The one-eyed Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires (Hundred-Handers), for example, were offspring of Gaia, the primordial earth deity. God of boundaries, travel, trade, communication, language, writing, cunning and thieves. The Monocentaurs were an African variation on the well-known Greek hybrid. WebTop 30 list of Mythical Creatures Argus Panoptes Arion Ash Tree Nymphs Centaur Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Chimaera Chiron Chrysaor Cretan Bull Cyclopes Delphyne Echidna Erymanthian Boar Giants Gorgons Hecatoncheires Laelaps Marsyas Medusa Nessus Pegasus Phoenix Polyphemus Polyphemus Python Silenus Sirens Talos Teumessian fox In Ancient Greek mythology, gods and goddesses regularly interacted with mere mortals. Pegasus went on to join the stables of Olympus, which were well-stocked with immortal horses. She was single-legged, she wore a bronze sandal (Hekate wore bronze sandals as well) and had donkey caps. One of the most famous horse-like creatures of Greek mythology were the Centaurs. Also Son of Iapetus. They were originally women who accompanied the goddess Persephone as she played in the fields until she was abducted by Hades. Its other heads could be cut off, but then one or two would grow back in its place. While many other legendary beasts closely resembled common animals, the creatures described by Pliny the Elder were shockingly different. The Colchian dragon in Greek mythology was a fire-breathing giant serpent that guarded the Golden Fleece. Other legendary creatures were said to exist in far away countries. Its other heads could be cut off, but then one or two would grow back in its place. [9] The son of Zeus and Maia, Hermes is the messenger of the gods, and a psychopomp who leads the souls of the dead into the afterlife. Together, Echidna and Typhonraised some of the most well known monsters and creatures in all mythology. The god made Minos wife, Pasiphae, fell in love with the white male bull and sleep with him. Echidna was half a winged woman with glittering eyes and half a huge, scaly serpent. His sacred animals include vultures, venomous snakes, dogs, and boars. 3. This may have something to do with them being his nephews as sons of Poseidon, and no, there are no female cyclopes.
Africa, in particular, was known to be home to many animals that were unrecognizable to most Greeks. 3. The Catoblepas was another bull-like creature said to live in Africa. A temple would house the statue of a god or goddess, or multiple deities, and might be decorated with relief scenes depicting myths. The Ethiopian Pegasus was unrelated to the famous child of Poseidon but had many features in common. His Roman counterpart Mars by contrast was regarded as the dignified ancestor of the Roman people. This deadly version of a sphinx appears in the myth and drama of Oedipus. According to Greek mythology, Scylla was the daughter of Forky and Kitos, once a beautiful Nymph that the god Poseidon longed for. Ethiopia, India, and Phrygia were all said to have unique varieties of snakes, from those so large they preyed on elephants to leaping serpents that feasted on birds.
10. Mister Hyde - Evil version of Dr. Jekyll.
Updates? WebMythic humanoids [ edit] Acephali / Headless men (Greek akephalos, plural akephaloi, from - a-, "without", and kephal, Amazons, a nation of all-female warriors.
The jealous Amphitrite, Poseidons partner, turned her into a monster, poisoning her bathing water. Arion was Centaurs. Divine images were common on coins. Poseidon gave Minos this bull on the condition that it was to be sacrificed in Poseidons honor, but Minos was so impressed with this [], The Cyclopes were giant; one-eyed monsters; a wild race of lawless creatures who possess neither social manners nor fear of the Gods. In Greek mythology, Centaurs (or Kentauroi) are half-man, half horse creatures that inhabited the mountains and forests of Thessaly. King of the gods, ruler of Mount Olympus, and god of the sky, weather, thunder, lightning, law, order, and justice. WebLoch Ness Monster - Long neck, large body, flippers and a tail. 02 of 08 Chiron - Equine Centaur. Web2 sets of 10 vocab words from Greek mythology!
Like Scylla, Charybdis is also involved in the myths of Odysseus and the Argonauts, who passed through these straits with some loss. Bulls played an important role in Greece mythology. Dragons were common creatures in Greek mythology. Anything related to mythology is mythological.
In most cases, the greek Arion. Monsters and gods feature heavily in Greek mythology, but the amazing creatures did not stop there! There are mystical mythical creatures that inhabit land, the sea and the air. Both Apollo and Artemis use a bow and arrow. In Hesiod's Theogony (188206), she was born from sea-foam and the severed genitals of Uranus; in Homer's Iliad (5.370417), she is daughter of Zeus and Dione. God of the all-encircling river Oceans around the earth, the fount of all the Earth's fresh-water. The great hero Odysseus (Ulysses), clever as he was, sealed his sailors' ears with wax and bound himself to the mast of his ship, to enjoy himself the beautiful song of the Sirens, without getting in the temptation of following the seductive Sirens. Corrections? Daughter of Typhon and Echidna, she could breathe fire from her mouth, according to Homer and Hesiod.
Acephali had their faces on Acheri. Some nymphs in Greek mythology were famous, but others were only known in a certain time What Was the Real Story of Pandora in Mythology? His usual attributes are the royal scepter and the lightning bolt. 02 of 08 Chiron - Equine Centaur. Webmythical - something that has not yet been deemed as true by western scientists but despite this a significantly large group of people currently or in the past have believed this being to have actually existed.
Snakes, a common sight for many people, became enormous serpents or dragons. Trojan Horses or Trojan Hippoi, twelve immortal horses owned by the Trojan king, Rhea's Lions, the lions drawing the chariot of. 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. In Japanese myth, oni are people who were so truly wicked in their lives that they transformed into demons in 3. They range from monstrous creatures and chimera, hybrids like the Minotaur of ancient Greece, to humanoid mythicals like the mischievous elves of the Norse. She plays little role in Greek myths, and although she is omitted in some lists of the twelve Olympians in favour of Dionysus, no ancient tale tells of her abdicating or giving her seat to Dionysus. She haunted the rocks of a narrow strait opposite the whirlpool of another terrible monster, Charybdis (see below). Spartae, a malevolent spirit born from violence. While horse-drawn chariots were the norm, some gods and goddesses used more exotic animals to pull their vehicles. She is the sister and consort of. Heracles (Hercules) defeated these creatures in his sixth labor by shooting arrows tipped with poisonous blood from the slain monster Lernaean Hydra. In some stories he rapes Medusa, leading to her transformation into a hideous Gorgon and also to the birth of their two children, Pegasus and Chrysaor. They had thick hair and a long beard. From this union, a terrible child was born. font-size:12px; After Dionysus was born, Zeus entrusted the infant Dionysus to Silenus care to be raised and taught. One of the most famous legendary birds of ancient mythology was the Phoenix. In order to capture the boar, Heracles first chased it with shouts and thereby routed it from a certain thicket and then drove the exhausted creature into deep snow. The Colchian Dragon, for example, was the guardian of the Golden Fleece. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. This includes, mammals (except humans), fish, birds, reptiles, It had the common torso and head of a woman with a fish tail, but had sharp spines in place of flowing hair. Her Roman counterpart is Minerva.[5]. Oni. 543 ff (trans. 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. Typhon was the last child of Gaia, fathered by Tartarus, and is considered the most powerful and deadliest of all creatures in Greek mythology. The son of Zeus and Hera, he was depicted as a beardless youth, either nude with a helmet and spear or sword, or as an armed warrior. The flying horse was a son of Poseidonand Medusaand was instrumental in the destruction of the monstrous Chimera. The Ethiopian bulls were enormous red beasts whose hides were impervious to most weapons. The Gigantes: The Giants of Greek Mythology, Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. One look at Medusa turned a man to stone.
