Mythical Creatures

Sunday, 23 June 2013

Sphinx

There are three main types of the sphinx known to us today. There is the Egyptian, the Greek, and the Asian/Indian. It is said that the Egyptian form was the first, and that from there it spread over the Levant, Anatolia, and Persia, before reaching India and the South-East of Asia. It then spread to Greece, particularly Boeotia, and the City of Thebes. With its spread over the Ancient World, many of its features changed. Although the basic underlying features remained, nearly everything else differed in the three main cultures.
The Egyptian sphinx is perhaps the most famous. Many have heard of the Great Sphinx at Giza, where it stands guard over the pyramids. In Egyptian mythology the sphinx is said to have the body of a lion, and the head of a Pharaoh. The Pharaoh is the name for the Egyptian King and the god Horus reborn, and so the Sphinx was considered to be very powerful. There were many of these creatures, and they lived all over Egypt. They even gained their own cults, and one such cult was located in Thebes, Thebais, Egypt. The Egyptian sphinx was considered kind and gracious, guarding important landmarks and the tombs of the dead. However, if someone were to provoke it, they would be dead within mere minutes.
The Asian sphinx is probably the least well known of the three. It is similar to its Egyptian counterpart, but with wings. They were usually depicted with the head of a Persian Emperor, or someone of great importance. Some believe that the Asian sphinx was in fact influenced by the Greeks, but much evidence goes against this. They are usually benevolent, but can be very dangerous and fierce. They have a short temper in comparison to the Egyptian sphinx, but their kindness knows no bounds. Unlike in Egypt and Greece, there are still many cults that worship the sphinx today. Places such as India and South-East Asia are still largely influenced by local traditions dating back thousands of years, so it is no surprise the sphinx is considered very much alive. However, it is not known as the sphinx, rather, it is called the purushamriga, which is Sanskrit for man-beast.
The final sphinx is that of Greece. There is only one, and it is female. Like the Asian sphinx, it has wings, but also the head of a woman. She is considered destructive and a creature of pure malice, destroying anything in her path. She is said to be the child of Chimaera and Orthus, but a pet of the goddess Hera. The city of Thebes in Boeotia, not to be confused with the Egyptian Thebes, had angered Hera, so she sent the sphinx to terrorise the people. It sat in front of the city gates, refusing to let anyone enter or leave. She would remain there until someone could answer her riddle. This riddle was "What has four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?", and has become quite famous today. No-one could answer, and she ate all those who failed. Until one day, a man named Oedipus approached and gave the answer, man. The sphinx was so infuriated someone had bested her, she threw herself off a cliff and died.
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Tuesday, 18 June 2013

El Chupacabra

The chupacabra is also known as "el chupacabra" and "goat-sucker". In Spanish, chupacabra actually means to suck goat, from chupar; to suck, and cabra; goat. It was first spotted in Puerto Rico, 1994. Since then it has spread over Mesoamerica, southern United States, and northern regions of South America. It is mainly found in "Latino" populations, hence the Spanish name.
It originally killed goats, but rather than eating it, it sucked out all of the blood and left the bodies intact. It made its way as far as Chile, and began eating other livestock. The chupacabra has now even begun eating dogs and larger creatures. Fortunately, no human attacks have been reported. There have been many attacks, one of the worst sprees was in 1995. There were 35 sightings in Cavanas, Puerto Rico, alone. There were also many in Florida the same year.
There have been many different descriptions of the chupacabra. However, they all have some common features. It has green or grey skin, with either a leather hide or scales. It has sharp spines running down its back, and a forked tongue. Its face is similar to that of a dog. It is supposedly bipedal, meaning it stands on two legs, and can jump up to twenty feet. Its size varies from 3 to 6 feet, and to travel it hops, much like our beloved kangaroo.
The origins of this creature are shrouded in mystery. Some believe it is simply a new vampire like species of mammal, and is only part of the evolutionary process. Some believe they are alien experiments or pets, perhaps even aliens themselves. Some have even claimed they are dinosaurs. A less well known theory is the idea they are experiments gone wrong. As the American government has many bases in Puerto Rico, the idea is fairly feasible. The Americans have been known to experiment on strange things, particularly on the island. Others think it is simply a creature of imagination, despite the numerous sightings.
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Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Indian Dragons (Nāga)

