Can You Name These Mythological Monsters?
- by Alexander Podgorski
- – on
- in The Geek Corner
Human history is filled with fantastical and imaginative monsters. For thousands of years, various cultures and civilizations have conjured up images of mysterious creatures and fantastical beasts that were meant to represent the things they couldn't explain themselves. History is filled with stories of powerful deities controlling the weather, mysterious monsters wandering in forests, and horrible beasts that symbolize death and destruction.
Many of us have seen these creatures time and again over the ages. Some have appeared in everything from religious texts to video games to feature films. We know what these creatures are and we know their stories. Others, however, are less-known but are no less powerful and impressive.
Here, you'll be tested on 35 of the most memorable and iconic monsters from mythology. Stories have been told of some of these monsters for thousands of years, and they've become ingrained in our collective psyches.
From birds and other majestic winged beasts to wraiths and other paranormal monsters symbolizing death and fear, only a true master of mythology and legends can name all of these supernatural creatures. So...are you ready?
What is the name of this mythological monster?
The monster seen here wasn’t worshipped or praised as a deity. Instead, it is the subject of a decades-old urban legend that started in Puerto Rico and has since become a popular folk tale. This monster is a cryptid, meaning that its actual name and appearance are both mysteries. The picture seen here is one of many approximate ideas of what it really does look like. Folk say that this blood-sucking monster attacks livestock, especially goats and sheep, yet always manages to escape.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This famous monster is said to guard the gates of the Underworld in ancient antiquity. According to legend, this three-headed dog also has a tail made of a snake and is said to have snakes protruding from all over his body. Although in this image he looks like a vicious beast, in some cases he's merely a loyal three-headed guard dog. His name is believed to be an allegory to 'flesh devouring' and is believed to represent the corpse-consuming earth.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This creature has been featured in statues and in fables for thousands of years, especially in Greece and in Egypt. This beast is said to possess the body of a lion and the face of either a man or a woman. In some versions, the animal has feathery bird’s wings on its back. These creatures are known to be symbols of treachery, as those who do not solve their complex riddles are eaten by them. Perhaps this is why these animals are often seen guarding tombs of ancient leaders.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This image should be easy to recognize for most of you, because this tale has been re-told and reinterpreted countless times. The creature seen here is closely associated with the sun, hence its bright, radiant colors. Its signature ability is that it never dies; it is reborn from its own ashes whenever it reaches death. Stories of this animal’s powers have been around since the days of Ancient Rome and Greece, and have been adopted by various religions and folk tales. A notable appearance by this animal was in the second Harry Potter film, as one of the beasts in the care of headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
For those fascinated with occultism, this is one of the most common and iconic symbol of those beliefs. This strange creature has been worshipped by many Pagans and was said to be a Satanic/adversarial deity during the days of the Knights Templar and the Inquisition. Since the 1850s or so, this particular image has been known as the ‘Sabbatic Goat’, whose image is said to contain “the sum total of the universe”. In many other stories, this figure is considered the very image of the Devil.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This monster appears in Slavic mythology and has appeared in folk tales from Poland in the west to the easternmost reaches of Russia. This beast is believed to wander in forests and kidnap children and lead travelers astray whenever they wander into its territory. It is believed to have a mischievous and malevolent nature and can also change its shape and height. Most recently, this monster appeared as a type of monster in the most recent Witcher video game.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
The monster seen here is believed to be a manifestation of all things evil and malevolent, according to the Algonquin people of Canada and the United States. Although these monsters are technically considered spirits by these tribes, they tend to be described as emaciated beasts with a craving for human flesh. These monsters are believed to be symbols of murder, cannibalism, insatiable greed. Belief in these monsters even led to the creation of a special kind of psychosis, as it was said that someone that broke social taboos was believed to be possessed by this monster.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
The monster seen here is one of the deadliest and most powerful monsters in the legends of Ancient Greece. It was a powerful sea monster with numerous serpentine heads, had virulent blood and a poisonous breath, making contact with this horrible beast virtually fatal for any mortal. In later tales, this beast was said to have nine heads, and cutting off one would cause two to grow back in its place. This made it particularly difficult for the Greek hero Heracles, a.k.a. Hercules, to destroy the monster. He did in the end, though it was one of his most challenging of Labors.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This mythical beast seen here is one of the most well-known in history. It has been featured in countless Disney and children's films as a hero and ally to various protagonists. It has appeared in numerous video games, anime and other works of fiction. People have come to symbolize this beast as a representation of both poetry and wisdom. According to some tales, this animal's parents were the ancient deity Poseidon, and his mother was the beast known as Medusa.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This is another one of those mythological creatures that features different parts of various animals, all combined into one. In this case, we have the body and one head of a lion, another head belonging to a goat and a third head belonging to a snake. It also possesses leathery bat-like wings, and in some translations, the snake isn’t a head but the tail itself is a snake. This animal’s name has since become associated with things that have dualistic natures, things that are imaginative or dazzling, and in some cases, it is said to be an omen for disasters to come.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