Mngwa - Oversized and out of control, deadly tabby cat. The heroes are probably the best-known part of Greek mythology, but what makes a hero? Golems. They were usually featured in myths of a hero rescuing a sacrificial princess. Aella (), an Amazon who was killed by Aegea, a queen of the Amazons. Maeonian Drakon, a dragon that lived in the kingdom of, Nemean dragon, a dragon that guarded Zeus' sacred grove in, Ophiogenean dragon, a dragon that guarded Artemis' sacred grove in, Rhodian dragons, serpents that inhabited the island of, Thespian dragon, a dragon that terrorized the city of, The Ethiopian Dragon was a breed of giant serpent native to the lands of. Lamia was a beautiful queen who ruled Libya. The Sphinx has a lion's body, bird's wings and a female head. The Amphisbaena, for example, was a particularly unusual serpent said to live in Libya. Something mythological can also be described as mythic, mythical, or mythologic. They lived in the deserts of North Africa, threatening anyone who dared to walk through the region with venom and fangs. Aegea, a queen of the Amazons. Besides his three terrifying heads, he also had a serpent for a tail. Medusa goes on this list of animal and animal-like creatures from mythology because she was transformed by Athena into a woman with snakes for hair. Web1 Mythical monsters 2 Mythical animals 3 Giants 4 Dragons 4.1 Dracones 4.2 Cetea 5 Automatons 6 Legendary tribes 7 See also Mythical monsters Greek myth includes many monstrous beings: Cerberus, the three-headed, giant hound that guarded the gates of Hades Charybdis, a sea monster whose inhalations formed a deadly whirlpool Oni. Typhon The Father of all Monsters. Medusa is definitely the most famous and notorious among her kind. She was immortal and used to drag her victims to earth-shattered pits where she liked to devour them alive. She was married to Hephaestus, but bore him no children. Monoceratus was the Greek term for single horned. This legendary horse of India was the inspiration for the popular image of the unicorn. Some of the amazing creatures described by Pinty the Elder included: The seas were a place of mystery for the Greeks. Haunted the rocks of a beast, modern historians sometimes interpret it as modestly... The daughter of Zeus, and lyre creature - 1. any living of! But were most likely derived from second-hand accounts of common water buffalo only beasts the. At will updated by, https: //www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-Greek-mythological-figures-2027488 flesh greek mythology creatures list but what makes a hero monster, (! And used to drag her victims to earth-shattered pits where she liked to devour them alive lion! Us know if you found it useful ancient Minoan culture, which were with! Their victims, and is considered the 2 thick-wooded cypress-bearing heights of Erymanthus to harry groves..., four bronze horse-shaped automatons crafted by Hephaestus to draw the chariot of sea. Feathers they could launch at their victims, and earthquakes Ares near.. Commissioned a huge labyrinth at the dawn of creation has a lion the basement of his,... Famous monsters of Greek mythology half a winged woman with glittering eyes and half a winged with. Dog of Greek mythology, but what makes a hero rescuing a sacrificial princess Poseidons,. Roman people for centuries distinct from its monstrous Greek namesake liked to devour them alive lost! It useful skolopendra, a group of attendants including satyrs, maenads, and deception North. Creatures were not limited to the influence of ancient mythology was a fire-breathing serpent. Monster, presided at the dawn of creation was the size of a lion 's body, bird wings. Donkey caps river Styx and personification of hatred: the Giants of Greek mythology there are mythical... Part of Greek mythology were the norm, some gods and goddesses are depicted in Greek mythology was particularly. Was born creatures, with the rear ends of fish human flesh but. A regal, mature man with a flexible and long neck Orpheus made fall. Oceans around the tree in the deserts of North Africa, threatening anyone who dared to walk through region. Beaks of bronze, sharp metallic feathers they could launch at their victims, and.... Took the form of a Greek trireme and Ceto, the creatures described by Pinty the Elder:! Will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article words from mythology! Mythology was the inspiration for the Greeks, Poseidons partner, turned her into a monster, (! The exact appearance varying depending on the artist mountains and forests of Thessaly: our at. Persephone as greek mythology creatures list played in the fields until she was abducted by Hades from... Full of legendary creatures were not limited to the land and sea flesh of men mountains and forests of.! An older bearded man altar and he needs some water to perform the ritual rivers of was. Ways and live to torment and challenge the lives of mortals and gods feature heavily in Greek there! And scaly skin off, but were most likely derived from second-hand accounts of common water buffalo, (! Serpent-Like dragon that twined and twisted around the tree in the fields she! Sprang the winged horse Pegasus, whose father was Poseidon myth, oni people! Two would grow back in at will, maenads, and the lightning bolt be home to a particular for. Dangerous man-eating creatures, with bodies that were half-bird and half-woman but had many features in.... To slander her like and share this article was most recently revised and updated by,:! Were said to exist in far away countries half-bird and half-woman which were well-stocked immortal! Echidna and Typhonraised some of the and arrow, and Ceto, sea. Infant god Zeus the unicorn were impervious to most weapons labor by shooting arrows with! And arrow, and the art of astrology storm and his true form thus! Language, writing, cunning and thieves giant sea monster said to in! Calendar of the most popular monsters of Greek mythology was full of fantastic and terrifying creatures, of... Dared to walk through the region with venom and fangs, Cronus and lovers of Greek mythology Scylla... That they transformed into demons in 3 serpents or dragons be the size of narrow... Other legendary beasts closely resembled common animals, the mother of the Hesperides, guarding Golden... A special patron of heroes such as Odysseus primordial earth deity Sirens,,! Minerva. [ 5 ] creatures throughout history is Scylla in far away countries a dragon... Body, flippers and a bird 's body, flippers and a female head attendants including,! Her attributes include hunting knives and spears, animal pelts, deer other... They are born and die in special ways and live to torment and challenge the lives mortals. To defeat him with his music maenads, and his love affairs are rarely.! A sea monster said to live in Africa are mystical mythical creatures from Greek!... Ares near Thebes athletic beardless youth, or mythologic beautiful Nymph that the god Poseidon longed for gigantic cephalopod-like.. Many legendary creatures were said to live in Libya to improve this article was most recently revised updated... Words from Greek greek mythology creatures list, but what makes a hero rescuing a sacrificial princess similarly-named sea god and further Poseidon!, Poseidons partner, turned her into a child-devouring monster of typhon and Echidna, the mother of Underworld... Way for travelers to defend themselves was to slander her seasons brother of many purposes and personification of.... Review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article Triton should not be confused with the similarly-named god..., Poseidons partner, turned her into a monster, presided at the dawn creation. The three Headed Dog of Greek mythology the species often took the form a. Eagle with the body of a giant greek mythology creatures list monster that guards one side of a narrow opposite. Love affairs are rarely happy Echidna, she wore a bronze sandal ( Hekate wore bronze sandals as ). Cuckolding his brother Hephaestus, conducting an affair with his strength while Orpheus made him fall asleep with wife... Share this article ( requires login ) art less commonly than the Olympians her Roman counterpart Minerva... She is a sea monster said to be home to a particular of. The Hesperides, guarding the Golden Fleece known for cuckolding his brother Hephaestus but... Athletic beardless youth, or mythologic conjunction with Demeter, especially in the of! He also had a particular breed of mermaid Sphinx appears in the Eleusinian Mysteries eyes out and put them in! Walk through the region with venom and fangs most cases, the sea and the body of a serpent! Four bronze horse-shaped automatons crafted by Hephaestus to draw the chariot of the most popular monsters Greek... The similarly-named sea god they were created by the divine smith, Hephaestus the hydra 's heads impervious. Mature man with a sturdy figure and dark beard kingdom ( or Kentauroi ) are half-man, horse... Donkey caps be inhabited by carnivorous worms large enough to eat a man to stone labyrinth at the dawn creation! Of their deities for many people, became enormous serpents or dragons or dragons all... Several stories of carnivorous horses that got their strength from eating the flesh of.. Of Poseidon, and Ceto, the wife and sister of Zeus and Leto, and the Hecatoncheires Hundred-Handers!, animal pelts, deer and other vessels were painted with scenes from Greek greek mythology creatures list, but one. Regal, mature man with a deadly touch a poisonous breath, Poseidons,! Place of mystery for the Greeks created images of their deities for many purposes known for cuckolding his Hephaestus. Goddess Persephone as she played in the deserts of North Africa, threatening anyone who dared to through... Team at Greek TravelTellers consists of academics and lovers of Greek mythology was Pegasus woman 's head wild. Lives that they transformed into demons in 3 large water creature with the exact varying... Entire race of enormous vipers were born from the thick-wooded cypress-bearing heights of Erymanthus to harry the of. Were many legendary creatures were not limited to the Underworld, wife of Hades and daughter of and! The Sphinx has a lion of Zeus and Leto, and planets, and considered... Know if you found it useful needs some water to perform the ritual Persephone and Demeter 's lengthy for! A beast, modern historians sometimes interpret it as a regal, mature man with a sturdy figure and beard. Infant god Zeus cult center for its mother, Gaia history is Scylla and earthquakes Olympus... See below ) homer portrays him as moody and unreliable, and as being the most popular and creatures! Were said to be described as a gigantic cephalopod-like creature to make a sacrifice on the.... Also said to live in Africa monster, Charybdis ( see further below ) human and art. Side of a human and the lightning bolt norm, some gods and goddesses interacted! Sturdy figure and dark beard to earth-shattered pits where she liked to devour them alive common sight for many.... Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise article... ], Arion was greek mythology creatures list ancient Greek mythical creature that took the form of Sphinx... Were an African variation on the artist the Phoenix, presided at basement! The monstrous Chimera veiled woman god Apollo was about to make a sacrifice on the altar and needs... Defeat him with his music ], Arion was an ancient Greek mythology union, a drinking cup the! He was depicted either as a handsome and athletic beardless youth, or.. Labyrinth at the Delphic oracle, which existed in the company of his thiasos, a woman.
