Bestiary |
Ya-te-veo
Everything can be dangerous. Especially when we are talking about mythical creatures. Be it enormous beings, that can be mistaken for geological formation, demons disguised as humans, or even those that do not look like living creatures at the first glance.
If there may be a supernatural parasol in Japan, boots in Bohemia, and a train in Sweden, strangely behaving flora is not the most thrilling thing under the sun.
Ya-te-veo is a man-eating tree that grows in rainforests of Central and South America. Dr. Antonio José Marques from Columbian Barranquilla confirmed the existence of this plant to the author of the book Sea and Land, published in the year 1887. It has long snake-like branches covered in poisonous thorns. It received the name Yateveo — Spanish for "I see you" — thanks to the sound it produces. Some of the more trusting witnesses say that its tendrils are in fact clusters of snakes, hissing and reaching for passing by food.
J.W. Buel, the man that wrote the aforementioned book, points out that a similar entity can be found in African mythology. A traveler once witnessed a scene, where it had one unfortunate native for lunch. This probably served as an inspiration for the illustration I used here.
There is plenty of these engravings in the book, most often portraying nature as it consumes people. Amongst them is also an illustration for Verne's book Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and many others, that are less known. You can see the selection of them in Steve Lew's album "Sea and Land by J. W. Buel, 1889", which can be found on Flickr.
Engraving of a tree feasting on native man is from the book Sea and Land written by J.W. Buel,
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
12.6.2018 (15.6.2014)
Al-mi’raj
One of my favorite books, when I was a little, was Erben’s collection of fairy tales, and one of the reasons was illustrations made by Artuš Scheiner,, which told their own stories. One of these pictures was a unicorn, however not in its delicate white beauty, how it is commonly portrayed. It was a hefty horse with a dangerous horn and looked like it would trample the gullible virgin trying to use a common method to tame it.
Al-mi’raj is very similar. It has one horn, which is black, however, its body looks more like a yellow rabbit. But be aware that this rabbit is carnivorous and wild.
It lives on a mysterious island somewhere in the Indian ocean, or at least that is what Arab poets say. Its name is sometimes shortened to “mi’raj”, which is also the name of the second part of Muhammad’s journey – to the heavens.
12.6.2018 (14.1.2007)
Ysätters-Kajsa
The story of wind troll Ysätters-Kajsa shows her race in a different light, rather than usual stories about evil and stupid giants. Her name can be really easily analyzed. Kajsa is a word that is used to summon wind trolls and Ysätter is the name of a swamp, where she was born.
She lived in Närke, land in the south of Sweden, and was not evil, however, she liked to taunt people. Närke flat land enveloped by mountains, where the wind often runs around and his personification was easy. Just like many others, this troll is wild, dangerous, and moody. Not evil, however, she liked to mess around and she hated quarrelsome people (and liked and protect the just and children).
She liked to dance in the wind, her hair in the sky, her skirt on the ground – typical tornado. She sat on the cliffs and watched the surrounding landscape in the morning, other times she looked down from the clouds and thought about how to trick people. Sometimes, she watched haymaking and when people loaded their carts, she brought rain. In the winter, when she saw somebody trying to cross snowy plains, she brought a snowstorm. Vicar’s wife in Glanshammar had her table, cups, and kettle with tea taken away by the wind, which was also ascribed to Ysätters-Kajsa.
12.6.2018 (2.9.2006)
Jubokko
Big and literally bloodthirsty one. It captures unsuspecting humans and sucks their blood. It's especially prone to this because it grows up on battlefields where many people have died.
But we're faced with a little problem here. Although similar monsters are safely documented in other parts of the world (see, for example, the Spanish Roblón), the jubokko has failed to appear in any folklore records, and the only information about it comes from Mizuki Shigeru's bestiary. He may have made it up, but the question is why a famous artist would do so when other yokai have documented his works.
24.6.2018 (29.8.2010)
Inkanyamba
According to Zulu and cryptozulu...ologists this snake lives in a lake north of Pietermaritzburg. The first group says that there is a horse head stapled to the aforementioned snake body, whereas the second group mentions a big eel. A fish, no matter how big it is, however, cannot affect local weather, which is one of the things Inkanyamba does, thus we will care only about the first group, the Zulu. They know that it is not just some supernatural animal, but a creature that grows every time it leaves the lake and moves in spiraling motion towards to skies only to shrink down to its former size while it submerges itself back into the water. It grows mainly in summer months, when – if it is angry – it summons strong storms. If you imagine a swirling pillar reaching from the earth up to the skies, you have a good idea of how Inkayamba looks. At least according to Zulu.