What we have here is another hybrid creature from antiquity. This creature has the head, arms and torso of a human while also having the lower body and four legs of a horse. They are believed to be master archers - as seen from this image - and are also believed to be very intelligent and cunning. But even though most people consider these creatures to be from ancient Greek origin, some Indian fables also tell tales of these strange monsters.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This mythological creature was worshipped as a deity by early Central American tribes before European settlers arrived on the continent. Depending on the tribe, this monster was said to represent different things. To some, it was a symbol of wind and the sky, while to others it was said to represent the sun. The people that worshipped this creature later came to believe that it was reincarnated in the form of the explorer Hernan Cortes, who arrived in America in 1519.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
While most ancient mythologies that seek to combine human and animal characteristics tend to put a human head on an animal body, this one is the reverse. This animal possesses the body of a man with a bull’s head. The most well-known fable involving this mythological creature is that of Theseus, the ancient Athenian hero that entered a deep underground labyrinth in order to find and kill this creature. He eventually succeeded after using a long ball of thread to guide himself through the maze to the monster’s lair, ending many years of human sacrifice made to the beast.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This strange monster is one of the oldest and most well-known creatures in ancient Greek mythology. It is basically a giant that possesses only a single eye in the center of its head, as opposed to having the standard two. In some stories that appeared in other parts of the world outside of Greece, this monster is also a cannibalistic shepherd that will attack anyone that tries to steal his flock. Most beliefs in this creature stem from the discoveries of large skulls with big holes in the center, which have been interpreted as eye sockets, when they are in fact elephant skulls.
TRUE or FALSE: This monster is a dragon?
Dragons have been part of various cultures for centuries, if not longer. The idea of a dangerous winged reptile that breathes fire has been part of fables and stories all over the world. Dragons are said to represent different things depending on whom you ask. In the Far East, dragons are symbols of good luck and protection, while in Europe they’re believed to be symbols of greed and destruction. Over the ages, the appearance of a dragon is said to have changed and evolved, to the point that some monsters that look like dragons might actually be different creatures.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This is one of the most famous wolves in Norse mythology. He is said to be a child of Loki himself, and in many Norse poems he is believed to be destined to kill Odin during Ragnarok, but is instead killed by one of Odin’s children himself. He was feared by many of the Norse gods, especially for his rapid growth and incredible size. As a result, he was bound and a sword was placed in his mouth vertically, preventing him from closing it. Yet he still managed to bite off the hand of the Norse god Tyr.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This creature was popular among Native American tribes all throughout the United States. It symbolizes storms and rain, and was believed to control the upper levels of the world. Since most tribes that believed in this beast passed down tales of it through oral traditions, few written records exist describing its legend. That said, there are some drawings and depictions of a bird with an ‘X’-shaped body that are thought to represent this beast. Others say that whosoever sees this creature in a vision would become a war chief.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
The mythological creature seen here is one of many ‘hybrid’ animals that combines the physical and symbolic elements of two or more. In this case, what you have is a creature with the head and talons of an eagle combined with the body, hind legs and tail of a lion. The reason these two particular animals were said to have been combined together was due to their own prestige. The lion was long believed to be the king of beasts and the eagle was said to be the king of birds. Thus, these two regal animals were combined into a single, majestic creature that’s said to be exceptionally rare and powerful.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
These winged creatures have long been associated with negative personality traits. Back in the days of poets like Virgil, Hesiod and Aeschylus, they were described as having insatiable hunger and anger. Some have described them as beautifully-faced, while others have called them among the ugliest of monsters. These monsters are believed to carry people away when they commit foul deeds, especially those that murder their families. When someone disappears from the face of the earth so suddenly, it’s said that they’ve been carried away by these monsters.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This great beast has been worshipped for ages by Hindus. He is believed to be massive in size, capable of blocking out the sun with his body. Some ancient Hindu scripts describe him as the mount of Lord Vishnu, while others have interpreted him as a deity that first brought nectar to the earth. He is considered the enemy of all snakes, and wears their bodies on his own. Many Hindus believe that carrying a pendant with this mythological creature’s image will help cure illness and protect against evil.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
Here we have one of the most iconic deities created by a very creative author. H.P. Lovecraft came up with this beast in the early 20th century, and it has actually achieved a great degree of popularity in modern times. This ‘Great Old One’ is a mishmash of several monsters: it has an octopus’s head, dragon’s wings, and a vaguely human-like body. Simply looking at this horrific monster is said to be enough to drive one insane…though apparently no one told Eric Cartman that.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This creature has a long history in modern tales and fables, though its origin is far older. It is said to take the form of a beautiful woman far out in the sea, where its beautiful looks and voice would enchant men into following it, before shipwrecking them. This was a convincing tale since most sailors for centuries were only men, and a lack of female companionship on long voyages would cause them to have great interest in something that looks like a beautiful woman.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This mythological monster’s tale was first told in the 14th century. This unusual beast has the head of a rooster and the body of either a dragon or a snake. For this creature to be born, one had to take the egg of a cock (male chicken) and have either a toad or a snake incubate it. It was said that this beast could kill anyone simply by looking at them, yet the crowing of a rooster could kill it instantly.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
