So long as there are myths and folklore, there will be legendary creatures to serve as integral characters of these stories. Although many creatures have remained locked within the pages of a good book, there are many others that have escaped to become part of popular culture.
During a season when hauntings and spooky sights are celebrated, many people may be excited to learn about some of the mythical creatures that can put a scare into us all.
Phoenix
The symbolism of rising from the ashes to start anew can be directly traced to the myth of the phoenix. This is a bird with colourful plumage and a tail of various colours, depending on the particular legend. The story of this sacred firebird can be found in the mythologies of the Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, and even Phoenicians.
The story says that the bird can live between 500 and 1,000 years. At the end of its life, the phoenix makes a nest of twigs that then ignites, burning both the nest and the bird to ashes. From the ashes a new, young phoenix or egg is in its place. Typically the phoenix is considered benevolent, though variations of the myth warn humans against the phoenix.
The phoenix has long been presented as a symbol of rebirth, immortality and renewal. It is often looked at for inspiration and may adorn buildings or coins around the world.
Werewolf
The wolf has long been a symbol of evil and darkness in folklore. The idea of a wolf being a mindless killer was a common thought in the 19th century, with people decimating populations of wolves around the world in efforts to protect humans and livestock.
The werewolf is the combination of human and wolf, a shape-shifting creature able to retain either form. The transformation is a curse and is often associated with the arrival of the full moon. The werewolf legend may have been created by the Old English or Norse. Ancient Greeks called werewolves lycanthropes, from the Greek "lukos" for "wolf."
Werewolf shifting may be involuntary or voluntary, depending on legend. Those who shape-shift voluntarily were thought to do so to engage in nefarious acts in concert with a pact made with the devil. Being bitten by another werewolf and then transforming into one as a form of illness is a common horror story, but actually rare in legend.
Many have speculated that werewolf legends may have been used to explain serial killings because of the tendency of some modern serial killers to indulge in practices commonly associated with werewolves, such as cannibalism, mutilation and cyclic attacks. Others surmised that the fear of the wolf itself lends the inevitable horror implications of a human/wolf hybrid. There are also historically documented cases of individuals suffering from porphyria, a condition of photosensitivity and reddish teeth who may have been mistaken for an actual werewolf.
Sasquatch
There are believers who feel there was an evolutionary split between Neanderthals and modern man that goes beyond what is generally assumed today. Such a split may have been instrumental in creating the legend of Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, as a human-like being that walks upright but resembles a hairy ape.
Sasquatch is an anglicized derivative of the term "sesquac," a word that means "wild man" in Salish Native American language. Some contend that Bigfoot is just a case of mistaken identity; some scientists have expressed interest and belief in the fact that bigfoots may exist.
Wild-man stories have proliferated for centuries among the indigenous populations of the Pacific Northwest, where many cases of sasquatch sightings have taken place. Bigfoot is reported to be between six and 10 feet tall, with dark, reddish hair, and giving off an offensive odour by those who have encountered it. Today there is no definitive scientific evidence that Bigfoot exists, but the myth prevails.
Vampire
The general public has been fascinated by the concept of a vampire for as long as horror stories have been told. In recent years through books and movies, the vampire has regained popularity and is often seen as a popular cult symbol and often the antagonist of story plots.
There have been many theories on the origins of the vampire myth. In Hebrew apocrypha texts, Lilith I may have symbolically acted like a vampire, killing and revelling in a life of blood, which she later shared with Cain. However, the Bible and the Torah mention little of Cain and Lilith at all and nothing of this supposed vampire connection.
Perhaps the most iconic person to be associated with vampires is the legend of Vlad Tepes III, also known as Vlad the Impaler, who lived in Transylvania. Vlad was known for his atrocities, including the slow and painful form of execution noted in his nickname.
Kraken
Sea monsters have instilled fear in sailors and those who have lived by the sea for some time. One of the feared sea creatures is the kraken, a legendary sea monster of very large size.
The kraken was thought to live off of the coast of Iceland and Norway and became a common form of terror in Norse sagas. The kraken is often portrayed as a giant octopus or squid, residing deep within the shadowy swells of the water. It is likely the kraken myth originated from the real giant squid that have been known to inhabit many different waterways.
– Metro Creative Services