4.7.2018 (18.2.2018)
Momos
It is common in ancient Greece, that there is a god for almost any profession. Why wouldn't there be one for fools? It sounds quite suspicious, however, we need to keep in mind that this god was probably created by poets.
The oldest mention of him is from Hesiod, however, it spread really fast in the following seven hundred years. Foolishness is omnipresent and eternal and so is its god.
A possible son of Nyx, the goddess of the night, was hanging around Olympus, working as an advisor, but when he, after multitudes of warnings, did not stop criticizing everything, Zeus kicked him out. The last straw that made the king of gods do it, was Mómos' assertion, that bulls should have eyes on their horns, so the animal could clearly see what it is butting. Suggesting to Prometheus, that the human heart would be better outside the body, so one can look into it, was another bright idea. Criticizing Athena's efforts to teach people how to build houses, advising that they should build them on the wheel so it is easy for them to move from their neighbors, did not help either and I'm not even mentioning his argument with Aphrodite, saying that she may be beautiful, however, her sandals are squeaking. There are many Mómoses among us and there is no need to list further examples, because, truth be told, everybody can act like Mómos sometimes.
20.7.2018 (19.8.2006)
Chancha 'con cadenas, or: The Sow Harnessed with Chains
Jorge Luis Borges mentions in his Book of Imaginary Beings one Argentinian boggart, that is a little more recent than most of the occupants of this site. It has been seen north from Cordoba, late at night, running on railway lines or telegraph wires. It rattles with its chains suspended all over its body, which is also the only thing that locals can testify about because nobody has witnessed him otherwise.
26.7.2018 (9.7.2006)
Amalthea
If we willfully ignore the creatures that Heracles met, while doing his job, it is clear that the most popular animal in Greek myths is undoubtedly the godly goat Amalteia. Her main role was the production of milk for a child hidden away in Crete by its desperate mother to protect it from his other parent. The child was named Zeus; his mother was Rheia and the father was Kronos. Amalatheia was there to ensure Zeus' survival, at least until he is at the age when he can deal with his father personally. She fulfilled her task. This should be enough for the purposes of this bestiary entry... no, there are many similar animals in myths. From dogs and cats to horses, birds, and even fleas. This goat cannot even talk, nor has it any supernatural origin.
If I only wanted to scold myself, I would omit the last sentence, so there will be something else.
First, let's talk about the future.
When Zeus grew up and became the greatest god, he gifted a golden watchdog to his former wet nurse. This dog was there to look after Amaltheia until she died and was processed: her image was imprinted into the skies as a Capricorn constellation, Zeus made an aegis from her skin and one of her horns was given to goddess Tyche and then became the famous cornucopia, eternal stream of drinks and food. It is often attached to the river god Achelous, but for today we will stick to the Amalthean version.
Now the present.
Things are not usually that simple, how they look at first sight. According to some sources, Amaltheia was not a goat. She was an oread and an owner of the animal, however, as is common with complicated Greek mythology, some sources talk about her as a mother of both Zeus' nursemaids, Adrasteia and Ida.
Even though this transformation from goat to nymph was made by later authors, it was not a completely revolutionary and new perspective of Zeus' early years. Amaltheia was not always a goat.
Finally, we will take a peek at the past.
As we already found out, Amaltheia was not just a four-legged animal and there were three women taking care of little Zeus. And when there are three women, the concept of the Great Goddess comes to mind. Adrasteia was an Crone; Ida was a Mother and Amalatheia was a Maiden. This is how it probably looked from the beginning when Mediterranean civilization was ancient and formed by many small worlds.
Rheia, Amaltheia, Kouretes and Baby Zeus:
By Numérisation Google (Galerie mythologique, tome 1 d'A.L. Millin) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
8.8. 2018 (22.4.2007)
Karbunkulus
Near the Bohemian village Tatobity you can find one of the more common forms of fire specters, radiating Czech folk tales – a fire barrel. This one, however, has a name and the name is Karbunkulus and it is filled with gold. When it is rolling down from the hill and someone is in front of it, it will avoid him. If it somehow crashes into a human, it will stop and transform into a pile of golden metal.
