The Most Famous Mythical Creatures

The Most Famous Mythical Creatures

         Folklore and fairy tales are filled with countless creatures and beings that are difficult to enumerate, but there are certain creatures that have become more famous than others and are found in most cultures and societies. Some of them are still revered to this day. Among these creatures, we will mention five mythical beings whose fame has spread everywhere, and you can hardly find anyone who hasn’t heard of them at least once. We will learn about their origins and the stories behind their existence.

Dragons 

The dragon in Latin, derived from the name “Drakon” which means great serpent. Dragons are the most famous mythical creatures around the world. They appear in many images, drawings, stories, fairy tales, and movies. The symbolism of this creature varies from Asia to Europe, being considered a symbol of good in Asia, while in Europe, it is a symbol of evil. The Asian dragon is associated with positive values such as strength, courage, nobility, and wisdom, unlike the European dragon, which is associated with evil and hoarding gold in isolated caves, as some legends tell. There are also notable physical differences between them, such as the European dragon having wings, while the Chinese dragon lacks them.

Although the depiction of dragons in different cultures conjures up diverse images in our minds, they are undoubtedly connected. Despite their different attributes, they remain similar in some way; they are gigantic and mighty creatures capable of breathing fire, their most striking feature. These colossal creatures present in most popular legends resemble snakes in the elongation of their bodies, possess bat-like leathery wings, sharp fangs, and claws. According to some legends, they dwell in the depths of the waters, while others say they live in the high mountains. Some legends even depict them as capable of spewing fire from their bellies.

While most scientists believe that dragons are merely the product of fertile imagination influenced by other living creatures such as large lizards, snakes, and crocodiles, there are other scientists who doubt this belief. Some of them even believe that dragons once roamed the earth and may have been the last types of dinosaurs that lived on Earth.

Phoenix

“Burned and then reborn from its ashes” is a phrase that applies to a mythical bird that resonated widely in the ancient folklore of many peoples. This is the Phoenix, a legend of Greek origin, it has a long straight beak and two feathers extending backward from its head. Its size is that of an eagle, and its color is fiery golden, which is one of its most important characteristics. It has a crest of feathers on its head that resembles a crown. Its wings are larger than those of an ordinary eagle, and its feathers are silky smooth and angelic. It has a long tail of red, orange, and yellow feathers that appears during its long travels.

The legend tells that the Phoenix is destined to die in fire and from its ashes emerges a new creature, initially a milk-colored worm that transforms into a cocoon, from which a new Phoenix emerges. The reborn Phoenix flies to its original homeland, carrying all the remains of its old body to the altar of the sun in Egypt, where the people of Egypt honor this wondrous bird before it returns to its country in the East.

The Phoenix, which burns and is reborn, has become a symbol of life, freedom, light, hope, and the life-giving sun that dies every day only to rise again at dawn. In politics, the Phoenix symbolizes every country that has managed to rise from war and from the ashes each time it is destroyed by internal and external conflicts, just like this bird. The Phoenix represents periodic destruction and regeneration.

Pegasus: the winged horse 

The word Pegasus is synonymous with the winged horse in Greek mythology.

Pegasus in Greek mythology, born from the blood that flowed when Perseus slew Medusa. He was then used by Bellerophon to slay the chimera. Since then, the image of a horse with wings has persisted in stories and culture, whether these horses are named Pegasus or another name. “Pterippi”, a portmanteau of the Greek words “pteron” (“wing”) and “hippos” (“horse”), is fairly common. By far the most common appearance these creatures have is that of an all-white horse with bird wings.

From his birth to his death, Pegasus remained a mysterious creature capable of everything, symbolizing the divine inspiration or the journey to heaven, since riding him was synonymous to “flying” to the heavens.

Medusa: The goddess of wisdom and snakes, she turns anyone who

look into her eyes into stone.

Griffin

Legends and tales describe it as a creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. transitioning to its regal features, a majestic mane frames the lion part of its visage. The eagle’s keen eyes, sharp beak, and powerful wings amplify the creature’s imposing presence. Transitioning to its strong forelimbs, they end in formidable claws, symbolizing the Griffin’s strength and prowess. Feathers adorn the creature’s wings, combining the elegance of an eagle with the robustness of a lion. Transitioning to its tail, a serpent-like extension completes the creature, emphasizing its mythical and awe-inspiring nature. In various cultures, the Griffin’s physical attributes represent a harmonious blend of strength, wisdom, and majestic beauty.

Over the centuries, it has become the emblem of European institutions, resembling the Sphinx of Pharaonic civilization, which has the body of a lion and the head of a human. This mythical bird enjoys widespread popularity in ancient Greek art and mythology, and it is also mentioned in the writings of ancient Persia and Egypt. It is believed to protect against evil and magic.

Gryphons are capable of flight and are proud and solitary creatures associated with gold, who reportedly lay eggs in burrows that contain gold nuggets. Their affiliation with gold also makes them ideal guardians for treasures. In medieval lore, gryphons mate for life, and, if either partner dies, then the other will continue the rest of its life alone, never to search for a new mate. Gryphons usually prey on horses, but if a gryphon mates with a mare, their offspring will be a fertile hybrid called a Hippogriff who flies and runs faster than either of its parents.

Mermaids

The mermaid is one of the most famous and oldest myths known to humanity, widely circulated in stories, movies, and more, to the extent that some people believe in its existence. It is a creature that combines human and fish traits, having the body of a fish from the navel to the tail, while the upper part is human from the navel to the head.

The first stories of mermaids appeared around 1000 BC in the Assyrian kingdom. Although considered a myth, the frequent mention of mermaids in ancient stories and legends led people to sometimes believe in their existence. Since then, legends about mermaids have spread, becoming a cultural heritage.

They were first mentioned in Greek civilization as helpers of the gods. These mythical creatures were considered embodiments of the spirits of certain inanimate objects, such as buildings and ancient trees. There were both male and female mermaids, and they were not immortal. According to Greek myths, their existence on earth would end with the destruction of the structure they represented or the cutting down of the tree embodying their spirit if associated with the spirit of the tree.

The stories and types of mermaids vary from one culture to another. Some depict them as gentle, beautiful creatures who love goodness and help sailors or bring them luck, while others portray them as evil beings who lure sailors with their beauty, only to reveal their true form as monsters.