Scary stories and mythical figures have been there around the world for centuries. It has a great influence on the culture and communities. These figures have terrified the children, innocent people as well as cute squirrels. A few of them often appear on full moon nights to haunt and hunt people. There are a lot of figures that are included in the scary mythical creatures from all over the world. These tales of monsters, beasts, and demons have haunted us for centuries.
Throughout history, the stories of the mystical and scariest figures have been popular and told in every culture. Some of these are so bone-chilling that you listen and shiver with the fear and details of appearance. These are bad and good. Many horrific monsters are after children too. They prey on children and eat their body parts. They also eat dirty and disgusting things. These are beasts who are evil in nature and will do anything for unlimited power and influence.
It is notable that these lores, tales, and scary creatures resemble local cultures. People are often divided by opinions about the reality of these horror creatures. The main discussions are usually about sightings or them being real or fake. Some characters are also created through real-life events like Vlad Dracula during the Ottoman Empire expansion. Vlad was the ruler of Wallachia and in his lust for war over the Turkish Sultan Mehmaat impaled his own people in the thousands. His ruthless brutality was so inhumane, that he was branded as the father of vampires in Lores, his legend still puts shivers down anyone’s spine.
Though these scary creatures are not rainbows and sunshine, they resemble the child within us. The person who thought the world was magical, full of adventure, and excitement. These horror creatures give people a break from their mundane and repetitive lives. Countless works of fiction have been credited to their existence with many more to come. If you’re into lore and wonder, you are definitely at the right place.
Let’s get into the details and explore the world’s 15 most scary and creepiest mythical creatures. Read how these appear in looks and what are their motives.
Table of Content
- Pontianak (Malaysia)
- Ammit (Egyptian Devourer of the Dead)
- Hydra Serpentine Leviathan of Greece
- Baba Yaga (Russia)
- Draugr (The Norse Zombie)
- Alp (Germany)
- Lamashti (Mother of Demons)
- Ushi-oni (Japan)
- Nuckelavee (Scotland)
- Chimera (Greece)
- Zulu (Tokoloshe)
- Banshee (Ireland)
- Manananggal (Philippines)
- Bai Ze (China)
- Chupacabra (Puerto Rico)
- Final Words
1. Pontianak (Malaysia)
Number one on our scary creatures list is the Pontianak which happens to be a vampiric ghost from Malay mythology. This is reported to be a woman who died while giving birth. This is a spiteful and furious ghost who catches her prey and is portrayed as a pale-skinned woman who has long black hair. This hair stays on her shoulder with sharp fingernails and wearing a white dress. It is quite frightening. Interestingly this ghost can pretend to be a good woman to seduce her target. The target could be a man or a hopeless person who could fall for her before getting their internal organs ripped out.
Horror creatures are horrible as well as interesting to read too. Usually, Pontianak comes under the full moon and marks her presence with the cries of the babies and the sound of feminine laughter. The witnesses also report that if the shrieking sound gets louder that states that Pontianak is away and, if the sound gets quiet it indicates she is somewhere in the surrounding.
2. Ammit (Egyptian Devourer of the Dead)
Ammit comes from the beastly goddess who has a head of crocodiles. These horror creatures have a front body like a lion and the rear of a hippopotamus. It is also known as the devourers of the dead. It also fulfilled a gruesome role back during the judgment of the souls. In the underworld or other side, Thoth gets the weight of the heart of an individual against Ma’at’s feather who is the goddess of the truth.
If the scales remain balanced that implies that the individual is pure and if it gets tipped it tells that the person does not deserve eternal bliss. These hearts of the impure souls then go to the Ammit. This beast eats these and makes sure that these souls are ceased forever.
3. Hydra Serpentine Leviathan of Greece
Hydra is from Greece and happens to be one of the creepiest mythical creatures. This creature has several heads. The number also varies with the different sources that reside in the lakes of Lerna. This water-dwelling creepy creature as the name ‘hydra’ suggests is reported to have blood and breath of poison. A number of versions of this myth claim that this monster possessed the distinct regenerative ability for every head that you cut and it grows more in its place.