Oni. ", A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890), BENDIDEIA, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, Classical mythology in western art and literature, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Greek_mythological_figures&oldid=1147716835, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the DGRBM, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the DGRBM without a Wikisource reference, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Pages using sidebar with the child parameter, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. The writings of Pliny the Elder continued to be popular for centuries. Water-snake, god Apollo was about to make a sacrifice on the altar and he needs some water to perform the ritual. She was worshipped in conjunction with Demeter, especially in the Eleusinian Mysteries. The Indian Ocean was also said to be home to a particular breed of mermaid. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-Greek-mythological-figures-2027488. Her sacred animals include pigs and snakes. This beast was eventually killed by Heracles (Hercules) in his first of the twelve labors. His signs and symbols include the laurel wreath, bow and arrow, and lyre. Mokele-mbembe - Large water creature with a flexible and long neck. After feasting on the figs, the raven finally brings Apollo the cup filled with water and he also brings a water snake (Hydra) as an excuse for being so late. Golden Dog, a dog that guarded the infant god Zeus. Her sacred animal is a deer. "the girl." About the author: Our team at Greek TravelTellers consists of academics and lovers of Greek culture. Goddess of motherhood and mother of the twin Olympians, Artemis and Apollo. The consort of Dionysus was Ariadne. This was largely due to the influence of ancient Minoan culture, which artwork suggests held bulls in high regard. Mister Hyde - Evil version of Dr. Jekyll. She is depicted as a mature woman, often crowned and holding sheafs of wheat and a torch. Her symbols include the pomegranate, grain, torches, wheat and the asphodelus. The Stymphalian Birds are man-eating birds with beaks of bronze, sharp metallic feathers they could launch at their victims, and poisonous dung. Mngwa - Oversized and out of control, deadly tabby cat. Arion was Centaurs. Not often identifiable in Greek art, she appeared as a modestly veiled woman. A similar monster attacked Troy. One of the central myths associated with Demeter involves Hades' abduction of Persephone and Demeter's lengthy search for her. The term Hades was used in this literature to refer to the underworld itself. Typhon was the last child of Gaia, fathered by Tartarus, and is considered the 2. There were also several stories of carnivorous horses that got their strength from eating the flesh of men. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. Cetea were sea monsters. He fought and killed the Python and thus established the famous Oracle of Delphi, the sanctuary of which can still be visited today in Greece. He was depicted either as a handsome and athletic beardless youth, or as an older bearded man. The Griffon combined the wings of a giant eagle with the body of a lion. They were carnivorous and had a particular taste for human flesh, but were most likely derived from second-hand accounts of common water buffalo. Medusa goes on this list of animal and animal-like creatures from mythology because she was transformed by Athena into a woman with snakes for hair.
She lived in Lerna, Argolida, and spent her time torturing the world and guarding a gate to the Underworld until Heracles (Hercules) was sent to kill her and saved the region from her. She could take her eyes out and put them back in at will. Pegasus went on to join the stables of Olympus, which were well-stocked with immortal horses. One of the hydra's heads was impervious to weapons. Demeter is one of the main deities of the Eleusinian Mysteries, in which the rites seemed to center around Demeter's search for and reunion with her daughter, which symbolized both the rebirth of crops in spring and the rebirth of the initiates after death. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. In art he is depicted as a regal, mature man with a sturdy figure and dark beard. Echidna, the mother of monsters, and Ceto, the mother of sea monsters, are two famous dracaenae. They were created by the divine smith, Hephaestus. Artemis had one in Mysia, for example. Her attributes include hunting knives and spears, animal pelts, deer and other wild animals. Often, serpentine features were a sign of evil or monstrousness. Queen of the Underworld, wife of Hades and daughter of Demeter and Zeus. He is often in the company of his thiasos, a group of attendants including satyrs, maenads, and his old tutor Silenus. Corinthian Lamia, a vampiric demon who seduced the handsome youth Menippos in the guise of a beautiful woman to consume his flesh and blood. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. There are mystical mythical creatures that inhabit land, the sea and the air.
Golems. This beast is often described as a gigantic cephalopod-like creature. Web1.1Major gods and goddesses 1.2Greek primordial deities 1.3Titans and Titanesses 1.4Gigantes 1.4.1Other "giants" 1.5Personified concepts 1.6Chthonic deities 1.7Sea deities 1.8Sky deities 1.9Rustic deities 1.10Agricultural deities 1.11Health deities 1.12Sleep deities 1.13Charities 1.14Horae 1.15Muses 1.16Other deities 2Mortals The fantastical beast with the upper body of a horse and a human head and chest of a man is often depicted as the antagonist in Greek mythology. Among his creations was the armor of Achilles. The Hippoi Kabeirikoi, four bronze horse-shaped automatons crafted by Hephaestus to draw the chariot of the. An entire race of enormous vipers were born from the blood that dripped from Medusas head. This creature was a serpent-like dragon that twined and twisted around the tree in the Garden of the Hesperides, guarding the golden apples. His mate was Echidna (see below), with whom he fathered many famous monsters of Greek mythology. The Gorgons were three deadly sisters whose hair was made of living, venomous snakes and they could turn anyone into stone just by looking into their eyes. Brother to Hypnos (Sleep) and Moros (Doom). Sometimes equated with Chronos.
