Questions tagged [mythical-creatures]
For questions about animals or non-human beings described in folklore and legends, which may or may not be based on actual creatures.
176
questions
9
votes
1
answer
5k
views
God/Goddess of clones or duplicates
Is there any god/goddess who had the power of clones or represented them?
Like Dionysus is a god of wine and many other related things, is there a god of clones/duplicates/mirror images across any ...
- 193
2
votes
1
answer
161
views
What is (a) Könnin kuokkamies?
It seems to be some kind of robotic/mechanical entity, but that's pretty much all I could gather from googling around.
There is a Wikipedia page on the matter: here, but it is in Finnish, which I, ...
- 123
7
votes
1
answer
174
views
Where do Leprechauns live?
Like, when they aren't dragging people into the sea or granting wishes. The wikipedia article doesn't describe in much detail about where they reside. Holes? Mountain Tops? Tiny Cottages?
- 171
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What is the origin of these creatures in Appalachian folklore?
My family (for these intents and purposes) comes from the mountains of Appalachian southern Virginia.
The older folks told tales of three specific monsters as warning against wayward children ...
- 181
3
votes
1
answer
574
views
What is the origin of the akhlut's name?
The akhlut is a creature from Inuit myth, a monstrous wolf that can take the shape of an orca. However, I haven't been able to find this word in any reliable Inuktitut dictionaries (looking for akhlut,...
- 1,288
2
votes
0
answers
34
views
Could loin cloths be considered as a 1:1 unique item for trolls?
Ok full backstory:
In a post on World Building SE I asserted based on my understanding of classical troll mythology that loin clothes could be collected from dead trolls as uniquely identifiable ...
- 171
2
votes
2
answers
265
views
A unified understanding and description of a "spirit"?
This is something I've been struggling with for a while now, something that I'm hoping someone with a background in mythology, folklore, and/or anthropology might be able to help me with.
I come from ...
- 123
6
votes
2
answers
427
views
How did Hercules kill the lion without being clawed to death?
The myth says he killed the lion by putting the beast in a stranglehold and choking it to death, but how did he avoid being clawed and bitten by the lion while doing so?
- 413
1
vote
0
answers
143
views
Planctae vs. Symplegades
In the Argonautica, both the Planctea and the Symplegades are mentioned. One on the way in search of the Golden Fleece and the other on the way back. The Planctea was also known as, "the Wondering ...
- 6,685
9
votes
1
answer
282
views
Zombies and ways of stopping them?
I know that there’s a wide variety of zombies. Now my question is what are the versions of them & how are they stopped from attacking the living? Zombies are (now these days) considered mindless ...
- 283
3
votes
1
answer
322
views
Can Vampires Take Form of Nocturnal Animals?
In Bram Stoker's Dracula, it was hinted that he may have taken form of a bat while visiting the asylum inmate, Renfield. Is that possible? And could he take form of all the other animals, like wolves ...
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Djinn and devils/demons question
I know that ancient Arabians had a mythology about evil creatures made of dust and fire called djinn, now my question is this: how were they different from Demons and devils?
- 283
6
votes
3
answers
354
views
Looking for a mythological flying creatures that has saved human life
Can anyone help me? I am looking for a mythological flying creature(s) that has saved human life?
I am asking for a project in progress. Thanks.
- 71
8
votes
2
answers
961
views
Mythological Beings taking on Insect/Arthropod Form
Are there any gods or other mythological beings which take on the form of insects?
A partial resemblance (like Khepri) would count as a yes for me, but a god which is simply associated with insects ...
- 183
3
votes
1
answer
400
views
Vampires in Religious texts
You know how the Torah says that there were Vampires who were called blood sucking demons. Are Vampires mention in other religious books or texts?
- 247
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
If the ox tiger is an unlucky direction, why build an entrance to it?
On the Oni Wikipedia, scrolled down to Demon Gate, it says that in Chinese Taoism and traditional Japanese esoteric cosmology (Onmyōdō), the direction northeast (though the wiki uses northeasterly) is ...
- 6,685
13
votes
4
answers
16k
views
What kind of dog breed would Cerberus be?
There are countless depictions of Cerberus with various number of heads or additional parts such as snake heads or tails. Some even say that Cerberus did not refer to a dog or hound at all, but rather ...
