My Favorite Creatures from Folklore and Mythology22
Kelpie
The kelpie is an evil spirit capable of taking the form of a white horse. It originates from Celtic folklore and is believed to haunt the lakes and rivers of Scotland and Ireland. It also appears in Scandinavian folklore, where it is known as Bäckahästen (the river horse), and in the Isle of Man, where it is known as Alastyn.
The Harpy
In Greek mythology, the harpies (literally "the abductors," from the Greek verb ἁρπάζειν, harpázein, "to abduct") are monstrous creatures with the face of a woman and the body of a bird. The origin of their myth may be traced back to a personification of the storm.
The Phoenix
The phoenix is an immortal bird that cyclically regenerates or is otherwise born again. Originating in Greek mythology, it has analogs in many cultures, such as Egyptian and Persian mythology. Associated with the Sun, a phoenix obtains new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor. Some legends say it dies in a show of flames and combustion, while others say that it simply burns to death and decomposes before being born again.
The Faun
The faun is a half-human and half-goat mythological creature appearing in Roman mythology.
Originally fauns of Roman mythology were ghosts (genii) of rustic places. Before their conflation with Greek satyrs, they and Faunus were represented as naked men . Later fauns became copies of the satyrs of Greek mythology, who themselves were originally shown as part-horse rather than part-goat.
The Unicorn
In folklore the unicorn is depicted as a white horse or a goat with a single horn.
During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance it represented purity and could only be touched and captured by a virgin.
The Incubus
In Roman tradition, it was a malevolent creature of male form that lay upon the sleepers, suffocating them or mating with them.
In some cases, this union could even give birth to children, who would grow up to be great men.
Incubus continued to be present in medieval legends, where their figure became more evil. The incubus drains energy from the person it lies with to draw nourishment, killing its victim or leaving them almost suffocated.