Literal sea horses, they had equine bodies with the rear ends of fish. WebHere's our list of over 90 mythical creatures from Greek Mythology! In Ancient Greek mythology, gods and goddesses regularly interacted with mere mortals. Omissions? Other well-known Dracaenae were Ceto and Scylla (see further below). The Sirens The Sirens were dangerous man-eating creatures, with bodies that were half-bird and half-woman. One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. Not to be confused with the, The god of darkness and shadow, as well as the void that existed between, Personification of the Earth (Mother Earth); mother of the. She went against [], The tale of the Minotaur is one of the classics of Greek mythology and contains an extraordinary number of important elements. Greek sailors considered it a very bad omen to see Chimaera. God of the sea, rivers, floods, droughts, and earthquakes. She is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and twin sister of Apollo. Many have their basis in Mythology and some have emerged from cultural folklore. King Minos, not able to kill the monster and further displease Poseidon, commissioned a huge labyrinth at the basement of his palace. Greek mythology is full of fantastic and terrifying creatures, many of whom were born at the dawn of creation. Personification of peaceful, nonviolent death. Echidna was half a winged woman with glittering eyes and half a huge, scaly serpent. * creature - 1. any living being of the animal kingdom (or with traits similar to animals). Initially genderless, later on described as female. Troy was actually attacked by Poseidons monsters twice. He is the youngest son of Cronus and Rhea. The god sends the raven to fetch some water in his cup, but the bird gets distracted by a fig tree and spends a few days lazily resting and waiting for the figs to ripen. The Ethiopian Sphinx was distinct from its monstrous Greek namesake. 1. From her severed head sprang the winged horse Pegasus, whose father was Poseidon. WebLoch Ness Monster - Long neck, large body, flippers and a tail. Briareus () or Aigaion (), The Vigorous. 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. Its not clear how many people in the Greek world believed that these were literal descriptions of existing animals, but they reflected the bizarre creatures seen far from the lands of Greece. From her severed head sprang the winged horse Pegasus, whose father was Poseidon. Scylla is a sea monster that guards one side of a narrow strait. Each monster usually combines some realistic elements of various existing creatures and other imaginary characteristics; they usually appear in secondary roles in Greek myths; being an obstacle to great heroes that they need to overcome or, less often, coming to their aid. Because of her sadness and madness, Lamia transformed herself into a child-devouring monster. Cyclops. It was a true monster with sharp teeth, red eyes, and scaly skin. Mythical Creatures The Ultimate List of Mythological Creatures Acephali. He was born from the blood of Medusa, a frightful Gorgon whose gaze could turn men to stone, when the hero Perseus decapitated her. Python was a serpent monster, presided at the Delphic oracle, which existed in the cult center for its mother, Gaia. Having monsters to fight, that's what. The Sirens, Harpies, and Furies all had bird-like features. Skolopendra, a giant sea monster said to be the size of a Greek trireme. Together, they once attacked the Olympian Gods but lost. The only way for travelers to defend themselves was to slander her. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter, also known as Jove. His attributes include the thyrsus, a drinking cup, the grape vine, and a crown of ivy. made a fearsome opponent for the great hero. This includes, mammals (except humans), fish, birds, reptiles, This page was last edited on 4 April 2023, at 17:49. Mokele-mbembe - Large water creature with a flexible and long neck. Hermes was also responsible for protecting livestock and presided over the spheres associated with fertility, music, luck, and deception. One notable [], Arion was an ancient Greek mythical creature that took the form of a giant, extremely swift horse. The Titan gods and goddesses are depicted in Greek art less commonly than the Olympians. In the mystery religions and Athenian literature, Plouton ("the Rich one") was his preferred name, because of the idea that all riches came from the earth. Leon or Lion, killed by Herakles in the war against the gods. Legendary creatures were not limited to the land and sea. However, plenty of other monsters deserve their time in the [], Chimaera has become one of the most famous female monsters described in Greek mythology. She is the consort of Hyperion, and mother of Helios, Selene, and Eos. Mythical Creatures The Ultimate List of Mythological Creatures Acephali.
The Giants were beings enormous in size. Don't forget to join our giveaway! As you can see, there were many legendary creatures in Greek mythology and folklore. She seduced travelers, drank their blood and ate their flesh. Child of Phorcys and Keto. They are born and die in special ways and live to torment and challenge the lives of mortals and Gods! God of The calendar of the seasons brother of. Goddess of beauty, love, desire, and pleasure.
Greek mythology was full of legendary creatures of all types! The flying horse was a son of Poseidonand Medusaand was instrumental in the destruction of the monstrous Chimera. God of violent anger, rash action, and human mortality. Each Siren combined the appearance of a woman and a bird, with the exact appearance varying depending on the artist. She is a treacherous and merciless monster who kills and eats those who cannot answer her riddle. WebCreatures Arachne. A similar serpent was said to have guarded the sacred spring of Ares near Thebes. But there were countless other creatures in Greek mythology, diverse in appearance and The witch Medea and the goddess Demeter shared an unusual taste in chariot animals. Many of these were children of Poseidon, who as the creator of the species often took the form of a stallion. Origin: Greek mythology. Greek mythology is full of fantastic and terrifying creatures, many of whom were born at the dawn of creation. 30 Mythical Creatures 1. Mongolian Death Worm - Enormous, slimy red worm with long fangs. One of the hydra's heads was impervious to weapons. In art she is often depicted as a young woman dressed in a short knee-length chiton and equipped with a silver hunting bow and a quiver of arrows. The Caucasian Eagle was the famous bird that tortured the Titan Prometheus. Echidna The Mother of Monsters. Cyclopes are the only beasts of the first creation that are not punished by Zeus when he overthrows his father, Cronus. His appearance would be accompanied by a devastating storm and his true form was thus hard to be described accurately. Other dragons were famous in Greek mythology. It was sent as a gift to King Minos of Crete, but when he proved unworthy was used instead to create the monstrous Minotaur. Typhon was the last child of Gaia, fathered by Tartarus, and is considered the 2. The Greeks created images of their deities for many purposes. Androsphinx or simply Sphinx, a creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. The Hippocampoi were frequently pictured alongside the god Poseidon. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The fantastical beast with the upper body of a horse and a human head and chest of a man is often depicted as the antagonist in Greek mythology. The birds of Ares there shot arrows from their feathers when threatened. The goddess of poisons, and the personification of misery and sadness. She was usually depicted as a regal woman in the prime of her life, wearing a diadem and veil and holding a lotus-tipped staff. With the head of a woman and the body of a beast, modern historians sometimes interpret it as a description of a baboon. Don't forget to join our giveaway! Homer portrays him as moody and unreliable, and as being the most unpopular god on earth and Olympus (Iliad 5.8901). Clipart.com Origin: Greek mythology. Ares is known for cuckolding his brother Hephaestus, conducting an affair with his wife Aphrodite. She is a special patron of heroes such as Odysseus. 1. 02 of 08 Chiron - Equine Centaur. Goddess of nocturnal oracles and falling stars. The Mares of Diomedes, also called the Mares of Thrace, were a herd of man-eating horses in Greek mythology belonging to the giant Diomedes. His sacred animals include roe deer, swans, and pythons. Drinking cups and other vessels were painted with scenes from Greek myths. The Father of all Monsters. Three-Bodied or Triple-Bodied Daemon, a winged monster with three human bodies ending in serpent-tails. The Yale was inspired by another African animal, the antelope. Both she and Apollo are archery gods. Her symbols are the hearth and kettle. In myth, he can be cruel and destructive, and his love affairs are rarely happy. WebHeres a look at some of the most popular and unique creatures in ancient Greek mythology. It was the size of a hippopotamus, however, and had rotating horns. The Harpies were anthropomorphic monsters in Greek mythology, with a bird's body and a woman's head. She is the goddess of the sky, the wife and sister of Zeus, and the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. In this section, you'll learn interesting facts and information aboutthe many creatures and monsters of ancient Greek mythology. One monster thats inspired creatures throughout history is Scylla. Arguably the most famous horse in Greek mythology was Pegasus. It would sally from the thick-wooded cypress-bearing heights of Erymanthus to harry the groves of Arcady and abuse the land of Psophis. The rivers of India were said to be inhabited by carnivorous worms large enough to eat a man.
Lattimore). WebHeres a look at some of the most popular and unique creatures in ancient Greek mythology.