29.8.2018 (1.8.2004)
Nemesis
Nowadays her role is reduced to only one of its aspects, despite that, the daughter of Night and Darkness (Nyx and Erebos) is not a mere Goddess of Vengeance. In ancient Greece, this very straightforward job was usually assigned to Erinyes, while Nemesis judged humanity's merit and awarded them with either fortune or misfortune. She would then closely observe everyone who got the first reward and punish them if they used their newly found fortune to hurt others. Some versions of the myths attribute this judging to goddess Tyche and let Nemesis deal only with punishments. That is why she is seen as an embodiment of retribution.
It is also said that Nemesis is a daughter of Oceanos and it was her, not Leda, who was seduced (in fact raped) by Zeus in the form of a swan and who gave birth to the reason of the Trojan War, Helena.
29.8.2018 (1.11.2009)
Horg
Horg is a result of a terrifying experiment made by three godless brothers, at least that is what the German story about the Bohemian Forest tells. At first, it looked just like some stupid joke to entertain bored people. They lived in Lobnerhof (Lobner Yard) and it was there where the wooden figure was carved. It was given the name Horg and they used him to do things that were forbidden by God. One of those acts was feeding. “Horg is hungry,” they said while stuffing the dummy with a spoon. One night all of them were woken up by a deafening noise – Horg came to life and he stood in the doorway. One of the three, the bravest of brothers, grabbed him and flung him out of their house. Horg returned at midnight, saying: “I will catch the first one, skin the second one, and throw the third one at the roof.”
I am not sure how the narrator found out about this because nobody saw any of these three brothers since then.
5.9.2018 (21.5.2006)
Sucellos
One of the old Celtic gods worshiped in the time of Roman reigns over Gallia. He was the patron of agriculture, forests, and alcoholic beverages because people under Roman influence connected him with Silvanus. He was formerly one of the highest gods, known for his hammer, with which he could either kill or bring the dead alive, each side of the hammer had a different role, thus he was probably also the god of death (and reincarnation). That explains his latter specialty with nature and merging with Silvanus – mortality and fertility have a lot in common.
In preserved paintings, he looks like a bearded middle-aged man with a hammer in one hand and a cauldron or bowl in the other. Nantosuelta, most likely his wife is often depicted next to him and so are three-headed dog and a crow.
Sucellos and Nantosuelta in the picture came with licence [CC BY 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons
15.9.2018 (11.2.2007)
Nantosuelta
This Gaul goddess of fertility, earth, and fire is often considered to be a consort of Sucellos. She is depicted with him in most of the paintings, holding a staff with a little house on its top. This confused many researchers: Is it a beehive or is it a burial casket? However, they all agree that it is a symbol of human dwelling and Nantosuelta is a guardian. We also have to keep in mind her connection with water and the cornucopia. According to Delamarre, the name has the proto-Indo-European root 'swel' (sun) and as a whole, it means 'sun-warmed valley'. Others pay attention to the word Nant, which means brook or underground stream in Welsh. These people then translate the name Nantosuelta as 'winding brook'. Considering that she is often depicted in the company of a crow, an animal used to symbolize fortune telling and healing, Naltosuelta sure is one versatile goddess.
15.9.2018 (24.6.2018)
Petermännchen
He lives in Schwerin palace in Mecklenburg and acts there as an unnatural custodian. His usual daily routine is walking underground and using his big bunch of keys to open various doors. Others saw him holding a lantern in one hand and a sword in the other. Sometimes he looks like an old man with a long white beard, other times he was seen as a dandy with a feather on his stylish hat and poirot-esque mustache; his appearance changed many times throughout centuries of dutiful service. The only thing that stayed the same was his height and as is common with most of these elves; he was not exactly big.
It is said that before the times of Christianity, a pagan god lived at the place where Schwerin is nowadays. He ran away as soon as the new religion arrived, his former assistants were left there to take care of themselves. Most of them also ran away, but there was one that did not want to break his employment contract, no matter what is happening around him, and that was Petermännchen.
