Monsters and Mythological Creatures

Centuries before King Kong climbed the Empire State Building and Godzilla trampled Tokyo, there were biblical and mythological creatures that struck fear and fascination in the hearts of men and women. What follows is your field guide to beguiling behemoths and fascinating fiends.
--Glenn Michael Gordon

abominable snowman/yeti large, hairy humanlike animal said to live in the Himalayas

basilisk serpent, lizard, or dragon reputed to kill by its breath or look

centaur creature of Greek mythology having the head, trunk, and arms of a man, and two legs (or the trunk and four legs) of a horse

Cerberus three-headed watchdog of Hades, the Greek underworld

Chimera fire-breathing monster of classical mythology, having a lion's head, a she-goat's body, and a serpent's tail

Cyclops one of the giants with a single eye in mid-forehead encountered by Odysseus

Fafnir dragon slain by Siegfried, in German mythology

golem artificial humanlike creature of Jewish legend

Gorgons winged female creatures of classical mythology, having serpents for hair and eyes that turned anyone looking into them to stone

griffin/gryphon creature of classical mythology having an eagle's head and wings, and a lion's body

Harpies ravenous, slimy monsters of classical mythology having women's heads and birds' bodies

Hydra nine-headed water snake, which sprouted two heads where one was struck off

kelpie Scottish water spirit, usually a horse that drowned its riders

leviathan fiery, scaled, seven-headed sea serpent described in the Book of Job

Minotaur eater of human flesh, half man and half bull, confined to the Cretan Labyrinth and killed by Theseus

Pegasus winged horse, the offspring of the Gorgon Medusa, and the mount of Perseus and Bellerophon

Phoenix fabulous bird of classical mythology which from time to time destroyed itself on a burning altar, a new bird emerging from the ashes

Sphinx creature of classical mythology, having the head of a woman and the body of a lion, that killed all those unable to solve its riddle

unicorn white, horselike animal with one long, single horn, able to outwit all captors except virgins

werewolf monster alternating between the forms of a human being and a wolf

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