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Baba
Baba is a mythical figure from Slavic myth. The name Baba generally translates to “old woman” or “grandmother.” She was sometimes revered as a goddess of death and regeneration, with Baba sometimes relating to the concept of the mother goddess. Over time she was viewed more as a witch, and her status as a deity was removed likely due to Christianization. As her witch-like features were emphasized, she became a more monstrous figure. She gradually went from a general Fae-like being to those synonymous with hags. Sometimes she would be used as a bogeyman figure. She was depicted either as a beautiful maiden or an ugly hag. The hag aspect…
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Ba She
Ba She is a monstrous creature from Chinese myth in the form of a snake large enough to swallow an elephant. When it does, however, it takes three years for it to digest the elephant’s body. It is typically described as resembling a python and is either black with a green head, or black, red, green, and yellow. It is believed that carrying Ba She skin in contact with your own skin will prevent lung problems. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Azure Dragon/Green Dragon/Qinglong/Seiryu/Seryu/Shōryū/Meng Chang
The Azure Dragon is a creature that was initially a Chinese symbol and was later adapted into Japanese myth. It is one of the Shijin along with the Vermillion Bird, White Tiger, and the Black Tortoise. It is connected to the East, the colors blue and green (because there wasn’t always a clear distinction between the two), wood and spring. It was thought to represent new life and was connected to the Kamo-Gawa River. It was depicted as a long serpentine dragon with no wings, that was blue, green, or turquoise color, occasionally with a red or black mane. It has the associated mansions (these being associated with the phases…
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Axehandle Hound
The Axehandle Hound is largely from Wisconsin and Minnesota. It has short legs, a long thin body like an axe handle, and a head like an axe head. It eats the handles of unattended axes. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Yarns of the Big Woods, Written and Illustrated by Art Childs
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Aughisky
The Aughisky are from Scotland. They do not gallop along the shore unlike some other water horses. They cannot be permanently tamed but can be tamed temporarily if a halter is placed on them without them seeing their lake. If they see their lake, they will charge into the water and rip up their former owner. They eat cattle and are sighted most in November when they come ashore to graze. Although they are mostly benign you shouldn’t go in their lake after dark. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2013.
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Augerino
The Augerino is a large creature from Lumberjack Folklore. They are thought to live in the dry areas of Colorado and live burrowed completely underground. Due to their solely subterranean lifestyle, they are rarely seen and lack significant physical description. They are known to have a great disliking of water, and thrive in particularly dry areas. They often attack and damage water courses and dams, releasing large amounts of water. Citations: Rose, Carol. Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth. United Kingdom, Norton, 2001.
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Aufhocker
The Aufhocker is from German folklore, and its name means “leap upon.” It looks like a black dog that occasionally walks on its back legs. It targets people traveling alone at night. It attacks at crossroads and rips out their victims’ throats. It can shapeshift into other animals, or even a human. It cannot be killed but will leave at the sound of church bells or when the sun rises. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Asrapa
Asrapa is a vampiric witch from India. Her name translates to “blood drinker.” Some believe she’s the child of the Sage Daksha and his wife Muni. Others believe she simply came into being when the deity Brahma became angry. She is a shapeshifter typically depicted as a naked woman, that can raise the dead. She can be found wandering in cemeteries, and she eats human flesh from both the dead and the living. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2017.
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Asin
The Asin is a bogeyman figure from the Pacific Northwest Alsea people. It has some relation to the Apotamkin. It is either a demon in the form of a human woman, or the female form of a species of woodland monster. It looks like a woman covered in hair with taloned fingers and wolf teeth. She preys upon children who stray too far from their villages. It rushes in, snatches up the child, and rushes back to the woods at an incredible speed. Asin enchanted some huckleberries on a particular bush and because of this, the Alsea banned all huckleberry bushes. Her laugh echoes and signifies someone’s impending death. If…
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Asiman
The Asiman is from the Dahomey people. They are creatures who are shapeshifting witches created by someone casting some specific spell and losing their humanity. They can remove their skin and turn into a glowing light. They fly through the air to find prey and after feeding, they turn into an animal to leave. They can only be killed when in animal form. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2017. 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.