He was a blessing for the guardsmen, who wanted to take a short nap during their night shifts: Petermännchen began to rattle, thus waking up all of them and helping them to not get caught slacking on the watch. And whenever guards were not around and a thief found his way into the castle, Petermännchen took care of him himself.
15.9.2018 (15.11.2009)
Arion
You may know Arion as a songster, who was saved by a dolphin after his forced leap into the sea, however, there is also another legendary figure bearing this name. This Arion is a swift-flying horse, born to Poseidon and Demeter (making the nymph Despoina one of his siblings). The steed was later used by Adrastos, leader of the famous war expedition called Seven Against Thebes. Arion helped his rider to escape after their failed attack. It is not much known about him apart from the aforementioned. Heracles used a horse with the same name to conquer Elis, but this black-maned stallion had no supernatural origin and the only link with Poseidon's son was the name they both shared.
26.9.2018 (26. 10. 2003)
Qalupaliq
Every prohibition works better if you can explain its consequences properly. Inuits, as well as other cultures, have useful creatures in their folklore because of this. Qalupaliq (or Kalopaling, sometimes even nicknamed Mitiling based on a species of ducks) belongs to the group of “pedagogical boggarts”. Parents use them to scare their kids and ensure they would not break set rules - in this case behaving around water.
Photographer Paul Nicken mentions Qalupaliq in June 2007 issue of National Geographic Magazine. He lived on Baffin Island since he was five years old and heard about this sea monster right from the source. He had no reason to not believe his parents when they forewarned him, that if he ever walks towards the edge of the ice, a monster could jump from the water and take him beneath the surface and eat him. If he disrespected his parents' orders, a polar bear could do the same, or he could slip and fall into the water on his own. The story worked perfectly.
Qalupaliq is usually invisible, however, in some versions he can take the form of a human dressed in a coat made from duck feathers (that is why he is nicknamed Mitiling). He kidnaps children and puts them into the cowl of his coat, filled with rocks. He does not speak and makes a whistling sound with one claw on his seal-like feet. Sometimes hunters bring home seal fins to prove that Qalupaliq is real, thus making children's faith in him stronger. There are fewer and fewer qalupaliqs thanks to the Inuit hunters, however, to hunt one is not an easy task. One must have their eyes closed the entire time, or they may be taken under the water. It is said that their meat is poisonous but ideal for feeding dogs.
8.10.2018 (10.6.2007)
Lugeilan
God of Knowledge, often connected with a coconut palm. A Teacher, who descended from the sky to educate Micronesians in agriculture, tattooing, and hairdressing. Son of Aluep, father of Olofat.
25.10.2018 (3.4.2016)
Gabble Retchets
Loud hound specters running around or more precisely flying around in the air of harsh Yorkshire nights. Those are Leeds's variant of an apparition usually known as Gabriel Hounds. The reason why they engage in the Wild Hunt is known: Gabble Retchets are the souls of the unbaptized children who return to remind their fate of their parents.
25.10.2018 (15.5.2016)
Bernartice’s Fire Horse
This is one of the less-known local Czech boggarts. It shows itself at the night (as do many other similar creatures) on the road from Nový Jičín to Bernartice nad Odrou. However, there is a twist. It does not look like a simple member of the Equidae species from the start. When it appears, it takes the form of a fireball. At the same place, one can see another more common Czech demon – a black dog with fiery eyes.
12.11.2018 (1. 11. 2003)
Picvu'cin
Hunters of Siberian Chukchi sacrifice (usually dogs) to a hunting God named Picvu´cin, a small elf whose sleighs are dragged by mice.
17.11.2018 (30.3.2014)
Squasc
A small hairy squirrel with a human face and without a tail. A useful helper of Lombardian parents, a creature more mischievous than malicious.
6.12.2018 (31.8.2014)
Jólakötturinn
A Christmas cat that operates in Iceland. Inhabitants of this faraway island are in danger if they don't change into new clothes at Christmas. The overgrown pet of the giantess Gryla (which targets mostly villagers, not townies) can easily devour its prey whole, so peasants try to process wool from summer shearing in time. Some people say, that Jólakötturinn only steals food from those who are dressed old, but why to risk it. It might be really hungry.