The Indian Dragon is called the Nāga, or Nāgi, or Nāgini. The Nāga fed on the elephants of India. It is found in both India and South-East Asia. This is due to the fact that it is found in both Hinduism and Buddhism. With their increasing influence spreading to areas such as the Philippines circa 400-500 C.E., ancient traditions and beliefs were not far behind. This resulted in the Nāga being found in the South-East, with only the slightest differences in character.
The Nāga is a deity or semi-divine spirit in the form of a great serpent. They have the ability to change into several forms. These are; a human, a king cobra, a half-human half-serpent, and a large dragon-serpent. In their human form the Nāgis are able to marry and have children with mortal men. Many ancient dynasties claimed descent from such a union. In their mixed form they have the body of a human from the waist up, and that of a serpent from the waist down. The head is that of a human. In their dragon form they have no legs or arms, nor any wings.
Nāgas are immortal, being divine creatures. They are said to hold great wisdom, and live under the waters. They reside great palaces in oceans and lakes, guarding the area. They are also Guardians of the Rain, and ensure there is enough. However, they may also cause a drought, due to a lack of respect for them. Some also protect important figures such as The Buddha, and Vishnu, a Hindu god.
There are many Nāgas in the Buddhist faith. With the spread of Buddhism, the Nāgas were incorporated into local beliefs. Places such as Tibet already had legends of great serpents, and the Nāga was simply made as the same creature. The main Nāga in Buddhism is called Mucalinda, who protects The Buddha whilst he meditates. In Buddhism only some Nāgas live in the water. The rest live among humans or on Mount Sumeru, with other lesser deities.
In Hinduism the Nāga are considered Protectors of Nature, guarding places linked to water, such as wells and rivers. They also guard treasure of the material and immaterial worlds. They are found in the Pātāla, the seventh dimension or realm. They are also the guardians of the Elixir of Life and Immortality. Despite their strength, they are not aggressive toward the human race. Unless they are threatened or harmed, of course.
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Sunday, 9 June 2013

Basilisk

The Basilisk originated in Greek mythology, supposedly being found in the Greek colony of Cyrene, Libya. It was later adopted by the Romans, Pliny even mentioned it in his "Natural History". It became very well known and popular during the Middle Ages, and was adopted by Christians. Christians used it as the serpent that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, although that is now largely unknown, with modern day Christians believing it was only an ordinary snake. It is described as being the King of all Serpents.
The Basilisk is the result of a snake's or toad's egg being incubated by a cockerel. The Cockatrice, its cousin, however, is a chicken's egg incubated by a serpent or toad. In antiquity the Basilisk was a small serpent, "being not much more than twelve fingers in length". However, during Medieval Europe it began to take features of the cockerel as its own.
In antiquity it is said to be like a snake in appearance, with a white spot in the middle of its forehead. In the Middle Ages however, the appearance changed drastically. It was depicted with bird wings and two legs of a chicken. Some images also show it as having the head of a cockerel with a crest.
The Basilisk is said to kill all those that looked upon it. Its eyes had the ability to turn people to stone, and its very breath was venomous. The stench caused all living things to die. The bite is also said to be lethal. It has large curved fangs that contain a deadly venom. This venom needs only mere seconds to go through the body of the victim before the unfortunate creature dies. When there are no animals it turns upon plants, which wither and die before it. The only plant able to resist the terrible odour is the Rue plant, a shrub.
Fortunately there are several ways to defeat this beast. It is said that if it hears the crow of a cockerel it will fall to the ground in agony and die. Its reflection is also enough to kill it, as no creature is immune to the terrible stare, not even the Basilisk. That is, apart from the weasel. The weasel is the only creature that may see the monster and slay it, as even the cockerel will die when it is near the Basilisk. The stench of the urine of the weasel is enough to intoxicate the Basilisk, striking it dead. Unfortunately, the weasel will also die.
Today it is believed the Basilisk is a creature of imagination, possibly a result of tales of the Far East and exotic serpents such as the King Cobra. But if it kills you when you are near it, how will you know? Could it be real? Make up your own mind...
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Wednesday, 5 June 2013

