In Which Diversity Isn't a Myth
Ok. Iβm tired of the typical vampire, werewolf and fairy.Iβm also tired of the occidental-centrism in mythology. Hence, this list.Β
I tried to included as many cultural variants as I could find and think of. (Unfortunately, I was restricted by language. Some Russian creatures looked very interesting but I donβt speak Russianβ¦) Please, add creatures from your culture when reblogguing (if not already present). It took me a while to gather all those sites but I know it could be more expansive. I intend on periodically editing this list.Β
Of note: I did not include specific legendary creatures (Merlin, Pegasus, ect), gods/goddesses/deities and heroes.
The Ancient Dragon (Egypt, Babylon and Sumer)
The Spanish Basque Dragon
Of the Cockatrice (creature with the body of a dragon)
Alphabetical List of Dragons Across MythsΒ (Great way to start)
Little creatures (without wings)
The Legend of the Leprechauns,Β The Leprechaun
ChanaqueΒ /AluxΒ (the equivalent of leprechauns in Aztec/Mayan folklore)
Elves in Mythology and Fantasy
Elves in Germanic Mythology
Kabeiroi or Cabeiri (Dwarf-like minor gods in Greek mythology)
The Myth of Loki and the Dwarves
Creatures with wings (except dragons)
All sorts of Cultural Fairies
Fairies in Old French MythologyΒ
Bendith Y MamauΒ (Welsh fairies)
YΓΌ NΓΌΒ (Chinese fairies)
Garuda (Bird-like creature in Hindu and Buddhist myths)
Bean Nighe (a Scottish fairy; the equivalent of a banshee in Celtic mythology)
Jinn (Genies in Arabic folklore)
Aisha QandishaΒ and Djinn in Moroccan Folklore
Oni (demons in Japanese folklore)
Spirits in Asturian Mythology
Boggarts: The British Poltergeist
Phantom black dogs (the Grim)
Demons in Babylonian and Assyrian MythologyΒ (list)
Demons in the AmericasΒ (list)
Middle-East and Asia DemonsΒ (list)
Judeo-Christian DemonsΒ (list)
Nephilim, more on Nephilim
Mahaha (a demon in Inuit mythology)
Flying Head (a demon in Iroquois mythology)
Toyol (a dead baby ghost in Malay folklore)
Yuki-onnaΒ (a ghost in Japanese folklore)
The PontianakΒ (a ghost in Malay mythology)
FunayureiΒ (a ghost in Japanese folklore)
ZagazΒ (ghosts in Moroccan folklore)
Horse-like mythical creatures
The KelpieΒ (Could have also fitted in the sea creatures category)
Hippocamps (sea horses in Greek mythology)
Horse-like creaturesΒ (a list)
Karkadann, more on the KarkadannΒ (a persian unicorn)
Ceffyl DwfrΒ (fairy-like water horse creatures in Cymric mythology)
Asanbosam and Sasabonsam (Vampires from West Africa)
The Aswang: The Filipino Vampire
Folklore Vampires Versus Literary Vampires
Callicantzaros: The Greek Vampire
Loogaroo/Socouyant: The Haitian Vampire
Incubi and Sucubi Across Cultures
Varacolaci: The Romanian Vampire
Brahmaparusha: The Indian Vampire
Genesis of the Word βVampireβ
The Ghoul in Middle East Mythology
The Medical Truth Behind the Vampire Myths
Zombies in Haitian Culture
Shape-shifters and half-human creatures (except mermaids)Β
SatyrsΒ (half-man, half-goat)
Sirens in Greek MythologyΒ (half-woman and half-bird creatures)
The Original Werewolf in Greek Mythology
Werewolves Across Cultures
Werewolf Syndrome: A Medical Explanation to the Myth
The KumihoΒ (half fox and half woman creatures)
Scorpion Men (warriors from Babylonian mythology)
Pooka: an Irish changelings
DomovoiΒ (a shape-shifter in Russian folklore)
Aatxe (Basque mythology; red bull that can shift in a human)
Yech (Native American folklore)
Ijiraat (shapeshifters in Inuit mythology)
Mermaids in many cultures
The KrakenΒ (a sea monster)
Nuckelavee (a Scottish elf who mainly lives in the sea)
Lamiak (sea nymphs in Basque mythology)
BunyipΒ (sea monster in Aboriginal mythology)
Apkallu/abgalΒ (Sumerian mermen)
An assemblage of myths and legends on water and water creatures
The EncantadoΒ (water spirits in Ancient Amazon River mythology)
Zin (water spirit in Nigerian folklore)
Qallupilluk (sea creatures in Inuit mythology)
Monsters That Donβt Fit in Any Other Category
Aigamuxa, more details on Aigamuxa
Giants: The Mystery and the MythΒ (50 min long documentary)
Inupasugjuk (giants in Inuit mythology)
Fomorians (an Irish divine race of giants)
The Manticore,Β The Manticore and The Leucrouta
The OrthusΒ (two-headed serpent-tailed dog)
RakshasaΒ (humanoids in Hindu and Buddhist mythology)
YakshasΒ (warriors in Hindu mythology)
Taqriaqsuit (βShadow peopleβ in Inuit mythology)
References on Folklore and Mythology Across the Globe
Creatures of Irish FolkloreΒ
An Overview of Persian Folklore
Myths, Creatures and Folklore
Spanish (Spain) Mythology
List of Medieval and Ancient Monsters
Native American Animals of Myth and Legends
Bestiary of Ancient Greek Mythology
Mythology, Legend, Folklore and Ghosts
Ghosts Around the World, Ghosts From A to Z
Strange (Fantastic) Animals of Ancient Egypt
Creatures from West Africa
On the Legendary Creatures of Africa
Myths, Creatures and Folklore
References on writing a myth or mythical creatures
Writing a MYTHology in your novel?
10 Steps to Creating Realistic Fantasy Creatures
Creating Fantasy Creatures or Alien Species
Legendary Creature Generator
Book Recommendations With Underrated Mythical Creatures
(I have stumbled upon web sites that believed some of these mythical creatures exist today⦠Especially dragons, in fact. I just had to share the love and scepticism.)