24.12.2018 (18.12.2016)
Caballucos del diablo
Seven winged horses. The first of them is red, followed by the orange, yellow, white, black, blue, and finally green one. They run around Cantabria during Saint John's Eve. These emissaries of Hell are accompanied by devilish screams, smoke, and fire. Their task is simple – to find and destroy as many four-leaf clovers as they can. Those flowers bring good luck, and that is contrary to Satan’s interests.
9.1.2019 (2.12.2006)
Cuca Fera de Tortosa
Half dragon and half tortoise, who used to have three or thirteen cats and three children for dinner every day before being tamed by a Catalan hero named Rufolet. Then it became a symbol and a folkloric figure.
9.1.2019 (25.10.2015)
Tom Poker
The household elf from East England, who, like his two brothers Hoixie Poker and Mum Poker, lives in dark corners, under stairs, and in other unused spaces.
23.1.2019 (22.3.2015)
Dorr-karing
This boggart resides near the door. In Sweden, let's be precise. Currently, if he does not move out, he must be bored as hell because his duty is blowing out candles.
9.2.2019 (22.6.2014)
Ninitikati
People of the Mono tribe from the northwest of the United States, one of the inhabitants of the Great Basin, know this terrible demon of terrible origin. He was supposed to be a man – some say a woman – who had eaten his own meat for famine. He was transformed into a walking skeleton, yearning for human flesh. Ninitikati is not infamous only for its jaws, it is also said that the people who saw him and heard him singing or whistling fell dead.
1.3.2019 (22.3.2015)
Koňská noha (Horse Leg)
A cat-sized creature with only one big hoof-like leg. It lurks in the Czech attic until non-babysitting kids started demolition of the flat. Then Koňská noha woke up, jumped into the room, and began to rage. Naughty children were frightened, but the state of the room was definitely not better. That is why this boogeyman got fired from his job soon.
13.3.2019 (12.9.2002)
Kituta
Kituta is often found on tall trees and hills, however, this spirit rules over waters. Bantu people of Angola told stories about this creature, but sadly there are not enough records to make any solid definition. It may also be something else. Alice Werner recalls the story of two brothers and the term kituta is present in that tale. One of the brothers, named Ngunza, had a dream about the other being killed by Kalunga-ngombe, Lord of the Underworld. After this, he prepared a trap, caught this supernatural being and when he was about to end its life, Kalunga managed to change the mind of this angry man. He invited the brother to his domain to show him that his job is only to usher in the dead. Kalunga also promised him, that if his brother wants to, both can come home, however, the dead one liked his stay. Sad Ngunza returned to the lord of the underworld and he got a bunch of seeds as compensation. This makes sense – the Underworld and crops have a connection. There are also stories about helpful plants that are created by people or gods. Kalunga also mentioned that he will visit Ngunza in eight days, without mentioning why. Ngunza, however, was not there. The man who was courageous enough to stand in front of the lord of the underworld, trap him and nearly kill him ran away. Kalunga caught him later and Ngunza said: „You cannot kill me. I did nothing wrong and you proved, that you do not kill.“ Instead of an answer, the man got Kalunga’s axe thrown at him. Ngunga dodged and saved his life by turning into kituta.
This story had in its original plot based on that Ngunza in the realm of the dead had not fulfilled all the demands, but it is gone. Nor the term kituta is not explained here so we can only guess.
14.3.2019 (19.1.2014)
Miss Nottie
Nottingham Road is a small town in the South African Republic. Inside it, there is the oldest hotel in Natal. It was founded in the year 1854, close to the train station. This strategic placement meant a constant flow of customers from the lines of soldiers, who were passing through this village. Charlotte – sometimes more familiarly called Miss Nottie – was a local maid or barmaid, who fell in love with one of them. When she learned that her love fell in a battle, she threw herself from the balcony and became a ghost. Some sources say that the soldier did not die, and the love was just not reciprocated from his side and the sad girl killed herself… and turned into a ghost. Or… there are many variations to this tale. In some versions Charlotte was not even a maid or barmaid, she was a prostitute, who fell in love, despite her profession. The most cynical variation tells the tale of Charlotte – a prostitute who fell out of a window while fighting a customer, who did not want to pay her.
21.3.2019 (9.2.2014)