Leprechaun

The leprechaun is found in Ireland, originally however, the tales were only found in the north of the isle, particularly Leinster. They were said to have originated in a magical island found in the ocean. They migrated to Ireland and decided to stay. Many legends link their arrival with that of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a magical race that invaded Ireland in ancient times. There have been sightings of the leprechauns since the 8th century.
Until the 20th century the leprechaun was depicted as wearing a red and gold coat, rather than today's popular green and gold. The leprechaun is often male, although females do exist. The female is also much harder to find. The leprechaun is very small, usually around 75cm, and humanoid in appearance. They often have red hair, as is traditional with the Irish. The males also have beards in most cases, which can be of considerable length and are the same colour as their hair. The leprechaun is also depicted as wearing a top hat in the colour of its jacket.
The leprechaun is said to guard a pot of gold and other riches. This "pot" was normally a cauldron and would be buried for safekeeping. Legend holds that the location of such a place would be found at the end of a rainbow. Legend also has it that if you capture a leprechaun he must tell you where he keeps his gold. Where he gets his gold is a matter of serious debate.
Some believe that the leprechauns brought the gold from where they came, whereas others think he is paid by faeries for his work. Some believe they are nothing more than common thieves, whilst many think they took gold from the riches the Vikings left behind after pillaging the Emerald Isle. There is no hard evidence proving any of these theories, and until a leprechaun tells the story of his gold, it will remain hidden to us.
Whatever the truth, the leprechauns have a few jobs. The first and foremost is to make shoes. They make shoes for other faeries, and are the paid for their services. The second is to guard their money. They may do this in several ways. Firstly, they may bury their riches in the ground. They also carry two coins. One is silver and will always return to the leprechaun's pocket, and the other is gold. This coin is used to buy the leprechaun out of sticky situations. However, after leaving the leprechaun, it will dissipate into dust. The reason they guard their riches is due to humans. Leprechauns see them as selfish and greedy, never to be trusted.
There are ways to trick the leprechaun out of its gold however. If you catch one it is obliged to tell you where it keeps its gold, and from there on you are rich. However, catching one is not as easy as it sounds. They are slippery creatures, and the best way to catch one is when it is busy making shoes. They are constantly looking for a way out, and unless asked direct questions, will use their cunning to get out of a difficult situation. His hat also enables him to completely disappear.
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Monday, 3 June 2013