Only a few people know how Hydra completed the Herculus’s second labor where they sent the hero to slay the monster. Hercules with his bravery and courage also managed to behead the last immortal head of this serpent. He made his arrows dip in the poisonous blood for future enemies and also buried the head which people believe is still alive and is under a heavy rock.
4. Baba Yaga (Russia)
These scary creatures and mythical creatures come from Russian stories. Also, it represents the witch that is skinny with dark magic and has flies on the mortar rather than a broom. People call it a forest spirit too. Interestingly this witch is not harmful to all and she offers guidance when people ask for help respectfully. The stories of baba yoga teach children about affection and reverence for nature.
This also has a connection with the spirits that belong to nature. However, there are people too who take it as an antagonist who kidnaps and enslaves them in the forest. Also, people use this name to make their children frightened keeping them from doing something indecent and inappropriate.
5. Draugr (The Norse Zombie)
Who does not know about the Viking warriors? This creepy creature belongs to the resurrected corpses, The Draugr. It comes from a terrifying mythological creature who was more like a zombie in looks. It used to roam the world for its victims. They could clearly recognize the stench of rotting flesh and their skin was a deadly black or blue color. They had great staggering strength and could increase the body as they used to like and haunt the dreams of the people.
Unfolding the myths and living mythological creatures tells that it used to possess magical powers such as shapeshifting, premonitions, and weather control. This creature could only be made happy with the slaughtering of either humans or livestock to saturate their thirst for the flesh and blood. Its condition is also contagious and like modern zombies. Those who are killed by the Draugr might resurrect themselves as the same creature.
6. Alp (Germany)
The folklore from German originates alp is a vampiric spirit and it has the tendency of the shape-shifting into cats, dogs, pigs, and butterflies as well as snakes. This happens to be a male demon who often appears in the men, women, and children’s nightmares during the old days. People also used to have these beliefs that the alps caused sleeping problems including sleep apnea, sleep paralysis, and also sleepwalking. Another frightening fact about this alp is it only resides in dreams and it is almost impossible to kill it.
7. Lamashti (Mother of Demons)
This demon goddess comes from Mesopotamian mythology. Lamashty was a hellish and hybrid creature who, they depict as pregnant with thick hair and two skulls over her breasts. It has a tail like a snake and large wings with three eyes and taloned feet. Its head is reported to be as either a jackal or snake and hawk. This varies with the sources.
This creature as the stories suggest eats men’s flesh and drinks their blood. It has a special obsession with terrorizing pregnant women and children. This demon imposes itself on pregnant women and often proves to be a reason for occurring miscarriages. Lamashti also kidnaps the infants and then feeds these with her poisonous milk before having their blood and draining them. This scary mythical creature considers itself the mother of demons.
8. Ushi-oni (Japan)
Japanese mythology and folklore are appreciated and quite known all over the globe. This culture has its fair share of monsters and gigantic beasts. Ushi-Oni (ox demon) is one of the mythical monsters that haunted Japan back then and also specifically terrorized fishermen. The mysterious YOKAI has different depictions in different regions all over the world. It is more like a crab with a body of an ox in Shimane. As for the Shikoku, the Ushi Oni has a lot of tusks and flying squirrel-like wings.
9. Nuckelavee (Scotland)
Scotland is a beautiful and historically rich country. Have you ever pondered over those royal castles and tallest buildings? Also, it is home to the world’s oldest trees in Europe. Have you ever wondered if any demons or witches exist there or used to do their dirty deeds on those trees, inside those castles? Interestingly Scotland has this story of a most terrifying monster called Nuckelavee which is a horse-like monster. It also refers to the devil of the sea. It is a mythical creature that has a body without skin and it has a head that is ten times the size of a man. This creature holds a poisonous breath that claims to kill animals and crops. It has wicked powers which can cause bad and evil things.
