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Guivre
The Guivre is from French myth. They have serpentine bodies with horned dragon heads. They live in swamps, pools, woods, and generally damp places. They would often hunt and kill humans. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Grootslang
The Grootslang is from the Dahomey people of West Africa. They are thought to be the size of elephants with snake tails. They live in caves and swamps on the west coast. There have been some sightings of a creature resembling a Grootslang. These creatures are large and dark, but whether or not they are thought to have legs is not consistent. Many sightings of Grootslangs come from the Orange River. The earliest recorded sighting is from 1867 by Hans Sauer who saw a large dark snake in the Orange River. Sightings of the creature are almost always just large serpents without any elephant features. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of…
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Asiman
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Grindylow
The Grindylow is a creature from Yorkshire, England. They live in marshes, swamps, and stagnant ponds. They wait for travelers or children to come too close to the water’s edge and leap up and drag victims into the water. They then either hold victims underwater until they drown, or they strangle them with their fingers, which are long and bony and bulbous at the ends. They consume the flesh of those they kill. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.
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Gremlin
The Gremlin is a common mythical creature from more modern folklore, originally British. Stories of this came about in the mid-twentieth century during times of war. and were blamed for causing machine failures. They’re known for mischief, troublemaking, and sabotaging things, especially aircraft. While they could be kind in some circumstances they are far more likely to cause problems. They’re thought to be similar in size and stature to an imp. They are thought to be anywhere from one to seven feet tall, often having grey skin or being covered in fur. Sometimes Gremlins are thought to be invisible. Citations: American Myths, Legends, and Tall Tales [3 Volumes]: An Encyclopedia…
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Goryō/gGoryo/Goryo-Shin
The Goryō is a Yokai and a form of ghost from Japanese myth. They are commonly known from the Heian period of 794-857. They’re believed to be the vengeful spirits of people killed as the result of political intrigue, accidents, or unusual circumstances. Some believe anyone could choose to become a Goryo at the moment of their death. It’s thought they bring disease, natural disasters, and wars. They can be identified through necromancy and divination or can be appeased by making them into Goryo-Shin, or Goryo deities. Goryo can be warded off by reciting Buddhist nembutsu, which sends the spirit to the afterlife, or through the use of Inyo magic.…
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Good Hoop/Tasmanian Bunyip/Universal Eye
Good Hoop is an alternate name for the Bunyip, commonly from Tasmania. They often have serpentine forms and may have small or non-visible ears, a sheepdog head, small wing-like fins, shaggy black hair, and/or crooked feet. They measure between 1.2 and 1.35 meters in length and are thought to move 50 km per hour. One was sighted in Lake Tiberias in 1952. It was first viewed in shallow water and quickly disappeared into deep water. Citations: Bayley, Harold. The lost language of symbolism; an inquiry into the origin of certain letters, words, names, fairy-tales, folklore, and mythologies. London, Williams and Norgate, 1912. Hargreaves, Joyce, and Hargreaves, Beryl Joyce. Hargreaves New…
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Godzadowi
The Godzadowi is a mystical event from the Seneca and Iroquois people. It’s described as a form of possession hysteria that commonly occurs during the midwinter festival. It’s believed that certain spirits cause different reactions in those they possess. If one is possessed by a bear spirit, they may show great strength, grunt, clench their teeth, and be calmed with berries. Citations: Gill, Sam D., and Sullivan, Irene F.. Dictionary of Native American Mythology. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 1994.
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Goblin Scarecrow
The Goblin Scarecrow is an urban legend from Pennsylvania. His story started in the mid 1950’s. It is said to be a grinning jack-o-lantern in ragged clothes that can be found in rural areas and on farms. It speaks as it moves. It screams and chases people while trying to bite them. Its body is made up of thousands of insects instead of straw. It was shot once and bled beetles and worms instead of blood. One report said it had chased someone with a scythe. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark…
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Goayr Heddagh
The Goayr Heddagh are from the Manx people from the Isle of Man. They glow with a natural luminescence. They are big scary goats that prey on lone travelers at night, but they will run away if challenged. Citations: Rose, Carol. Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth. United Kingdom, Norton, 2001.
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Gjakpirë
The Gjakpirë are undead creatures from Albania. Though they can take many different forms, their true form is that of a rotting corpse. They travel at night, and often turn into nocturnal predatory birds. They are known to use trickery to lure in their prey, often lying by the side of the road pretending to be an injured traveler in need of help. When victims approach, the Gjakpirë stabs them in the groin or throat with a sharp stick. After the victim is sufficiently weakened, the Gjakpirë drains them of blood before returning to their grave to rest. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That…