- 147
2
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Can kitsune die/be killed?
The closest thing I got from looking this up is a game. But I kind of need a non-modern interpretation answer for an idea I'm working on.
In the Edo period (1603–1867), kitsune were seen as witch ...
- 6,685
1
vote
0
answers
248
views
Do fox-wives have to give birth under a tree?
Kitsune are born and give birth under a tree. The tree is then connected to the kitsune. The tree will gain power from the kitsune, never getting sick or being infested with worms or bug (don't know ...
- 6,685
5
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Why 1000 years and not 900 or 800 years for kitsune to ascend to heaven?
After reaching 1,000 years of age gaining its ninth tail, a kitsune turns a golden color, becoming a 'Tenko' (天狐 "heavenly fox"/"celestial fox"), the most powerful form of the kitsune, and then ...
- 6,685
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What is the extent of control over a kitsune?
Kitsune have something called a Hoshi no tama, star ball or kitsune ball. They are white and/or gold orbs. The orb is like a kitsune's life force so they hide it, usually in their mouths or on their ...
- 6,685
1
vote
0
answers
1k
views
Are there unique names for the different types of Kitsune?
There are thirteen different kinds of Kitsune, each with a corresponding element, listed as follows: Heaven (or Celestial or Prime), Void (or Dark), Wind, Spirit, Fire, Earth, River, Ocean, Mountain, ...
- 6,685
1
vote
0
answers
126
views
Is there a difference between a gold fur and a white fur kitsune?
After a kitsune gains its ninth tail, its fur becomes either gold or white. Is there any specific reason why a kitsune would become white instead of gold and vise versa?
- 6,685
2
votes
0
answers
846
views
Human and fox offspring in Shinto?
When a kitsune take human form and marries a human, they often have children. When the offspring are human, they inherit abilities (special physical or supernatural qualities). These in turn are ...
- 6,685
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Where are there female centaurs in mythology?
A few months ago, I was reading the Metamorphoses by Ovid (translator unknown). At a time I was reading it just to get through it because it wasn't what I expected (still read it though, albeit not ...
- 6,685
1
vote
0
answers
93
views
What were author's explanation for Oedipus solving the more ancient of the riddles?
The riddle we all know is- What creature walks on 4 legs in the morning, 2 in the afternoon and 3 in the evening? The answer is a human in relation to the stages of life.
The second, and possibly ...
- 6,685
6
votes
1
answer
250
views
Are Minos and the Minotaur duplication of the same figure?
While reading the story of Minos and the Minotaur, I noticed that both of them have nearly identical origins:
Both are sired by a white bull (a transformed Zeus or a gift from Poseidon)
Their mother ...
- 401
2
votes
1
answer
319
views
How are domovye (domestic spirits) experienced in Russian flats (apartments)?
In Russian culture, the domovoy (домовой) is a domestic house spirit. Traditionally he lives under the stove or threshold, in the cattle shed or in the stable. He is the home's guardian and if kept ...
user1618
5
votes
2
answers
23k
views
Why did Vishnu rape Vrinda?
If Vishnu was the 'Supreme Personality of Godhead', why did he have to rape his sincere devotee Vrinda to defeat Jalandhar who was merely a demon who did not achieve any powerful boons? If Vishnu was ...
- 59
14
votes
1
answer
839
views
Pre-Tolkien Orcs in myths or folklore?
So what I'm trying to understand is what exactly pre-Tolkien orcs were like in regards to folklore. I understand that Tolkien has had a massive influence on how we conceptualize many creatures from ...
- 141
-3
votes
1
answer
487
views
When did wings become an attribute to these creatures? [closed]
Manticore- head of a human, body of a lion, tail of poisonous spines
Chimera- head of a lion and goat, snake/dragon as a tail, breaths fire
Yet, when images are drawn of these creatures, they have ...
- 6,685
11
votes
2
answers
238
views
How Do The Fairies In Irish Mythology Spend Their Time
I have heard that they are "merrymaking and lovemaking" the entire time. But if there is someone more familiar with the lives of fairies, I would love to learn about their culture...at least some ...
- 743
9
votes
1
answer
152
views
What gods were there that dealt with games?