Here we have another case of an animal that’s popular with humans becoming far more nefarious than initially perceived. In this case, this animal is basically a ‘water horse’ that lives near bodies of water that are used by humans. However, unlike normal horses which are useful to humans, this one preys on them by drowning them when they get too close, leaving their entrails by the water’s edge as a warning to all others who’d dare approach its territory.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This fabled monster first appeared in old tales from Scandinavia and Iceland, and is based on stories of sailors witnessing giant squids in their travels. Over the centuries, these stories evolved into these beasts in their modern forms: giant squid-like monsters capable of ripping entire ships apart and devouring their crews. It has appeared in several stories, both written and cinematic over the centuries. It’s most famous appearance thus far was in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, where it did exactly what the sailors of old said it did.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
Snakes have long been perceived as the enemies of man, and Norse mythology is no exception to that rule. This horrific serpent is said to be Thor’s greatest enemy, and is as large as it is ferocious. This monster is said to be massive, with its entire body encircling the globe. Ragnarok is said to begin when this monster releases its tail. This beast is known as another of Loki’s children, Fenrir’s brother, and in some translations, it is known as ‘the world serpent’.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
These bizarre creatures were first mentioned by Herodotus in the 5th century BC, and described as terrifying humanoid creatures that didn’t have heads. Instead, they had enormous mouths on their torsos. Some translations have called them cannibals, and in later Christian tales, their images were used to personify gluttony and avarice. In reality, these monsters share their name with an ancient tribe that lived in Nubia, in what is now part of Egypt. Thankfully, one can be safe that these tribes didn’t have enormous mouths on their chests.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
These bizarre monsters are interesting in that there are more stories with them appearing in architecture than in actual fables. Their grotesque appearances have made them popular in church architecture for centuries, for two purposes. First, their ugliness and demonic appearance made it easy for people to imagine what the Devil’s minions looked like. Second, they were portrayed with open mouths more often than not so that they could be used to convey water from a roof off of the building. This usage is said to be the inspiration for their modern name.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
Here we have another mythological creature that possesses the body parts of several animals. In this case, this one has the body and head of a male lion, enormous bat’s wings and either a dragon’s or a scorpion’s tail. Some interpretations also give it three rows of shark-like teeth in its enormous mouth as well. It is said to shoot venom at its prey and devours it whole, leaving not a single trace behind. Interestingly, this monster appeared frequently in heraldry for centuries.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
These strange mythological creatures are said to be the combinations of humans and snakes. They tend to have human heads and torsos, but everything below the navel is serpentine. Although they were initially perceived as evil and ‘the persecutors of all living things’ – as tends to be the running theme with snakes – they later became almost like forces of good. In many parts of the world, these creatures are considered nature spirits responsible for bringing rain and fertility, but also brought and floods if they are mistreated.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
In Irish mythology, these human-like creatures are said to be bad omens and harbingers of bad things to come. It is believed that when one heard the shrieking or keening (lamentation of the dead) of this creature, those that hear it will either have someone close to them die or will themselves die. Most tales describe this creature as an old, haggard woman with disheveled hair and clothes. In some tales, her shrieking can break glass and others still, she washes the bloodstained armor of those about to die.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This monster was once a dwarf that possessed great strength and was without fear. However, he ran afoul Loki and succumbed to the powerful curse of Andvari’s gold. When this happened, that dwarf became consumed by greed and turned into this dragon-like monster. As soon as this happened, he breathed poison into the land around him so that none would approach him and the treasure he guarded so closely. If this story sounds familiar, that’s because it was a major inspiration for Tolkien’s dragon Smaug.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This snake-haired woman-like creature is one of the most popular and well-known tales from Greek mythology. The creature seen here was one of three sisters that all possessed the same trait: they all had hair made of living venomous snakes and could turn anyone that gazed upon them into stone. However, only two of the three of these sisters were immortal; the third was not and was thus slain by the hero Perseus. Their actual name as a creature comes from the old Greek word meaning ‘dreadful’, which is an apt description for them.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
Here we have another mythological creature that combines the physical properties of several other animals. This Chinese omen of good luck has the head of a Chinese dragon, the antlers of a deer, a fish’s scales, oxen hooves and a lion’s tail. It is often depicted as being covered in fire, and is usually seen guarding an important place such as a palace or a temple. Because they are said to be symbols of positivity, statues and depictions of these creatures are sold throughout China.
What is the name of this mythological monster?
This mythological horse is popular in Norse mythology. It is said to be Odin’s steed, another of Loki’s children, and is called ‘the best of all horses’, presumably because it has eight legs as opposed to the usual four. This creature is also said to be capable of riding to the gates of Hel, also known as Valhalla, the place of afterlife of all the slain according to Norse mythology. This creature’s name translates roughly into English as ‘the slipper’.