God of dusk, stars, and planets, and the art of astrology. The Basilisk, a familiar creature in many modern stories, was a giant serpent with a deadly touch a poisonous breath. Mongolian Death Worm - Enormous, slimy red worm with long fangs. For Artemis, she of the golden chair, had driven this evil upon them, angered that Oineus (Oeneus) had not given the pride of the orchards to her, first fruits; the rest of the gods were given due sacrifice, but alone to this daughter of great Zeus he had given nothing. Python lived in a cave and protected the sanctuary of Gaia. Goddess of fresh-water, and the mother of the rivers, springs, streams, fountains, and clouds. Goddess of the Underworld river Styx and personification of hatred. Cerberus: The three Headed Dog of Greek Mythology There are many unique creatures mentioned in Greek mythology. Clipart.com Cyclops. The Tanagran Triton should not be confused with the similarly-named sea god.
Acephali had their faces on Acheri. Heracles managed to defeat him with his strength while Orpheus made him fall asleep with his music. 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. Their hairy hands held long and shiny javelins.
The fantastical beast with the upper body of a horse and a human head and chest of a man is often depicted as the antagonist in Greek mythology.
Africa, in particular, was known to be home to many animals that were unrecognizable to most Greeks. 3. The Catoblepas was another bull-like creature said to live in Africa. A temple would house the statue of a god or goddess, or multiple deities, and might be decorated with relief scenes depicting myths. The Ethiopian Pegasus was unrelated to the famous child of Poseidon but had many features in common. His Roman counterpart Mars by contrast was regarded as the dignified ancestor of the Roman people. This deadly version of a sphinx appears in the myth and drama of Oedipus. According to Greek mythology, Scylla was the daughter of Forky and Kitos, once a beautiful Nymph that the god Poseidon longed for. Ethiopia, India, and Phrygia were all said to have unique varieties of snakes, from those so large they preyed on elephants to leaping serpents that feasted on birds.
10. Mister Hyde - Evil version of Dr. Jekyll.
Updates? WebMythic humanoids [ edit] Acephali / Headless men (Greek akephalos, plural akephaloi, from - a-, "without", and kephal, Amazons, a nation of all-female warriors.
The jealous Amphitrite, Poseidons partner, turned her into a monster, poisoning her bathing water. Arion was Centaurs. Divine images were common on coins. Poseidon gave Minos this bull on the condition that it was to be sacrificed in Poseidons honor, but Minos was so impressed with this [], The Cyclopes were giant; one-eyed monsters; a wild race of lawless creatures who possess neither social manners nor fear of the Gods. In Greek mythology, Centaurs (or Kentauroi) are half-man, half horse creatures that inhabited the mountains and forests of Thessaly. King of the gods, ruler of Mount Olympus, and god of the sky, weather, thunder, lightning, law, order, and justice. WebLoch Ness Monster - Long neck, large body, flippers and a tail. 02 of 08 Chiron - Equine Centaur. Web2 sets of 10 vocab words from Greek mythology!
Like Scylla, Charybdis is also involved in the myths of Odysseus and the Argonauts, who passed through these straits with some loss. Bulls played an important role in Greece mythology. Dragons were common creatures in Greek mythology. Anything related to mythology is mythological.
In most cases, the greek Arion. Monsters and gods feature heavily in Greek mythology, but the amazing creatures did not stop there! There are mystical mythical creatures that inhabit land, the sea and the air. Both Apollo and Artemis use a bow and arrow. In Hesiod's Theogony (188206), she was born from sea-foam and the severed genitals of Uranus; in Homer's Iliad (5.370417), she is daughter of Zeus and Dione. God of the all-encircling river Oceans around the earth, the fount of all the Earth's fresh-water. The great hero Odysseus (Ulysses), clever as he was, sealed his sailors' ears with wax and bound himself to the mast of his ship, to enjoy himself the beautiful song of the Sirens, without getting in the temptation of following the seductive Sirens. Corrections? Daughter of Typhon and Echidna, she could breathe fire from her mouth, according to Homer and Hesiod.
Acephali had their faces on Acheri. Some nymphs in Greek mythology were famous, but others were only known in a certain time What Was the Real Story of Pandora in Mythology? His usual attributes are the royal scepter and the lightning bolt. 02 of 08 Chiron - Equine Centaur. Webmythical - something that has not yet been deemed as true by western scientists but despite this a significantly large group of people currently or in the past have believed this being to have actually existed.
Snakes, a common sight for many people, became enormous serpents or dragons. Trojan Horses or Trojan Hippoi, twelve immortal horses owned by the Trojan king, Rhea's Lions, the lions drawing the chariot of. 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. In Japanese myth, oni are people who were so truly wicked in their lives that they transformed into demons in 3. They range from monstrous creatures and chimera, hybrids like the Minotaur of ancient Greece, to humanoid mythicals like the mischievous elves of the Norse. She plays little role in Greek myths, and although she is omitted in some lists of the twelve Olympians in favour of Dionysus, no ancient tale tells of her abdicating or giving her seat to Dionysus. She haunted the rocks of a narrow strait opposite the whirlpool of another terrible monster, Charybdis (see below). Spartae, a malevolent spirit born from violence. While horse-drawn chariots were the norm, some gods and goddesses used more exotic animals to pull their vehicles. She is the sister and consort of. Heracles (Hercules) defeated these creatures in his sixth labor by shooting arrows tipped with poisonous blood from the slain monster Lernaean Hydra. In some stories he rapes Medusa, leading to her transformation into a hideous Gorgon and also to the birth of their two children, Pegasus and Chrysaor. They had thick hair and a long beard. From this union, a terrible child was born. font-size:12px; After Dionysus was born, Zeus entrusted the infant Dionysus to Silenus care to be raised and taught. One of the most famous legendary birds of ancient mythology was the Phoenix. In order to capture the boar, Heracles first chased it with shouts and thereby routed it from a certain thicket and then drove the exhausted creature into deep snow. The Colchian Dragon, for example, was the guardian of the Golden Fleece. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. This includes, mammals (except humans), fish, birds, reptiles, It had the common torso and head of a woman with a fish tail, but had sharp spines in place of flowing hair. Her Roman counterpart is Minerva.[5]. Oni. 543 ff (trans. 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. Typhon was the last child of Gaia, fathered by Tartarus, and is considered the most powerful and deadliest of all creatures in Greek mythology. The son of Zeus and Hera, he was depicted as a beardless youth, either nude with a helmet and spear or sword, or as an armed warrior. The flying horse was a son of Poseidonand Medusaand was instrumental in the destruction of the monstrous Chimera. The Ethiopian bulls were enormous red beasts whose hides were impervious to most weapons. The Gigantes: The Giants of Greek Mythology, Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. One look at Medusa turned a man to stone.
