Mythical Creatures

Mythical creatures come in all shapes and sizes, as physical beings and as psychological concepts. Here is a description of just some of the more popular and well known, both in myth and psychology. We start with a mythical creature which appears to excite the most interest among the general public. It is said that those who meditate upon this amazing creature will become imbued with some of it's powers!

Phoenix – Symbol of Immortality

A Mythical Bird Connected With Resurrection, Healing, and Peace

The Phoenix bird is directly connected with rebirth or recovery, especially after calamity or disaster. It gets its name from the ancient culture of Phoenicia, but it has a counterpart in many other cultures.

Phoenix Bird Legend

The legends that surround the Phoenix bird are countless. Some of the earliest date back to several centuries before the birth of Jesus. The bird traditionally lives near a well which it uses to bathe in and drink from. It is an especially beautiful bird with a captivating song, powerful enough to make even the Sun stop to listen. If the Phoenix suffers an injury, it can heal itself and live a 1000 years or more.

When the Phoenix comes to the end of its life, it builds a nest of aromatic spices such as cinnamon and myrrh. It then sets the nest and itself on fire and is burned to ashes. But not long after it rises again from those ashes and begins its life anew. In some traditions, the new Phoenix takes the ashes and presents them to Heliopolis, the Sun God as an offering.

The Phoenix, Bird of Peace

While the Phoenix is traditionally associated mainly with rebirth, it is also connected with peace. In many tales, the bird lives only on dewdrops and uses its powers of healing and regeneration to bring comfort and an end to mankind's suffering.

The Harry Potter saga by J. K. Rowling has elevated the Phoenix to new mythical heights. The wizard Dumbledore has a Phoenix bird that not only blazes, but plays a frequent role in saving the lives of others.

Mythical birds from other cultures that are very similar to the Phoenix include:

The Egyptian Benu, linked to the Sun God.
Fenghuang—a Chinese bird associated with the Empress and the power bestowed upon her.
Russian firebird Zhar-Ptitsa.

Religious groups, political parties, organizations, communities (notably Phoenix, Arizona) and countries have all officially used the symbolism of the Phoenix bird, usually to suggest the rebirth of something.

Ancient Phoenix of Egypt (Benu, Bennu)

The ancient Egyptians linked the myth of the phoenix with the longings for immortality that were so strong in their civilization, and from there its symbolism spread around the Mediterranean world of late antiquity. The Bennu bird was usually depicted as a heron. Archaeologists have found the remains of a much larger heron that lived in the Persian Gulf area 5,000 years ago. The Egyptians may have seen this large bird only as an extremely rare visitor or possibly heard tales of it from travelers who had trading expeditions to the Arabian Seas.

It had a two long feathers on the crest of it's head and was often crowned with the Atef crown of Osiris (the White Crown with two ostrich plumes on either side) or with the disk of the sun.

The Bennu was the sacred bird of Heliopolis. Bennu probably derives from the word weben, meaning "rise" or "shine." The Bennu was associated with the sun and represented the ba or soul of the sun god, Re. In the Late Period, the hieroglyph of the bird was used to represent this deity directly. As a symbol of the rising and setting sun, the Benu was also the lord of the royal jubilee.

This Egyptian phoenix was also associated with the inundation of the Nile and of the creation. Standing alone on isolated rocks of islands of high ground during the floods the heron represented the first life to appear on the primeval mound which rose from the watery chaos at the first creation. This mound was called the ben-ben. It was the Bennu bird's cry at the creation of the world that marked the beginning of time. The bennu thus was the got of time and its divisions -- hours, day, night, weeks and years.

The Bennu was considered a manifestation of the resurrected Osiris and the bird was often shown perched in his sacred willow tree.

At the close of the first century Clement of Rome became the first Christian to interpret the myth of the phoenix as an allegory of the resurrection and of life after death. The phoenix was also compared to undying Rome, and it appears on the coinage of the late Roman Empire as a symbol of the Eternal City.

Perhaps the most well known, the Arabian phoenix was a fabulous mythical bird, said to be as large as an eagle, with brilliant scarlet and gold plumage and a melodious cry. Making it's home near a cool well, the Phoenix would appear at dawn every morning to sing a song so enchanting that even the great sun god Apollo would stop to listen.

It was said that only one phoenix existed at any one time, and it is very long-lived with a life span of 500 years, 540 years, 1000 years, 1461 years or even 12,994 years (according to various accounts). As the end of its life approached, the phoenix would build a pyre nest of aromatic branches and spices such as myrrh, sets it on fire, and is consumed in the flames. After three days the birth -- or as some legends say a rebirth -- the phoenix arises from the ashes. According to some sources, the phoenix arose from the midst of the flames.

