Hydra

Hydra picured in the waters of ancient Greece

The Hydra, often referred to as the Lernaean Hydra, was a multi-headed swamp-dwelling serpent from the Peloponnese region of modern-day Greece. The foul monster’s parents were Echidna, sometimes known as the mother of all monsters, and Typhon, another serpent-like creature that declared war on Zeus, god of the Olympians. Hydra lived in a spring at … Read more

Sphinx

sphinx on a rock overlooking an ancient Greek town

The sphinx is a mythical creature with the body of a lion but the head and upper chest of a human. It sometimes has wings and a serpent’s tail. The common legend behind the sphinx began in ancient Greece, but sphinx-like creatures first appeared in art and architecture in ancient Egypt and have appeared in … Read more

Griffin

Griffin flying over ancient Greece

The Griffin is an ancient mythical creature whose origins date back millennia to at least 5,000 years. Their origin is unknown, but their image has been found on artifacts from before the written word and from diverse areas such as ancient Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, and ancient Greece. It generally has the body of a … Read more

Lilith

Lilith

Lilith is a powerful female demon prevalent within medieval Jewish literature but has deep roots going back thousands of years in ancient Mesopotamian and Babylonian religions. She later became a feminist icon in the late 20th century. Throughout the centuries of her existence, Liith has been chiefly associated with a demonic force that specifically attacks … Read more

Qareen

Qareen as a shadow following a man in desert

The qareen is a spiritual creature that shadows or acts as a double for a human until the end of the latter’s natural life. The being is primarily considered to be evil and will lead the person astray. It is particularly prevalent among Islamic communities in the Middle East and North Africa. This creature is … Read more

Qarinah

Qarinah legends could date as far back as the Babylonians

The qarinah is a spiritual or demon-like being found mainly within Islamic communities in the Middle East and North Africa. It is associated chiefly with Arabic and Islamic culture, but its roots trace back to ancient Egypt and Jewish sources. In fact, the qarianh may go all the way back to the Sumerian and Babylonian … Read more

Marid

Marid as old man sitting by the sea

Marid, often spelled as mārid and occasionally referred to as Blue Jinn, is a type of jinn prevalent within Arabic and Islamic literature and teachings. Like all jinn, the marid is a type of creature that lives in an unseen world on the earth and is classed as a species between an angel and a … Read more

Jinn

A jinn dressed in arabic clothing with fire wheeling round his hand

A jinn is a type of mythical being prevalent within Islamic teachings and Arabian folklore. It is a feature throughout the Middle East and in other Muslim communities around the world. The jinn are powerful beings with superhuman strengths combined with the ability to perform magic and shapeshift into other creatures and objects. The name … Read more

Ifrit

An ifrit as a muscular demonic figure with flaming wings

An ifrit is a powerful, supernatural being found within Islamic teachings and folklore. The ifrit has come to be classed as a particularly strong type of jinn, a member of a race of spiritual beings created by God from fire, and considered less powerful than angels but stronger than humans. Like other jinn, the ifrit … Read more