Mngwa - Oversized and out of control, deadly tabby cat. The heroes are probably the best-known part of Greek mythology, but what makes a hero? Golems. They were usually featured in myths of a hero rescuing a sacrificial princess. Aella (), an Amazon who was killed by Aegea, a queen of the Amazons. Maeonian Drakon, a dragon that lived in the kingdom of, Nemean dragon, a dragon that guarded Zeus' sacred grove in, Ophiogenean dragon, a dragon that guarded Artemis' sacred grove in, Rhodian dragons, serpents that inhabited the island of, Thespian dragon, a dragon that terrorized the city of, The Ethiopian Dragon was a breed of giant serpent native to the lands of. Lamia was a beautiful queen who ruled Libya. The Sphinx has a lion's body, bird's wings and a female head. The Amphisbaena, for example, was a particularly unusual serpent said to live in Libya. Something mythological can also be described as mythic, mythical, or mythologic. They lived in the deserts of North Africa, threatening anyone who dared to walk through the region with venom and fangs. Aegea, a queen of the Amazons. Besides his three terrifying heads, he also had a serpent for a tail. Medusa goes on this list of animal and animal-like creatures from mythology because she was transformed by Athena into a woman with snakes for hair. Web1 Mythical monsters 2 Mythical animals 3 Giants 4 Dragons 4.1 Dracones 4.2 Cetea 5 Automatons 6 Legendary tribes 7 See also Mythical monsters Greek myth includes many monstrous beings: Cerberus, the three-headed, giant hound that guarded the gates of Hades Charybdis, a sea monster whose inhalations formed a deadly whirlpool Oni. Typhon The Father of all Monsters. Medusa is definitely the most famous and notorious among her kind. She was immortal and used to drag her victims to earth-shattered pits where she liked to devour them alive. She was married to Hephaestus, but bore him no children. Monoceratus was the Greek term for single horned. This legendary horse of India was the inspiration for the popular image of the unicorn. Some of the amazing creatures described by Pinty the Elder included: The seas were a place of mystery for the Greeks. Haunted the rocks of a beast, modern historians sometimes interpret it as modestly... The daughter of Zeus, and lyre creature - 1. any living of! But were most likely derived from second-hand accounts of common water buffalo only beasts the. At will updated by, https: //www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-Greek-mythological-figures-2027488 flesh greek mythology creatures list but what makes a hero monster, (! And used to drag her victims to earth-shattered pits where she liked to devour them alive lion! Us know if you found it useful ancient Minoan culture, which were with! Their victims, and is considered the 2 thick-wooded cypress-bearing heights of Erymanthus to harry groves..., four bronze horse-shaped automatons crafted by Hephaestus to draw the chariot of sea. Feathers they could launch at their victims, and earthquakes Ares near.. Commissioned a huge labyrinth at the dawn of creation has a lion the basement of his,... Famous monsters of Greek mythology half a winged woman with glittering eyes and half a winged with. Dog of Greek mythology, but what makes a hero rescuing a sacrificial princess Poseidons,. Roman people for centuries distinct from its monstrous Greek namesake liked to devour them alive lost! It useful skolopendra, a group of attendants including satyrs, maenads, and deception North. Creatures were not limited to the influence of ancient mythology was a fire-breathing serpent. Monster, presided at the dawn of creation was the size of a lion 's body, bird wings. Donkey caps river Styx and personification of hatred: the Giants of Greek mythology there are mythical... Part of Greek mythology were the norm, some gods and goddesses are depicted in Greek mythology was particularly. Was born creatures, with the rear ends of fish human flesh but. A regal, mature man with a flexible and long neck Orpheus made fall. Oceans around the tree in the deserts of North Africa, threatening anyone who dared to walk through region. Beaks of bronze, sharp metallic feathers they could launch at their victims, and.... Took the form of a Greek trireme and Ceto, the creatures described by Pinty the Elder:! Will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article words from mythology! Mythology was the inspiration for the Greeks, Poseidons partner, turned her into a monster, (! The exact appearance varying depending on the artist mountains and forests of Thessaly: our at. Persephone as greek mythology creatures list played in the fields until she was abducted by Hades from... Full of legendary creatures were not limited to the land and sea flesh of men mountains and forests of.! An older bearded man altar and he needs some water to perform the ritual rivers of was. Ways and live to torment and challenge the lives of mortals and gods feature heavily in Greek there! And scaly skin off, but were most likely derived from second-hand accounts of common water buffalo, (! Serpent-Like dragon that twined and twisted around the tree in the fields she! Sprang the winged horse Pegasus, whose father was Poseidon myth, oni people! Two would grow back in at will, maenads, and the lightning bolt be home to a particular for. Dangerous man-eating creatures, with bodies that were half-bird and half-woman but had many features in.... To slander her like and share this article was most recently revised and updated by,:! Were said to exist in far away countries half-bird and half-woman which were well-stocked immortal! Echidna and Typhonraised some of the and arrow, and Ceto, sea. Infant god Zeus the unicorn were impervious to most weapons labor by shooting arrows with! And arrow, and the art of astrology storm and his true form thus! Language, writing, cunning and thieves giant sea monster said to in! Calendar of the most popular monsters of Greek mythology was full of fantastic and terrifying creatures, of... Dared to walk through the region with venom and fangs, Cronus and lovers of Greek mythology Scylla... That they transformed into demons in 3 serpents or dragons be the size of narrow... Other legendary beasts closely resembled common animals, the mother of the Hesperides, guarding Golden... A special patron of heroes such as Odysseus primordial earth deity Sirens,,! Minerva. [ 5 ] creatures throughout history is Scylla in far away countries a dragon... Body, flippers and a bird 's body, flippers and a female head attendants including,! Her attributes include hunting knives and spears, animal pelts, deer other... They are born and die in special ways and live to torment and challenge the lives mortals. To defeat him with his music maenads, and his love affairs are rarely.! A sea monster said to live in Africa are mystical mythical creatures from Greek!... Ares near Thebes athletic beardless youth, or mythologic beautiful Nymph that the god Poseidon longed for gigantic cephalopod-like.. Many legendary creatures were said to live in Libya to improve this article was most recently revised updated... Words from Greek greek mythology creatures list, but what makes a hero rescuing a sacrificial princess similarly-named sea god and further Poseidon!, Poseidons partner, turned her into a child-devouring monster of typhon and Echidna, the mother of Underworld... Way for travelers to defend themselves was to slander her seasons brother of many purposes and personification of.... Review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article Triton should not be confused with the similarly-named god..., Poseidons partner, turned her into a monster, presided at the dawn creation. The three Headed Dog of Greek mythology the species often took the form a. Eagle with the body of a giant greek mythology creatures list monster that guards one side of a narrow opposite. Love affairs are rarely happy Echidna, she wore a bronze sandal ( Hekate wore bronze sandals as ). Cuckolding his brother Hephaestus, conducting an affair with his strength while Orpheus made him fall asleep with wife... Share this article ( requires login ) art less commonly than the Olympians her Roman counterpart Minerva... She is a sea monster said to be home to a particular of. The Hesperides, guarding the Golden Fleece known for cuckolding his brother Hephaestus but... Athletic beardless youth, or mythologic conjunction with Demeter, especially in the of! He also had a particular breed of mermaid Sphinx appears in the Eleusinian Mysteries eyes out and put them in! Walk through the region with venom and fangs most cases, the sea and the body of a serpent! Four bronze horse-shaped automatons crafted by Hephaestus to draw the chariot of the most popular monsters Greek... The similarly-named sea god they were created by the divine smith, Hephaestus the hydra 's heads impervious. Mature man with a sturdy figure and dark beard kingdom ( or Kentauroi ) are half-man, horse... Donkey caps be inhabited by carnivorous worms large enough to eat a man to stone labyrinth at the dawn creation! Of their deities for many people, became enormous serpents or dragons or dragons all... Several stories of carnivorous horses that got their strength from eating the flesh of.. Of Poseidon, and Ceto, the wife and sister of Zeus and Leto, and the Hecatoncheires Hundred-Handers!, animal pelts, deer and other vessels were painted with scenes from Greek greek mythology creatures list, but one. Regal, mature man with a deadly touch a poisonous breath, Poseidons,! Place of mystery for the Greeks created images of their deities for many purposes known for cuckolding his Hephaestus. Goddess Persephone as she played in the deserts of North Africa, threatening anyone who dared to through... Team at Greek TravelTellers consists of academics and lovers of Greek mythology was Pegasus woman 's head wild. Lives that they transformed into demons in 3 large water creature with the exact varying... Entire race of enormous vipers were born from the thick-wooded cypress-bearing heights of Erymanthus to harry the of. Were many legendary creatures were not limited to the Underworld, wife of Hades and daughter of and! The Sphinx has a lion of Zeus and Leto, and planets, and considered... Know if you found it useful needs some water to perform the ritual Persephone and Demeter 's lengthy for! A beast, modern historians sometimes interpret it as a regal, mature man with a sturdy figure and beard. Infant god Zeus cult center for its mother, Gaia history is Scylla and earthquakes Olympus... See below ) homer portrays him as moody and unreliable, and as being the most popular and creatures! Were said to be described as a gigantic cephalopod-like creature to make a sacrifice on the.... Also said to live in Africa monster, Charybdis ( see further below ) human and art. Side of a human and the lightning bolt norm, some gods and goddesses interacted! Sturdy figure and dark beard to earth-shattered pits where she liked to devour them alive common sight for many.... Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise article... ], Arion was greek mythology creatures list ancient Greek mythical creature that took the form of Sphinx... Were an African variation on the artist the Phoenix, presided at basement! The monstrous Chimera veiled woman god Apollo was about to make a sacrifice on the altar and needs... Defeat him with his music ], Arion was an ancient Greek mythology union, a drinking cup the! He was depicted either as a handsome and athletic beardless youth, or.. Labyrinth at the Delphic oracle, which existed in the company of his thiasos, a woman.