What gods were there in ancient religions related to games? I know there were gods related to chance, but even in the ancient world, not all games relied on luck (Olympic games, other sports ...
- 245
8
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Are there any four-armed creatures in any pantheon?
Related to my last question: Are there any races/species of creature in any pantheon with four arms (and two legs and one head)?
- 388
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Anglo-Saxon and Faeries
I am trying to figure out whether the Anglo-Saxons had much of a belief in faeries or had an equivalent like elves or wights. I'm finding it pretty hard to disentangle what is actually English ...
- 179
7
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Are there any four-armed deities or creatures in the Greek or Roman pantheons?
As in the title, are there any four-armed (two-legged) deities or creatures in the Greek or Roman pantheons? Essentially the morphological opposite of centaurs, in terms of limb numbers.
- 388
11
votes
2
answers
14k
views
Are there any beasts/creatures that "feed on" grief or regrets?
I'm interested in knowing if there are any creatures, monsters, spirits, etc that feed on negative human emotions- specifically grief and regret. Alternately, anything that is specifically attracted ...
- 111
9
votes
1
answer
212
views
Regarding Centaur's myth and etymology
It's usual to recall that the name Minotaur comes from the name of the king Minos and from the animal Tauros and that makes sense to me, however going a little farther I found the name "Centaur" or "...
- 193
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is there a common theme of dragon meat being toxic?
I have noticed a few stories that talk about dragons having toxic blood or meat. Their offshoots(?), wyverns, have a particular association with poison.
Despite this, there is a lot of culture ...
- 273
12
votes
1
answer
672
views
Slavic mythology, human-animal hybrid creature
In Greek mythologies, there are a lot of human-animal hybrid creatures (Satyr, Centaur or Lamia, to name a few...), but I can't find any from Slavic mythos.
The best list I found is on Wikipedia - ...
- 223
9
votes
3
answers
5k
views
What are the special powers of a unicorn's horn?
The unicorn is a mythological creature similar in appearance to a horse but has a magical horn which is said to have very special powers. Can anyone mention a full list of powers of unicorn horn? I'm ...
- 271
8
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Are there any deities or mythological beasts inspired by snow leopards?
I don't know a lot about the mythology of central Asian cultures (where the snow leopard comes from). I'm trying to find more information on the cultural impact the animal could have.
- 91
4
votes
0
answers
1k
views
What do we know of the Willauk, the Tebwem and the Pioial?
Wikipedia lists the three creatures as originating in Tasmanian mythology, but other than a very short description it provides no details or references:
Tasmania
Willauk, giant demon that ...
- 17k
5
votes
0
answers
163
views
Why does the Yara-ma-yha-who live on fig trees?
The Yara-ma-yha-who is the indigenous Australian version of the vampire. It's a "little red man with a very big head, a large mouth with no teeth and suckers on the ends of its hands and feet" that ...
- 17k
2
votes
1
answer
295
views
What creatures aren't from mythology and just J.R.R Tolkien's world? [closed]
A lot of fantasy creatures are derived from mythology and J.R.R Tolkien's books, sometimes both. I love both of these topics and have known about difference between them, like the fantasy elf vs the ...
- 1,265
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Are there any elf like creatures in non-European folklore?
I know that the elves didn't survive the transatlantic crossing but are there any stories of elves or similar creatures in other world mythologies?
- 231
10
votes
2
answers
506
views
What is the origin of the centaurs?
Can someone please explain to me how centaurs were created?
Does it seem weird to anyone else that we know about it, but we don't know the full story?
5
votes
1
answer
123
views
Why is the Loch Ness monster all the way from Scotland draw so many parallels with the Hawkesbury river monster?
They seem to be described the same way (a long sea serpent that eats stuff), and are commonly compared to each other.
Are there any reasons there are so many parallels?
- 6,719
7
votes
1
answer
8k
views
Hugin and Muninn in runes
Is there a way to write the names "Hugin" and "Muninn" in Norse runes? Are there differences in the meaning of each ("memory" and "thought")?
- 459
6
votes
3
answers
509
views
Do leprechauns derive their power from gold?
I am trying to use them in a book I'm writing but I can't find a lot of details regarding Leprechauns. Do they have significant power, do they grant wishes, and if so with what magic? Any answers will ...
Anthony Gregory