Greece
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Elder Cyclops/Uranian Cyclopes
The Elder Cyclops are three beings from Greek mythology. They’re incredibly strong giant humanoids each with a singular eye in the middle of the forehead. Their names were Arges, Brontes, and Steropes, and they were the sons of Uranus and Gaia, and brothers to the Hecatoncheires. The name Arges means lightning, Brontes means thunder, and Steropes means storm clouds. They were locked in Tartarus by Uranus, only to be freed and then locked away again by Cronus, until eventually Zeus freed them so they could help him defeat Cronus and the other Titans. They helped in the war and created many treasures for the gods. They were eventually killed by…
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Dipsa/Situla
The Dipsa is an obscure creature from Greek myth. They’re described as serpents so small they cannot be seen. Their body is destroyed when they’re stepped on and they deliver a lethal bite. The venom acts so fast that the victim doesn’t feel the pain of the bite before death, though it’s believed that its bite causes an unquenchable thirst. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Clymene
Clymene is a Titan and Oceanid from Greek mythology. She is noted for being the wife of Iapetus and mother to the Titans Epimetheus, Menoetius, Prometheus, and Atlas. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Giants and Humanoids in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Demon
A Demon is a form of dark spirit. The term means “replete with wisdom” and comes from the Greek word Daimon. Some cultures had demonic figures that were not necessarily evil, such as Egypt. Demons at large are well documented in ancient Middle Eastern cultures and it is thought that Hebrews absorbed some knowledge of Demons from Mesopotamia. Sometimes Demons are believed to have been spawned by Lillith, who was to be the first wife of Adam in Jewish beliefs. Christianisation often describes all pagan gods and spirits as demons despite their attributes. The idea is that they are disguises meant to trick humans into worshiping someone other than God.…
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Vrykolatios
The Vrykolatios is a form of vampire from Santorini, Greece similar to the Vrykolakas. They eat their victims alive and chew all the way down to the bone. They only stop feeding when the victim dies. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2017.
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Vrykolakas/Vrykolakes(pl.)/Timpaniaois
The Vrykolakas is a creature from Greek myth related to the Vrukolak of Dalmatia and the Vryolakas from Macedonia. It was believed that every Greek clan had one Vrykolakas. It’s possible that this was a more general term for vampires in Greek myth. They are often linked to stories of werewolves, with possible Serbian influence. They are thought to be vampiric spirits that possess the corpses of dead werewolves. As it is a spirit separate to the body, it is sometimes not seen as a form of undead. Sometimes the Vrykolakas was formed from the corpse of someone who had been excommunicated, with these Vrykolakas often being depicted as more…
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Lamiai
The Lamiai are vampiric creatures from Greek myth. They drink blood and consume the flesh of newborns. They attack their prey and rip out their entrails, drinking blood and any milk in the infant’s stomach. They may target pregnant women to kill the mother and the child. Sometimes they would seduce men, have sex with them, and rip out their throats right at the end. They are named after a queen of Libya named Lamia, who was one of the many people Zeus cheated on Hera with. Hera in her rage killed all the children Lamia had with Zeus, and Lamia cursed her for this cruelty. To get her revenge…
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Gegenees
The Gegenees are from Greek myth. They are massive humans with six arms. Their name means “earthborn.” They attacked Jason and the Argonauts along with Heracles and lost that fight. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Giants and Humanoids in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Empusa/Empusae/Mormolykiai
The Empusa is a bizarre creature that comes from Ancient Greece. They have human bodies, a bronze leg, and a donkey leg and face. They were seen as demonic creatures that served the goddess Hecate.They would lie in wait, hiding in dark spots by the side of the road. Their strange appearance is sometimes believed to be used to hide their true faces which are too terrifying for people to handle. They have the power to disguise themselves as attractive women, or vanish into thin air. They would consume the flesh of their victims. In one specific account, one was kept away when someone used harsh language towards it. Citations:…
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Chimera
The Chimera is from Greek mythology and is the daughter of Typhon and Echidna. It caused havoc in Lycia and the surrounding area. It is thought to have had the front half of a lion, the back half of a dragon (or a full lion body with a snake, or three snakes, for a tail) and the head of a goat in the middle of the back. Some said it had the lion’s head, the body of a female goat, and a snake’s tail. Other iterations said it had a lion, goat, and dragon head. It began killing the moment it was born. It was raised by a king of Caria…