The young phoenix gathers the ashes of its predecessor into an egg of myrrh and takes it to Heliopolis, the city of the sun, to deposit it on the alter of the sun god.

A symbolic representation of the Death and rebirth of the sun. It is also described as being either eagle like or heron like. It lives on dew, killing nothing and crushing nothing that it touches. Generally considered the king of birds. It has alternatively been called the bird of the sun, of Assyria, of Arabia, of the Ganges, the long-lived bird and the Egyptian bird. The earliest reference to the Phoenix was made by Hesiod in the 8th century B.C., but the most detailed account is by Herodotus of Halicarnassus, the famous Greek historian in 5th century B.C.

Chinese Phoenix (Feng Huang)

In Chinese mythology, the phoenix is the symbol of high virtue and grace, of power and prosperity. It represents the union of yin and yang. It was thought to be a gentle creature, alighting so gently that it crushed nothing, and eating only dewdrops.

It symbolized the Empress usually in a pairing with a dragon (the dragon representing the Emperor), and only Empress could wear the phoenix symbol. The phoenix represented power sent from the heavens to the Empress.

If a phoenix was used to decorate a house it symbolized that loyalty and honesty was in the people that lived there. Jewelry with the phoenix design showed that the wearer was a person of high moral values, and so the phoenix could only be worn by people of great importance. The Chinese phoenix was thought to have the beak of a cock, the face of a swallow, the neck of a snake, the breast of a goose, the back of a tortoise, hindquarters of a stag and the tail of a fish.

A common depiction of the Feng Huang was of it attacking snakes with its talons and its wings spread. In fact images of the phoenix have appeared throughout China for well over 7000 years. Often in jade and originally on good-luck totems. Although during the Han period (2200 years ago) the phoenix was used as a symbol depicting the direction south shown as a male and female phoenix facing each other. It carried two scrolls in its bill, and its song included the five whole notes of the Chinese scale (I don't exactly know how it could sing with its mouth full). Its feathers were of the five fundamental colors: black, white, red, green, and yellow and was said to represent the Confucian virtues of loyalty, honesty, decorum and justice. Depictions of the phoenix were placed on tomes and graves.

Japanese Phoenix (Hou-Ou/Ho-Oo)

The Ho-Oo is the Japanese phoenix, the Ho being the male bird and the Oo being the female. Introduced to Japan in the Asuka period (mid 6th to mid 7th century AD) The Hou-Ou greatly resembles the Chinese Phoenix the Feng-Huang in looks.

The Ho-Oo is often depicted as nesting in a paulownia tree and was thought to only appear at the birth of a virtuous ruler and was said to mark a new era by decending from the heavens to do good deeds for people only to return to its celestial abode to await a new era. In other traditions, the Hou-ou apears only in peaceful and prosperous times -- which are rare indeed.

The Ho-Oo has been adopted as a symbol of the royal family, particularly the empress. It is supposed to represent the sun, justice, fidelity and obedience. It was used in a wide veriety of items including mirrors, lacquerware, textiles and chests.

And now we continue with an alphabetical list and description of other mythical cretaures.....

Anima
Anima is a term coined in Jungian psychology and refers to the masculine collective unconscious which represents the feminine aspect. If the creature is representing females, the male aspect is called the Animus.

Adaro
The mythical Adaro is half fish and half human like a mermaid. They are said to live in the Sun and come to earth on rainbows. Adaros supposedly travel around the oceans on waterspouts. They are not known to be friendly as they attack humans by shooting them with flying fish.

Brownies
Brownies are brown elves who are invisible to humans and live in farmhouses and other country buildings within the borders of Scotland. When householders are asleep, they go about doing chores for the house owners. Brownies become attached to the families, and if the family move, the Brownie will also move with them. If a brownie is treated badly by the family it will vanish without trace. According to the myth, because of their innocence, only children can see them, though this does not prevent the brownies from helping adults.

Bayard
The Bayard is a talking horse,and according to myth was given to the four sons of Aymon by Charlemagne. This amazing creature had the ability to elongate its back to accommodate all four sons. The Bayard also had great speed.

Bicorne
The Bicorne is part Panther and part cow that is fat from overeating. The Bicorne itself feeds on virtuous husbands. Apparently there are a lot of virtuous husbands because the creature is well fed. The Bicorne's counterpart is the Chichevache which is thin. According to mythical legend, this feeds on virtuous wives suggesting that the women were not as faithful as their husbands.

