Animals From Folklore You Might Not Know

Every culture has its own collection of strange and wondrous creatures — beings that blur the line between myth and reality. Some are guardians, others are tricksters, and a few are downright terrifying. You’ve probably heard of dragons and unicorns, but what about the scorpion men of Mesopotamia or the shapeshifting seals of the sea? Let’s dive into the world of forgotten folklore and meet some mythical animals you might not know — but won’t soon forget.

Animals From Folklore You Might Not Know

Aqrabuamelu

These monsters are from ancient Mesopotamia, specifically Babylon. They have the body of a scorpion and the upper half of a man – similar to a centaur. They were supposedly created to wage war against the gods and protect those who might be in danger.

Selkie

Selkies come from Celtic and Norse mythology. These creatures can transform from a seal into a human and back again. They do this by physically putting on and taking off a self-skin. They’re similar to mer-folk and are known to be friendly yet dangerous and vengeful.

Basilisk

You may know these from their appearance in a well-known children’s book, but their history stretches long before then, having appeared in works by Chaucer and Leonardo Da Vinci. These are creatures of European legend. Serpentine in appearance, they can kill simply by looking at you. In turn, they can be killed by looking at their own reflection.

Chimera

Chimaeras come from Greek mythology. They’re usually depicted as being a lion merged with a goat and a snake. They can breathe fire and are often quite ferocious. In recent years, the name Chimaera has come to mean multiple animals that have been fused together.

Kelpie

You may have heard of the famous Kelpies statue in Scotland, but this was inspired by Scottish folklore. Kelpies are shape-shifting spirits that inhabit the lochs of Scotland. They take the form of horses that can transform into humans. They were invented to keep children safe around dangerous waters.

Griffin

Griffins are hybrids of lions and eagles from Persian and Egyptian mythology. These powerful creatures have the hindquarters and body of a lion with the head, wings, and talons of an eagle. Traditionally, griffons were guardians of treasure.

Want to learn about more animals from folklore? Get in touch to hear about our Myths & Legends workshop!