1. Dragon
The dragon is a legendary creature that appears in the myths of many cultures. Dragons are generally shown as reptilian, lizard-like with two pairs of legs and long tail. They are sometimes drawn with huge yellow or red eyes. They sometimes have spines along their back. Centuries ago dragons were drawn as very small, often smaller than people, but as the stories grew, so did the dragons. Dragons often have a special importance and in some cultures are regarded with reverence and respect. They are often regarded as being very wise, and very long-lived. They are considered to be magic. Most commonly known today are the European and the Asian dragons.
2. Unicorn
The unicorn is usually shown as a horse with a long single horn on its head, but it originally had a billy-goat beard, lion’s tail and cloven hooves. The unicorn is virtually the only creature in legend which did not come from human fears and was, in fact, a rather gentle creature. It was considered impossible to capture a unicorn except by using unfair methods. The horn was said to be able to neutralise poison. The unicorn first came to be known during the Indus Valley Civilization (3300–1700 BC).
3. Mermaid
The mermaid is a mythological aquatic creature with a female human head and torso and the tail of a fish. This creature has been discussed since at least 5000 BC. It is highly possible that manatees or dugongs may have been confused for these creatures and even Christopher Columbus claimed to have seen some on his journeys. In British folklore they are considered to be a forewarning of doom or disaster.
4. Phoenix
The phoenix is a mythical firebird from Ancient Egypt which is portrayed as a bird that dies in fire and is reborn of it. It is normally portrayed as having gold and red feathers. At the end of its life, a phoenix is said to build a nest of cinnamon twigs which it then ignites. The bird is destroyed in the fire but a new young phoenix is born from the same fire. It was believed to have a life span of 500 – 1461 years (depending on who you ask). Its tears were thought to heal wounds.
5. Giant
“Giant” is the English word to describe monsters of great strength and size but human form. They appear in the Bible (in the story of King David and Goliath). In mythology they are frequently seen to be in conflict with the gods and are generally considered to be associated with chaos and wild nature. They were seen as early as the Ancient Greek culture where they were known as gigantes – creatures born from Gaia who was fertilised by the blood of Uranus when he was castrated.
6. Cyclops
A Cyclops is a member of a primordial race of giants, each with a single round eye in the middle of its forehead. Cyclopes are described by both Homer and Hesiod. According to Hesiod, the Cyclopes-Brontes, Steropes and Arges, were the sons of Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth), while according to Homer the term “Cyclops” refers to a particular son of Poseidon and Thoosa named Polyphemus who was a Cyclops.
7. Medusa
In Greek mythology Medusa (guardian,protectress) was a monster , a Gorgon, generally described as having the face of a hideous human female with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Gazing directly into her eyes would turn onlookers to stone.
8. Pegasus
Pegasus is the beautiful flying horse of mythology. Pegasus was a white horse with wings, sometimes depicted as a unicorn, a single, spiraling horn that protruded from the forehead of Pegasus; on the other hand, most depictions of Pegasus did not show the horse as a unicorn. Pegasus has also been regarded as "the power of the creative spirit in all of us. He is the symbol of the Muses, of inspiration and of the beauty we bring to our life and the lives of others."
9. Banshee
The banshee is from Irish mythology and are usually seen as female spirits. They were considered to be omens of death and were believed to have come from the “otherworld”. They are generally thought to be remnants of an ancient Celtic pagan religion in which they were minor gods, spirits, or ancestors. In English they are often referred to as fairies. According to legend, banshees will wander around the outside of a house wailing when someone inside is about to die.
10. Griffin or Gryphon
The griffin is normally characterised as a lion with the head and wings of an eagle. It was thought to be a particularly strong creature as the lion is the king of beasts and the eagle is the king of birds. In ancient times it was considered the protector of the divine. The creature was seen in civilizations as early as the Minoan civilization (2700 BC to 1450 BC).
"The relationship between myth and belief is, a myth exists because we believe."
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