Slavic Dragons

The Slavic dragon is found all over eastern Europe. Poland, ex-Yugoslavian states, the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovakia are all Slavic nations. The ex-Soviet states in Europe are also of Slavic descent, however, only western Russia is Slavic. The Slavic people originated in north-eastern Europe, around the Baltic coast. After the fall of the Roman Empire they migrated all over eastern Europe, mainly due to pressure from invading tribes such as the Vandals and Huns. Many settled in today's Russia and Poland, but the majority continued into the Balkans. No Slavs made it to Greece however, due to fierce resistance from both locals and the Byzantine Empire.
The Slavic dragon can be divided into two distinct groups. These are the East Slavic and the South Slavic. The South Slavic can be further divided into two sub-species; the Zmaj (also known as the Zmej or Żmij), and the Aždaja or Aždaha. The East Slavic is called the Zmey Gorynych.
The Zmey Gorynych is found in Russia and the Ukraine. It has three heads and some legends state that they could regrow if severed, much like the Hydra of Greek mythology. It is covered in green scales, and walks on its two hind paws.Its front paws are considerably smaller than its rear ones. It has the ability to breathe fire, and is lethal if it can reach you.
The Zmey Gorynych is usually evil, and is not very intelligent. It is said to have some intelligence; enough to trick its victims, but not enough to escape unscathed from a particularly obvious trap. They also have large wings enabling them to fly, and their huge size is a great advantage in battle. The only way to defeat the dragon is to cut all three heads off before they can grow back. Legend tells that the head can only grow back if there is at least one head remaining. The Zmey Gorynych was not defeated until Dobrynya Nikitich after three days and three hours. It is said he was about to give up until he received a message from Heaven.
The majority of Russian dragons however are Mongol in style, due to the enormous influence of the "Golden Horde".
The Zmaj is found predominantly in Slovenia, and appears on the coat of arms of Ljubljana. Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia. They appear related to legends of Saint George, as the dragons appear to look very similar. Unlike their eastern counterpart they are very intelligent, possessing great knowledge of the present, future, and past. They are also often benevolent and do not always harm humans, despite several legends. for example, the dragon of Ljubljana is said to protect the city from enemies, guarding it in times of need.
The Zmaj is able to breathe fire, and has other magical abilities. They have great strength, and are always very rich. They hoard jewels, gold, and other items of worth, and often have a great castle. They are able to mate with mortal women, and many heroes are said to be the result of a union between a dragon and a mortal. If a particular individual becomes famous enough, he is often deified as a Dragon. An example is Vlad III Dracula, who, after his death, was said to be a member of the Order of the Dragon. Many Slavs became deified as dragons after fighting Turkic invaders such as the Mongols and Ottoman Empire.
The final dragon is the Aždaja. It is not always considered to be a dragon, in fact it is the exact opposite. Unlike the dragon it is filled with evil and black magic, unable to do good. it lurks in formidable places; unreachable and dark. Some legends tell that Saint George slew this creature rather than the Zmaj. The Aždaja is able to breathe fire also, and is often depicted with several heads. The number of heads can vary from 3 to 9.
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Thursday, 30 May 2013

Hydra

The hydra is a giant beast found in Ancient Greek mythology. It was later adopted by the Roman conquerors. The full name of the hydra is the Lernaean Hydra, as it lived in the lake of Lerna. This lake is situated near the village of Myloi, at the Gulf of Argolis in the Peloponnese region of Greece. The lake was supposedly surrounded by trees and swamps, where the hydra spent much of its time.
The hydra is the offspring of the Titan Typhon and Echidna; a half serpent half human creature. It had nine heads of which the middle was immortal. Every time a head was severed another two popped up in its place. The hydra was essentially a giant sea serpent living in the swamps of Lernae. It had scales to protect its thick hide, and the skin was tough like leather. Only the very sharpest swords and spears could pierce the hydra. The hydra also had the ability to kill people with its breath. Its breath was so vile that it was poisonous to nearly all creatures; the fumes intoxicating everything in sight.
The hydra terrorised the local villages and farms, killing many cattle and people. It supposedly guarded an underwater entrance to the Underworld, and often ventured from its duties. The people were powerless to stop it, watching as their livelihoods and even loved ones were taken and ripped apart. Many tried, but none could kill the beast.
One day another man tried. his name was Heracles (or Hercules if you prefer the Roman version). With his nephew Iolaus he attempted to slay the beast once and for all. The reason for this was because it was one of his Twelve Labours, a set of tasks he was forced to do as redemption for killing his wife and children. To kill the Lernaean Hydra was his Second Labour.
Several times Heracles cut off one of the hydra's heads, but each time two grew back. Then Iolaus suggested Heracles should burn each neck after severing a head, so that the heads could not grow back. Heracles tried this, and to his delight, it worked. When Heracles came to the final head; the immortal one, he cut it off and buried it under a rock. In this way it could do no harm.
And so the hydra was vanquished, and Lernae was safe. However, the hydra was made into a constellation so that no-one would forget it. Its head is never far from the crab Cancer, which some versions of the story believe injured Heracles whilst he was fighting the hydra. Heracles then slew the crab. Hera put the crab into the sky to follow the Lion in the Zodiac.
The hydra had no descendents, and its kind was lost forever. At least that it is what the legends have us believe. There are many later references to the hydra, even recently. Perhaps it had young. What if the world found them?
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