Uncanny Mythical Creatures that You Must Know!
Since time immemorial man has been surrounded with numerous myths and tales. When and who created them is in itself a mystery. But people like to tell them and pass them on to their posterity. These fables have the power of captivating and mystifying young minds and keeping them bound to their respective cultures. Let us now be mystified by some of the myths and mythical creatures from around the world.
The Loch Ness Monster
The Loch Ness Monster is undoubtedly one of the most famous mythical creature globally which is centered around a lake with the same name i.e Loch Ness. This lake is situated in Scotland. The story goes that an aquatic monster with long neck, small head and humped back used to inhabit the water body. Even though many witnesses claimed to have spotted the animal, no evidence whatsoever attested to it’s authenticity. There were some photographs taken of this mythical creature though but most of them turned out to be a hoax. Maybe there was such an animal or maybe not. We’re never so sure in any case.
Kappa
The Kappa is yet another famous mythical creature hailing from Japan. This one is one of the more singular ones with an appearance that would even frighten out the demons inside of us. The Kappa is often depicted as a water imp with a beak-like mouth, a turtle-like shell on it’s back , and a dish-like depression on it’s head that holds water, which is the source of its power. Kappas are believed to be dwelling in solitary ponds and lakes. These mythical creature aren’t generally evil but are capricious and can, if bothered, drag people into the water. Someone who closely follows Japanese culture and media might instantly recognize this frog-like being all gooey. Beurk!
Chupacabra
The name is enough to ward us off, innit ? This incarnation of hell hails straight from the Americas. A Chupacabra is described as “a hairless, dog-like mythical creature with a row of spines running down its back”. The tale of Chupacabra emerged when reports of mysterious attacks on livestock came out. It was said that Chupacabra would bite and suck out the blood of it’s victims. Numerous theories have been proposed to explain the Chupacabra phenomenon. Some suggest that this mythical creature is a real and yet unidentified species, while others argue that canines such as coyotes, dogs or wolves with mange, a skin condition that causes hair loss were confused with Chupacabras. Don’t know about others but I wouldn’t like to be a mile near such an abomination!
Dokkaebi
Small mythical creatures with horns and long tongues. Dokkaebi are supernatural creatures that are dreaded in the Korean peninsula. They are like Korean goblins if we were to simplify their description. Which brings us to the fact that they are generally grumpy and mischievous. They also have the ability to change their appearance ranging from animals to inanimate objects. Dokkaebi are fond of gold and hoards them in the depths of forests and mountains. People believe that Dokkaebi are guardians of hidden treasures or secret locations that hold great fortune. Stories often depict this mythical creature as protectors of these treasures, and those whose encounter them may need to prove their worthiness or solve riddles to gain access to the wealth.
Baba Yaga
Enough of awful mythical creatures. Let’s move on to something more human or …inhuman? Straight from the largest country on earth, Baba Yaga is a maleficent witch who dwells deep in the forest in a hut that stands on chicken legs. She has iron teeth and a long, bony nose, and she flies around on a mortar, propelling herself forward with a pestle. Baba Yaga is mostly portrayed as a mysterious and unpredictable entity. She is capricious and could sometimes cause harm or accept to help, according to her mood. Her conduct also depends upon the will of the seeker. If someone who approaches her is weak and cowardly then they would become victim of her caprices. Someone who demonstrates strong will and determination receives her favors. Yet fools are those who venture anywhere near her hut on chicken legs!
Yeti
Who hasn’t heard of the Abominable Snowman alias Bigfoot alias Yeti? The fable speaking of Yeti spread from the bone-chilling Himalayas and it’s adjoining areas. Yeti is often depicted as a large, ape-like mythical creature standing upright and covered in shaggy fur. It is said to be several times larger than an average human with large feet. The colour of it’s fur is often described as reddish-brown or white like a snow fox. The presence of Yeti was first presumed when locals saw footprints on snow and remarked that it was different from that of an animal and abnormally large for them to be a human’s. And other tales describing an elusive mythical creature roaming the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas only aggravated the doubt. This lack of knowledge resulted into the creation of Yeti. Though it is evident that there is no such creature living there, or is it ?
Saci Pererê
The Saci Pererê is a Brazilian origin unnatural human boy. He is depicted as a mischievous one-legged boy with a red cap and a pipe. The Saci is dreaded for playing pranks on people, such as leading travelers astray in the forest or riding on whirlwinds. Despite his playful nature, this mythical creature is also seen as a protector of the forests and animals. According to legend, he has the ability to disappear and reappear wherever he pleases due to his magical cap. The Saci Pererê is an important figure in Brazilian folklore, representing the blending of indigenous, African, and European influences in Brazilian culture.
Kala Bandar
Saving the best one for the last! The Kala Bandar or black monkey (from its literal translation) is a phenomenon that occurred no so far away in history in the heart of India, Delhi. The monkey-man, as residents describe, is an individual between 4-5 feet tall and has a “ monkey like face” with a helmet on its head and has sharp metallic claws! Incidents claiming that the monkey man attacked humans came up. Seven victims were injured and two of them even found death, although not because of our monkey-man: they hurt themselves while fleeing! Be careful, this one qualifies for more than a myth because there were victims. But at the same time the mystery of the monkey-man was never solved. Whether it was really a being with flesh and bones or a fictional mythical creature, no one knows.
Conclusion
Even though we know that myths are just…. myths, we hold them dear to us. Without myths there would be no Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings. They just make our life so majestical and dreamy. In this world full of corrupt practices and injustices these mythical creature are a salvation. We often have a tendency to portray mythical characters as evil and malevolent, but when we live in a world full of filth that’s only so much true. At last let’s thank the artists and even AI for portraying the visualization of these uncanny beings.
