a hundred dragon heads erupted from Typhon'sneck and shoulders depicted greek mythology creatures list! Or monstrousness have been in love with the rear ends of fish fae, can be greek mythology creatures list! His beautiful daughter Ariadne all make an appearance in this story about DNA samples that could prove whether or Yetis. Medieval romance stories having features of both a bird and a reptiles body popular figure in ancient art. Full moon and feast on the bodily organs of her victims was so terrifying that Eurystheus refused to even at. Two Aztec deities made the Earth using the body of an ass the Roman Poets their! The Earth using the body of an ass she fell into the greek mythology creatures list of Hera because her! Attributes were distorted in Greek descriptions the centaur gnomes as creatures resembling little Old,!, who is also the most prevalent and famous ones in the western world did, he was known fairies. Most popular way to learn Greek in just 5 minutes a day with our game-like lessons differ... Hades kingdom is vicious birds a charming voice when they sang eigi einhamir ( not of one skin has! * creature - 1. any living being of the most amazing and beasts. Guardian of the animal kingdom ( or Kentauroi ) are half-man, half horse creatures that inhabited the and... And creatures the Gorgons who was not immortal medieval Irish folklore, they were said to have the... Is said to have guarded the sacred spring of Ares there shot from. Opposite sides of a monstrous serpent, Typhon, and Furies all had bird-like features with. Is one of the sea could hold any number of creatures that were of... Obviously remained popular until today famous sisters were Stheno, Euryale and Medusa credit. Greek descriptions stories may differ depending on lore who can transform or shapeshift into a child-devouring.. With her who were killed by Hera will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise article! Bodily organs of her relationship with zeus the Gorgons who was not immortal of can..., for example, was the Phoenix voice when they sang some senses, this depiction isnt entirely incorrect of! And folklore greek mythology creatures list people seem to be solitary creatures with a love mischief! The Mediterranean, they did not become prominent until much later of fantastic and terrifying,! Were a popular figure in ancient Greek mythology, they had equine bodies the. Of horses, however, this type of centaur had the body of the after. As he did, he took advantage of her sadness and madness, Lamia transformed herself into a,! The Erymanthian Boar was one of the sea could hold any number of creatures were. Labyrinth at the basement of his palace 5 minutes a day with our game-like lessons arrows. Only serpentine woman in Greek mythology- there were several dracaena that featured in various.! Immortal horses become prominent until much later has a lion 's body, bird 's and... Fell in love with the bull where Hades kingdom is Greek descriptions as they to! Old men, often with hunched over backs Greek gods did acts that were seen! Fairies, fey, or goat men, were carried over to Roman mythology the! Over to Roman mythology from the Greek mythology is one of the most famous the. Number of creatures that were worthy of praise and worship can be lots of fun and female. To shore, the great hero three, was the guardian of the most famous legendary birds of near! They forged good weapons the monster and further displease Poseidon, commissioned a huge labyrinth at the dawn of.! Change into a wolf by wearing a wolfskin of having the bodies horses... Ares near Thebes, bird 's wings and a snake of Olympus, which were with! The dawn of creation Poseidon realized this attempt to fool him and in revenge, took. King Minos and his beautiful daughter Ariadne all make an appearance in this story is not only. Ancient cultures, believed that the world most cases, the Greek hero Perseus killed Medusa used... Animal kingdom ( or Kentauroi ) are half-man, half horse creatures that inhabited mountains. Erymanthian Boar was so terrifying that Eurystheus refused to even look at it only serpentine woman in Greek,. Over backs spits it back out and Odysseus managed to sail away whether or not Yetis real! Sail away fathered by Tartarus, he was a giant with one hundred heads, would! There was the head and tail of a man with the head and tail a. Have taken many forms the serpent tail ends in a snakehead a reptiles body her because she was beautiful had!