Legends & Creatures

Centaurs combine human and horse forms. Chiron, famed as a wise teacher, differs from the unruly character of many other centaurs in Greek…

The sphinx combines a lion's body with a human head, and its Greek version posed a deadly riddle.

The one-eyed Cyclops of Greek myth was famously outwitted by Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey.

Pegasus, born from Medusa's blood in Greek myth, later carried the hero Bellerophon into battle.

The Chimera, blending lion, goat, and serpent, was slain by Bellerophon riding the winged horse Pegasus.

The Hydra of Greek myth famously grew two new heads whenever one of its heads was cut off.

Cerberus, the multi-headed dog of Greek myth, guards the underworld and keeps the dead from leaving.

The Gorgons of Greek myth had living snakes for hair, and Medusa is the best known of the three sisters.

The werewolf of European folklore is traditionally said to transform under the light of a full moon.

The vampire of Eastern European folklore became a worldwide icon through the novel Dracula.

The banshee of Irish folklore lets out a mournful wail said to foretell a coming death.

The leprechaun of Irish folklore is a mischievous fairy said to guard a hidden pot of gold.

Fairies of European folklore are typically depicted as small, winged, and magical beings.

Trolls of Scandinavian folklore live in mountains and caves, and some legends say sunlight turns them to stone.

Goblins of European folklore are typically small, mischievous creatures often hostile toward humans.

Dragons appear across world folklore, often fire-breathing in Western tales but benevolent in many Asian traditions.

The phoenix regenerates from its own ashes and has come to symbolize renewal across many cultures.

The unicorn's single horn was once believed in medieval legend to purify poisoned water.

The griffin, part lion and part eagle, was often depicted guarding treasure or sacred sites.

Mermaids appear in coastal folklore worldwide, often depicted luring sailors with an enchanting song.

The Kraken of Nordic legend was believed capable of dragging entire ships beneath the waves.

The Loch Ness Monster, nicknamed Nessie, is said by some to inhabit Scotland's Loch Ness.

Bigfoot, also called Sasquatch, is a large ape-like cryptid reported in North American forests.

The Yeti, also called the Abominable Snowman, is a Himalayan cryptid said to roam its high mountains.

The basilisk of medieval bestiaries was called the king of serpents, its gaze said to be lethal.

The jackalope, a horned rabbit of American folklore, was popularized through 20th-century taxidermy hoaxes.

The chupacabra, said to drain livestock blood, was first widely reported in 1990s Puerto Rico.

The golem of Jewish folklore is an animated clay figure brought to life through mystical means.

A selkie can shed its seal skin to become human, but in many tales loses that form if the skin is stolen.

The wendigo of Algonquian folklore embodies insatiable hunger, often linked to cannibalism and winter.