Moreover, it is also worth mentioning that only an old spirit that is known as the Sea Mither or the Mither of the sea can manage this terrific beast throughout the summer only. People often find scary mythical creatures interesting and worth reading. However, there are many who don’t like to go through such details and get horrified. They further report that this beast from Scotland comes from the Norse and Orcadian folklore. Jo Ben has this credit for featuring some of the early Nuckelavee sightings using Latin manuscripts and also depicted about the early Nuckeleavee sightings. He further described it as the Orkney island of Stronsay during the 16th century. Ernest Marwick an Orcadian writer and folklorist had this assumption that evil creature from the sea is similar to the Norwegian Nokk.
10. Chimera (Greece)
This mythical creature comes from Greece. The Chimera is a three-headed hybrid monster that has a body and head of a lion. It got his head on the back and a tail that ends with the head of a snack. According to historians, this legendary beast happens to be the child of Typhoeus who was the deadliest monster, and Echidna too who was half woman-half snake kind of creature. Ancient Greek has often shown the beast dealt by Bellerophon while riding the winged horse Pegasus.
11. Zulu (Tokoloshe)
Another scary mythical creature Tokoloshe is from South Africa. It resembles a gremlin that is famous for creating chaos. It is a creature that according to the relevant authorities has been summoned by witches, shamans, and people with magical powers. The tokoloshe can be controlled by cutting off a hair from its eye and by giving the curdled milk too. However, if it keeps on tormenting and horrifying people you’ll need a witch doctor who can use traditional magic to frighten it away.
As South African folklore suggests, Tokoloshes are usually invisible and can stay like this for a long period of time by sucking the stones. This mythical creature usually attacks at the night and is invisible most of the time. Therefore, it is recommended to take measures to mark them away by scattering special salt on the doors and window sills. Another way you can control these is by putting the bricks under the bed’s legs and the person who is in the bed can get protection this way.
12. Banshee (Ireland)
Irish folklore also has its own fair share of creepy and mythical creatures. Banshee also called the ‘bearer of unfortunate news’ comes from Ireland. It stands for the faerie woman. The Irish folklore howls outside the home to warn the family members about the imminent death of the family member. They also tell that she is an old deadly woman who has a pale face covered by the veil. Despite the fact that she has a spooky presence and vibes, she actually wishes wellness to the people. She foretells the death of a family member to the remaining family so that they can prepare in advance. However, whatever she intends to tell or do no one would ever like his visit for the obvious reason.
13. Manananggal (Philippines)
Mananangal is a word from the Tagalog language and it talks about splitting. It is a creation that resembles the vampires. Also, it has the feature of transforming itself. It transforms at night and grows wide. It has wings that look like bats and can split its upper torso bringing it from its lower body. As per the people, this mythical creature preys on people who are sleeping at night. They also suck the blood from pregnant women dragging the fetuses from the blood of victims due to their long and elongated tongues. As they suggest this creature can be taken over by sprinkling salt on its severed lower torso or by putting crushed garlic on its lower torso.
14. Bai Ze (China)
There is a Chinese mythology that comes from China. It is a supernatural beast. The name is bai ze and it resembles a white ox that has six horns and 9 eyes. Three of the eyes are on its head and three are on the broadsides. Interestingly despite its creepy look, the Chinese people consider it a good omen and also the symbol of good luck. Also, it only appears in a country where the leader is virtuous and wise. It can speak a lot of languages as well as per the people’s beliefs it encountered with Huang Di who was the yellow emperor of China.
Though the appearance of this scary creature can give you nightmares, however, seeing it can change your fate.
15. Chupacabra (Puerto Rico)
Chupacabra is also known as ‘goat sucker’ in the Spanish language. It began back in 1990 when goats and chickens turned up dead in Puerto Rico. These goats had no blood in them and all of it was drained. This folk tale was all over the States and Mexico where these livestock deaths occurred. Chupacabra apparently has the look of a coyote with mange and horrible skin disease. A few other people also tell it as a lizard-like creature with large eyes, fangs, and muscular hind legs that provide it support to walk right.
Final Words
The world is full of thousands of creepy and deadly creatures that come from diverse cultures. A few of the mythical and scary creatures are simply more horrendous than others. Most of these ask for blood and flesh and attack during the night. There are many witch doctors people consult and ask suggestions from to confront such creatures.
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