Iceland
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Skeljaskrímsli
The Skeljaskrímsli is a creature from Iceland whose name means “shell monster.” They are described as stocky creatures with large heads and huge mouths which are sometimes described as similar to that of a hippopotamus. Seashells cling to their scales, skin, hair, and they make a clinking and rattling sound as they move. Citations: Greene, A. Kendra. The Museum of Whales You Will Never See: And Other Excursions to Iceland’s Most Unusual Museums. United States, Penguin Publishing Group, 2020.
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Fyglia
The Fyglia is a form of undead from Iceland. They’re flesh eating creatures whose name means “following spirit.” They climb roofs and kick off shingles when searching for prey. To kill a Fyglia, it must be captured, decapitated, and reburied with the head placed under the body. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2017.
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Eigi Einhamr
The Eigi Einhamr are shapeshifters from Norway and Iceland. Its name translates to “not one-skinned” and they are believed to be capable of taking the form of any animal whose skin they wear. Sometimes it is believed that their shapeshifting is rather them sleeping and astrally projecting themselves in the form of various animals. They can switch between human and animal voluntarily and retain all intelligence and morals between their different forms. Some believe their powers of shapeshifting are gifts from the god Odin. 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.