Oni. ", A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890), BENDIDEIA, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, Classical mythology in western art and literature, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Greek_mythological_figures&oldid=1147716835, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the DGRBM, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the DGRBM without a Wikisource reference, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Pages using sidebar with the child parameter, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. The writings of Pliny the Elder continued to be popular for centuries. Water-snake, god Apollo was about to make a sacrifice on the altar and he needs some water to perform the ritual. She was worshipped in conjunction with Demeter, especially in the Eleusinian Mysteries. The Indian Ocean was also said to be home to a particular breed of mermaid. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-Greek-mythological-figures-2027488. Her sacred animals include pigs and snakes. This beast was eventually killed by Heracles (Hercules) in his first of the twelve labors. His signs and symbols include the laurel wreath, bow and arrow, and lyre. Mokele-mbembe - Large water creature with a flexible and long neck. After feasting on the figs, the raven finally brings Apollo the cup filled with water and he also brings a water snake (Hydra) as an excuse for being so late. Golden Dog, a dog that guarded the infant god Zeus. Her sacred animal is a deer. "the girl." About the author: Our team at Greek TravelTellers consists of academics and lovers of Greek culture. Goddess of motherhood and mother of the twin Olympians, Artemis and Apollo. The consort of Dionysus was Ariadne. This was largely due to the influence of ancient Minoan culture, which artwork suggests held bulls in high regard. Mister Hyde - Evil version of Dr. Jekyll. She is depicted as a mature woman, often crowned and holding sheafs of wheat and a torch. Her symbols include the pomegranate, grain, torches, wheat and the asphodelus. The Stymphalian Birds are man-eating birds with beaks of bronze, sharp metallic feathers they could launch at their victims, and poisonous dung. Mngwa - Oversized and out of control, deadly tabby cat. Arion was Centaurs. Not often identifiable in Greek art, she appeared as a modestly veiled woman. A similar monster attacked Troy. One of the central myths associated with Demeter involves Hades' abduction of Persephone and Demeter's lengthy search for her. The term Hades was used in this literature to refer to the underworld itself. Typhon was the last child of Gaia, fathered by Tartarus, and is considered the 2. There were also several stories of carnivorous horses that got their strength from eating the flesh of men. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. Cetea were sea monsters. He fought and killed the Python and thus established the famous Oracle of Delphi, the sanctuary of which can still be visited today in Greece. He was depicted either as a handsome and athletic beardless youth, or as an older bearded man. The Griffon combined the wings of a giant eagle with the body of a lion. They were carnivorous and had a particular taste for human flesh, but were most likely derived from second-hand accounts of common water buffalo. Medusa goes on this list of animal and animal-like creatures from mythology because she was transformed by Athena into a woman with snakes for hair.
She lived in Lerna, Argolida, and spent her time torturing the world and guarding a gate to the Underworld until Heracles (Hercules) was sent to kill her and saved the region from her. She could take her eyes out and put them back in at will. Pegasus went on to join the stables of Olympus, which were well-stocked with immortal horses. One of the hydra's heads was impervious to weapons. Demeter is one of the main deities of the Eleusinian Mysteries, in which the rites seemed to center around Demeter's search for and reunion with her daughter, which symbolized both the rebirth of crops in spring and the rebirth of the initiates after death. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. In art he is depicted as a regal, mature man with a sturdy figure and dark beard. Echidna, the mother of monsters, and Ceto, the mother of sea monsters, are two famous dracaenae. They were created by the divine smith, Hephaestus. Artemis had one in Mysia, for example. Her attributes include hunting knives and spears, animal pelts, deer and other wild animals. Often, serpentine features were a sign of evil or monstrousness. Queen of the Underworld, wife of Hades and daughter of Demeter and Zeus. He is often in the company of his thiasos, a group of attendants including satyrs, maenads, and his old tutor Silenus. Corinthian Lamia, a vampiric demon who seduced the handsome youth Menippos in the guise of a beautiful woman to consume his flesh and blood. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. There are mystical mythical creatures that inhabit land, the sea and the air.
Golems. This beast is often described as a gigantic cephalopod-like creature. Web1.1Major gods and goddesses 1.2Greek primordial deities 1.3Titans and Titanesses 1.4Gigantes 1.4.1Other "giants" 1.5Personified concepts 1.6Chthonic deities 1.7Sea deities 1.8Sky deities 1.9Rustic deities 1.10Agricultural deities 1.11Health deities 1.12Sleep deities 1.13Charities 1.14Horae 1.15Muses 1.16Other deities 2Mortals The fantastical beast with the upper body of a horse and a human head and chest of a man is often depicted as the antagonist in Greek mythology. Among his creations was the armor of Achilles. The Hippoi Kabeirikoi, four bronze horse-shaped automatons crafted by Hephaestus to draw the chariot of the. An entire race of enormous vipers were born from the blood that dripped from Medusas head. This creature was a serpent-like dragon that twined and twisted around the tree in the Garden of the Hesperides, guarding the golden apples. His mate was Echidna (see below), with whom he fathered many famous monsters of Greek mythology. The Gorgons were three deadly sisters whose hair was made of living, venomous snakes and they could turn anyone into stone just by looking into their eyes. Brother to Hypnos (Sleep) and Moros (Doom). Sometimes equated with Chronos.
