The world is full of stories about mythical monsters, mysterious creatures and legendary beasts. Some of these monsters were inspired by real animals or found fossils, while others are symbolic expressions of people's deepest fears. In our review, the story will focus on the strangest and most terrible monsters.
1. Soukoyant
Soukoyant looks like a frail old woman
Soukoyant in Caribbean mythology is a type of werewolf who belongs to the class of spirits (called by the locals "jambi"). During the day, the soukoyant looks like a frail old woman, and at night this creature sheds its skin, places it in a mortar, into which a special solution is poured, and then turns into a fireball flying across the sky in search of victims. The Soukoyan sucks blood from his victims and then exchanges it for the demons for an otherworldly force.
Similar to European vampire myths, if a cocoant drinks too much blood from his victim, the victim will either die or turn into a similar monster herself. To kill a cocoiant, you need to pour salt into the solution in which its skin lies, after which the creature will die at dawn (it will not be able to "put" the skin back on).
Promotional video:
2. Kelpie
The water spirit lives in the rivers and lakes of Scotland
Kelpie is a water spirit that lives in the rivers and lakes of Scotland. Although the kelpie usually appears in the form of a horse, it can also take the form of a human. Often kelpies lure people to supposedly ride them on their backs, after which they drag the victims under the water and devour them. However, the tales of the evil water horse also served as a great warning to children to stay out of the water, and to women to be wary of beautiful strangers.
3. Basilisk
Rooster with a snake tail
The basilisk is generally described as a crested snake, although descriptions of a rooster with a snake's tail are sometimes found. This creature can kill birds with fire breath, people with a gaze, and other living creatures with ordinary hiss. Legends say that the basilisk is born from a snake or toad egg that was hatched by a rooster. The word “basilisk” is translated from Greek as “little king”, therefore this creature is often called “the serpent king”. During the Middle Ages, Basilisks were accused of causing plague epidemics and mysterious murders.
4. Asmodeus
Asmodeus - demon of lust
Asmodeus is a demon of lust who is mostly known for the Book of Tobit (the second canonical book of the Old Testament). He pursues a woman named Sarah and kills seven of her husbands out of jealousy. In the Talmud, Asmodeus is mentioned as the prince of demons who expelled King Solomon from his kingdom. Some folklorists believe that Asmodeus is the son of Lilith and Adam. Legend has it that it is he who is responsible for the perversion of people's sexual desires.
5. Yorogumo
Yogorumo - spider monster
There are perhaps more bizarre cryptozoological creatures in Japanese myths than are found in all seasons of The X-Files. One of the most bizarre is the Yogorumo or "harlot" - a spider-like monster of the Yokai family (goblins). The legend of Yogorumo originated during the Edo period in Japan. It is believed that when a spider reaches the age of 400 years, it gains magical powers. In most legends, the spider transforms into a beautiful woman, seduces men and lures them to her home, plays the biwa (Japanese lute) for them, and then entangles them with cobwebs and devours them.
6. Black Annis
An old woman with a blue face and iron claws
A ghostly witch from English folklore, Black Annis is an old woman with a blue face and iron claws who haunted the peasants in Leicestershire. Legend has it that she lives in a cave in Dane Hills, and at night she wanders in search of children to devour. If Black Annis catches a child, she tan his skin and then wears it wrapped around the waist. Needless to say, Black Annis' parents scared their children when they misbehaved.
7. Nabau
Dragon-like monster from Indonesian folklore
In 2009, two aerial photographs taken by researchers in Borneo showed a 30-meter snake floating down the river. There is still controversy over the veracity of these photographs, as well as over whether they actually represent a snake. Some argue that this is a log or a large boat. However, the locals living along the Balekh River insist that the creature is Nabau, an ancient dragon-like monster from Indonesian folklore. According to legends, the length of the Nabau exceeds 30 meters, it has a head with seven nostrils and it can take the form of several different animals.
8. Dullahan
Headless horseman
Most people are familiar with Washington Irving's story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and the story of the Headless Horseman. The Irish dullahan or "dark man" is essentially the forerunner of the ghost of the decapitated Hessian soldier who pursued Ichabod Crane. In Celtic mythology, dullahan is a harbinger of death. He rides a large black horse with glowing eyes and carries his head under his arm.
Some stories say that the dullahan shouts out the name of the person who is about to die, while others say that he marks the person by pouring a bucket of blood on him. Like many monsters and mythical creatures, the dullahan has one weakness: gold.
9. Red caps
Evil goblins live on the border between England and Scotland
Evil goblins in red caps live on the border between England and Scotland. According to legends, they usually live in ruined castles and kill lost travelers by throwing boulders from the cliffs on them. The goblins then paint the caps with the blood of their victims. The red caps are forced to kill as often as possible, because if the blood on their caps dries up, they die.
The evil creatures are usually depicted as old men with red eyes, large teeth, claws, and a staff in hand. They are faster and stronger than humans. Legend has it that the only way to escape such a goblin is by shouting a quote from the Bible.
10. Brahmaparusha
Brahmaparusha - a vampire with a passion for human brains
Brahmaparusha is a vampire, but he is not ordinary at all. These evil spirits, which are narrated in Hindu mythology, have a passion for human brains. Unlike the suave, dapper vampires who live in Romania, the brahmaparusha is a grotesque creature that wears the guts of its victims around its neck and head. He also carries a human skull with him and when he kills a new victim, he pours its blood into this skull and drinks from it.