Bunyip
The Bunyip is a mythical creature from Australia, originating from the Aboriginal culture. It is quite a vicious amphibious creature and looks like a large seal. It likes to preys on humans, particularly the more tender flesh of women and children.

Camelopard
The Camelopard may have been the old name that was used for the giraffe. It is supposedly the spotted offspring of the mother of a camel and the father of a leopard.

Catoblepas
The Catoblepas otherwise known as the Catoblepe comes from Ethiopia, and it lives near the spring that is the source of the River Nile. It's name is Greek derived which translates to "that which looks downwards". The Catoblepas is four legged beast with a bull like appearance. It also has a long mane that falls across its head, whilst its body is covered in hard scales. The Catoblepas is a lethargic creature which likes to graze but the myth says that any creature that meets its eyes falls dead on the spot. Its breath is said to be poisonous which can cause an unfortunate onlooker to experience loss of sight, voice and even suffer convulsions and death.

Centicore
The Centicore is a four legged beast with two long straight extremely sharp horns, and looks like a horse. The horns are much like spears. The Centicore also has the chest of a lion and ears that grow in its mouth. Its horns can move and usually has only one facing forward the other is laid across its back.

Chichevache
The Chichevache is a cow with human face. This beast is thin, and feeds on obedient and faithful wives. The Chichevache is thin and feeds on virtuous wives, which suggests that the women were not very faithful to their husbands. See this creature's counterpart, the Bicorne above.

Chinese Fox
The Chinese Fox looks like a typical fox but can live a 1000 years. This 'animal' has special powers. When it strikes it tail on the ground it can cause fires. The Chinese fox can also see the future and can change its shape at will. It often appears as an old man, young girl or an academic. As such, it is a trickster and is very sly, and it is thought to be a bad omen to see this animal. Chinese foxes can be found around graveyards, because the souls of the dead can enter into the body of this mythical creature.

Crocotta
The Crocotta is the offspring of a wolf and a dog that can be found in Ethiopia. The Crocotta can break anything with its teeth and can eat anything. This creature may well be the Hyena, as they are scavenging canine creatures that live in Ethiopia.

Calygreyhound
The Calygreyhound appears in medieval heraldry. It has the body of a deer, the claws of an eagle on its forelegs, and the hooves of an ox on its hind legs. This creature symbolises swiftness.

Dire Wolf
The Dire wolf is a large wolf, which is more vicious than an ordinary normal wolf and is more intelligent. They are usually black, but sometimes dark grey. There is a second description of a dire wolf, which describes it is a giant wolf, which has been brought back from beyond the grave to hunt down. Dire wolves hunt in packs, and can often be found leading packs of normal wolves.

Doppelganger
Doppelganger usually implies a duplicate of another person or creature. It can als be an astral projection or a ghost. Examples of doppelgangers can be found in Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story, "Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde".

Gorgon
This is a terrifying creature, which looks human, but has a large snake's tale instead of legs. Also the hair of these creatures is made up of snakes. The gaze of this creature can turn its victim to stone. The Gorgon comes from Greek mythology. There were three in all. The first was Medusa, who was was killed by Perseus when he used the reflection that she cast onto his shield. Medusa had two sisters Sthens and Euryule.

Giants
Giants are oversized humanoids that are featured in much folklore. They appear in Norse, and Greek mythology. Traditionally,Giant's are thought to be brutish and hostile. They often feed on cattle, sheep and human. Giants are normally seen to be solitary. Blunderbore is a well known giant who lived in a huge castle in a cloud, and was defeated by a boy called Jack (from the fairy tale Jack & the beanstalk).

Giant Ants
There are stories of giant ants which range in size from the size of foxes to the size of elephants. These legends are reported to have come from India. The Giant Ants guard the earth and dig for gold. When they detect an approaching creatures, they swarm out of there burrows and devour the intruder. Today it is thought that these beasts were Marmots which, in Persian, translates to 'mountain ant.'

Giant Crabs.
Giant crabs are really oversized crabs. Although the origins for these giant crabs may not be so mythological or made up as crabs have a rare ability is they don't really die from old age if protected and in the right environment they can keep growing. Large crabs have been found that are over a metre in width (which in its self is huge compared to ones you see on the beach about 2-8cms in width). In times when us humans didn't pollute the sea as much and these crabs had all the time to grow, you never know.