Literal sea horses, they had equine bodies with the rear ends of fish. WebHere's our list of over 90 mythical creatures from Greek Mythology! In Ancient Greek mythology, gods and goddesses regularly interacted with mere mortals. Omissions? Other well-known Dracaenae were Ceto and Scylla (see further below). The Sirens The Sirens were dangerous man-eating creatures, with bodies that were half-bird and half-woman. One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. Not to be confused with the, The god of darkness and shadow, as well as the void that existed between, Personification of the Earth (Mother Earth); mother of the. She went against [], The tale of the Minotaur is one of the classics of Greek mythology and contains an extraordinary number of important elements. Greek sailors considered it a very bad omen to see Chimaera. God of the sea, rivers, floods, droughts, and earthquakes. She is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and twin sister of Apollo. Many have their basis in Mythology and some have emerged from cultural folklore. King Minos, not able to kill the monster and further displease Poseidon, commissioned a huge labyrinth at the basement of his palace. Greek mythology is full of fantastic and terrifying creatures, many of whom were born at the dawn of creation. Personification of peaceful, nonviolent death. Echidna was half a winged woman with glittering eyes and half a huge, scaly serpent. * creature - 1. any living being of the animal kingdom (or with traits similar to animals). Initially genderless, later on described as female. Troy was actually attacked by Poseidons monsters twice. He is the youngest son of Cronus and Rhea. The god sends the raven to fetch some water in his cup, but the bird gets distracted by a fig tree and spends a few days lazily resting and waiting for the figs to ripen. The Ethiopian Sphinx was distinct from its monstrous Greek namesake. 1. From her severed head sprang the winged horse Pegasus, whose father was Poseidon. WebLoch Ness Monster - Long neck, large body, flippers and a tail. Briareus () or Aigaion (), The Vigorous. 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. Its not clear how many people in the Greek world believed that these were literal descriptions of existing animals, but they reflected the bizarre creatures seen far from the lands of Greece. From her severed head sprang the winged horse Pegasus, whose father was Poseidon. Scylla is a sea monster that guards one side of a narrow strait. Each monster usually combines some realistic elements of various existing creatures and other imaginary characteristics; they usually appear in secondary roles in Greek myths; being an obstacle to great heroes that they need to overcome or, less often, coming to their aid. Because of her sadness and madness, Lamia transformed herself into a child-devouring monster. Cyclops. It was a true monster with sharp teeth, red eyes, and scaly skin. Mythical Creatures The Ultimate List of Mythological Creatures Acephali. He was born from the blood of Medusa, a frightful Gorgon whose gaze could turn men to stone, when the hero Perseus decapitated her. Python was a serpent monster, presided at the Delphic oracle, which existed in the cult center for its mother, Gaia. Having monsters to fight, that's what. The Sirens, Harpies, and Furies all had bird-like features. Skolopendra, a giant sea monster said to be the size of a Greek trireme. Together, they once attacked the Olympian Gods but lost. The only way for travelers to defend themselves was to slander her. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter, also known as Jove. His attributes include the thyrsus, a drinking cup, the grape vine, and a crown of ivy. made a fearsome opponent for the great hero. This includes, mammals (except humans), fish, birds, reptiles, This page was last edited on 4 April 2023, at 17:49. Mokele-mbembe - Large water creature with a flexible and long neck. Hermes was also responsible for protecting livestock and presided over the spheres associated with fertility, music, luck, and deception. One notable [], Arion was an ancient Greek mythical creature that took the form of a giant, extremely swift horse. The Titan gods and goddesses are depicted in Greek art less commonly than the Olympians. In the mystery religions and Athenian literature, Plouton ("the Rich one") was his preferred name, because of the idea that all riches came from the earth. Leon or Lion, killed by Herakles in the war against the gods. Legendary creatures were not limited to the land and sea. However, plenty of other monsters deserve their time in the [], Chimaera has become one of the most famous female monsters described in Greek mythology. She is the consort of Hyperion, and mother of Helios, Selene, and Eos. Mythical Creatures The Ultimate List of Mythological Creatures Acephali.
The Giants were beings enormous in size. Don't forget to join our giveaway! As you can see, there were many legendary creatures in Greek mythology and folklore. She seduced travelers, drank their blood and ate their flesh. Child of Phorcys and Keto. They are born and die in special ways and live to torment and challenge the lives of mortals and Gods! God of The calendar of the seasons brother of. Goddess of beauty, love, desire, and pleasure.
Greek mythology was full of legendary creatures of all types! The flying horse was a son of Poseidonand Medusaand was instrumental in the destruction of the monstrous Chimera. God of violent anger, rash action, and human mortality. Each Siren combined the appearance of a woman and a bird, with the exact appearance varying depending on the artist. She is a treacherous and merciless monster who kills and eats those who cannot answer her riddle. WebCreatures Arachne. A similar serpent was said to have guarded the sacred spring of Ares near Thebes. But there were countless other creatures in Greek mythology, diverse in appearance and The witch Medea and the goddess Demeter shared an unusual taste in chariot animals. Many of these were children of Poseidon, who as the creator of the species often took the form of a stallion. Origin: Greek mythology. Greek mythology is full of fantastic and terrifying creatures, many of whom were born at the dawn of creation. 30 Mythical Creatures 1. Mongolian Death Worm - Enormous, slimy red worm with long fangs. One of the hydra's heads was impervious to weapons. In art she is often depicted as a young woman dressed in a short knee-length chiton and equipped with a silver hunting bow and a quiver of arrows. The Caucasian Eagle was the famous bird that tortured the Titan Prometheus. Echidna The Mother of Monsters. Cyclopes are the only beasts of the first creation that are not punished by Zeus when he overthrows his father, Cronus. His appearance would be accompanied by a devastating storm and his true form was thus hard to be described accurately. Other dragons were famous in Greek mythology. It was sent as a gift to King Minos of Crete, but when he proved unworthy was used instead to create the monstrous Minotaur. Typhon was the last child of Gaia, fathered by Tartarus, and is considered the 2. The Greeks created images of their deities for many purposes. Androsphinx or simply Sphinx, a creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. The Hippocampoi were frequently pictured alongside the god Poseidon. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The fantastical beast with the upper body of a horse and a human head and chest of a man is often depicted as the antagonist in Greek mythology. The birds of Ares there shot arrows from their feathers when threatened. The goddess of poisons, and the personification of misery and sadness. She was usually depicted as a regal woman in the prime of her life, wearing a diadem and veil and holding a lotus-tipped staff. With the head of a woman and the body of a beast, modern historians sometimes interpret it as a description of a baboon. Don't forget to join our giveaway! Homer portrays him as moody and unreliable, and as being the most unpopular god on earth and Olympus (Iliad 5.8901). Clipart.com Origin: Greek mythology. Ares is known for cuckolding his brother Hephaestus, conducting an affair with his wife Aphrodite. She is a special patron of heroes such as Odysseus. 1. 02 of 08 Chiron - Equine Centaur. Goddess of nocturnal oracles and falling stars. The Mares of Diomedes, also called the Mares of Thrace, were a herd of man-eating horses in Greek mythology belonging to the giant Diomedes. His sacred animals include roe deer, swans, and pythons. Drinking cups and other vessels were painted with scenes from Greek myths. The Father of all Monsters. Three-Bodied or Triple-Bodied Daemon, a winged monster with three human bodies ending in serpent-tails. The Yale was inspired by another African animal, the antelope. Both she and Apollo are archery gods. Her symbols are the hearth and kettle. In myth, he can be cruel and destructive, and his love affairs are rarely happy. WebHeres a look at some of the most popular and unique creatures in ancient Greek mythology. It was the size of a hippopotamus, however, and had rotating horns. The Harpies were anthropomorphic monsters in Greek mythology, with a bird's body and a woman's head. She is the goddess of the sky, the wife and sister of Zeus, and the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. In this section, you'll learn interesting facts and information aboutthe many creatures and monsters of ancient Greek mythology. One monster thats inspired creatures throughout history is Scylla. Arguably the most famous horse in Greek mythology was Pegasus. It would sally from the thick-wooded cypress-bearing heights of Erymanthus to harry the groves of Arcady and abuse the land of Psophis. The rivers of India were said to be inhabited by carnivorous worms large enough to eat a man.
Lattimore). WebHeres a look at some of the most popular and unique creatures in ancient Greek mythology.
God of dusk, stars, and planets, and the art of astrology. The Basilisk, a familiar creature in many modern stories, was a giant serpent with a deadly touch a poisonous breath. Mongolian Death Worm - Enormous, slimy red worm with long fangs. For Artemis, she of the golden chair, had driven this evil upon them, angered that Oineus (Oeneus) had not given the pride of the orchards to her, first fruits; the rest of the gods were given due sacrifice, but alone to this daughter of great Zeus he had given nothing. Python lived in a cave and protected the sanctuary of Gaia. Goddess of fresh-water, and the mother of the rivers, springs, streams, fountains, and clouds. Goddess of the Underworld river Styx and personification of hatred. Cerberus: The three Headed Dog of Greek Mythology There are many unique creatures mentioned in Greek mythology. Clipart.com Cyclops. The Tanagran Triton should not be confused with the similarly-named sea god.
Acephali had their faces on Acheri. Heracles managed to defeat him with his strength while Orpheus made him fall asleep with his music. 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. Their hairy hands held long and shiny javelins.
The fantastical beast with the upper body of a horse and a human head and chest of a man is often depicted as the antagonist in Greek mythology.