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The ancient Greeks were deeply fascinated by mythical beasts. This fascination spread across the globe and persists to this day. Yet, many of these creatures were inspired not by fantasy, but by discoveries in nature and science.
Research reveals that the locations of ancient myths often coincided with areas where numerous fossils were uncovered. Attempting to understand these strange findings, many legends were formed. Here, we explore 10 mythological creatures from ancient Greece and beyond that might have had roots in reality.
10. Cyclops
In Greek mythology, Cyclopes (the plural of Cyclops) were massive creatures with a single eye positioned in the center of their foreheads. They were infamous for their savagery, showing no fear of either humans or gods.
The most well-known Cyclops was Polyphemus, who trapped Odysseus in a cave and devoured several of his men. Odysseus managed to blind the Cyclops by driving a wooden stake through its lone eye. Afterwards, Odysseus and his crew escaped by hiding beneath the sheep.
At first, this might seem far-fetched. However, there was a period when there was significant evidence supporting the existence of Cyclopes. Numerous skulls were discovered with a single eye socket located in the middle of the head.
It was later revealed that these skulls belonged to dwarf elephants. The supposed ‘eye socket’ was actually the central nasal cavity, which also served as the opening for the elephant's trunk. Many dwarf elephant skulls have been found on Cyprus, particularly in caves where the Cyclopes were said to have resided. Thus, it is understandable that an elephant skull could have been interpreted as proof of a race of giant, one-eyed creatures with monstrous appetites and table manners.
9. The Kraken
Unleash the kraken! According to Nordic folklore, the kraken was a mighty creature capable of pulling an entire ship to the ocean’s depths, either by coiling its enormous tentacles around the vessel or by swimming in circles to generate a deadly whirlpool that would drag the ship under.
The earliest written mention of the kraken dates back to 1180, with numerous stories describing a gigantic, tentacled sea beast dragging ships to their watery graves. The kraken was said to be capable of swallowing an entire crew in one massive bite.
The kraken legend likely originated from sightings of giant squid (Architeuthis dux), which can grow to about 18 meters (59 ft) in length, or possibly the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni), which is much larger than the giant squid and can reach lengths yet to be determined.
Very few intact colossal squid have been found, as they dwell in the deep waters of Antarctica. Consequently, it has been difficult to gather proof of how squid attack their prey. However, some recent studies suggest that squid encircle their prey with their tentacles before drawing it in to devour. So, anything is possible.
8. The Duck-Billed Platypus
While it’s a more recent tale than some of the others, the duck-billed platypus was once believed to be a mythical creature. However, it is entirely real, albeit with a rather unusual appearance.
First encountered in the 18th century, it was initially dismissed by many as a preposterous hoax, and with good reason. This was a time when naturalists were crafting all kinds of bizarre creatures, often through the use of taxidermy and vivid imaginations.
For instance, Albertus Seba had a cabinet full of curiosities, some real, others not. One example: the seven-headed hydra, which turned out to be a collection of snakes stitched onto the body of a weasel.
The platypus appears just as unbelievable. In 1799, English zoologist George Shaw described it as resembling “the beak of a duck engrafted on the head of a quadruped.”
The platypus is extraordinary for more than just its odd appearance. Naturalists were puzzled over whether the animal was a mammal. Did it lay eggs or give birth to live young? It wasn’t until a century later that scientists uncovered the truth: the platypus is one of the very few mammals that lay eggs.
7. Mermaids
Mermaid legends have existed for almost as long as humans have set sail across the seas. One of the earliest recorded stories is that of Thessalonike, who was said to be the half-sister of Alexander the Great. After embarking on a perilous journey to find the Fountain of Youth, Alexander rinsed his sister’s hair in the waters of immortality.
After Alexander’s death, his sister (who may also have been his lover) attempted to drown herself in the sea. However, she could not die and instead became a mermaid. According to legend, she would cry out to passing sailors, 'Is Alexander the king alive?' If they answered, 'He lives and reigns and conquers the world,' she would allow them to sail away. But if they said he was dead, she would turn into a monster and pull the ship to the ocean's depths.
One theory behind the ongoing mermaid sightings is that sailors may have mistaken a mermaid, a mythical creature with the body of a fish and the head and torso of a beautiful woman, for a manatee (also known as a sea cow). It’s safe to say that the manatee isn’t exactly the most visually appealing creature. So how could sailors have made such a mistake?
Manatees are capable of raising their heads above the water and turning them side to side, similar to how humans move their heads. When viewed from behind, their rough skin might resemble long hair. It’s also known that sailors stranded at sea for long periods can experience hallucinations. So, perhaps from a distance or in poor light, they could have mistaken a manatee for a mermaid. Or maybe it was the rum.
6. Vampires
The modern image of the vampire originates from Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula (1897) and has hardly changed since—a pale, gaunt stranger with an odd accent who sleeps in a coffin and is effectively immortal.
It is widely known that Stoker's character was inspired by the historical figure Vlad the Impaler. However, it’s also possible that Stoker drew influence from the various rumors, superstitions, and misconceptions about death and burial practices at the time, as well as the limited understanding of how the human body decomposes.
After death, the body undergoes changes, such as the skin shrinking, which makes the teeth and fingernails appear more prominent, giving the illusion that they have grown. As the internal organs break down, 'purge fluid' may leak from the nose and mouth, causing dark stains. People in the past may have mistakenly thought this meant the corpse was drinking blood from the living.
Additional evidence was found in the coffins themselves. On some occasions, scratch marks were discovered on the insides of caskets, which were taken as proof that the dead had risen and transformed into the undead.
However, a more likely explanation is that the dead were merely mistaken for the undead. People who had fallen into comas, for instance, may have been buried while still alive. Upon regaining consciousness, they would have attempted to escape, leaving behind marks of struggle.
It is believed that philosopher and monk John Duns Scotus met such a fate. His body was reportedly found in a crypt, outside his coffin, with his hands bruised and bloodied from the desperate attempts to free himself.
5. Giants
Giants have appeared in legends for millennia. In Greek mythology, the Gigantes were a race of 100 giants born from the goddess Gaia, who was impregnated by blood drawn during the castration of Uranus. Quite a gruesome origin.
In Norse mythology, Aurgelmir was formed from drops of water that emerged when the icy realm of Niflheim met the fiery land of Muspelheim. He must have been massive. After his death at the hands of the gods, the Earth was fashioned from his body: his flesh became the land, his blood formed the seas, his bones became the mountains, his teeth turned into stones, his skull created the sky, and his brain morphed into clouds. Even his eyebrows became the fence encircling Midgard, the Norse term for Earth.
Hereditary gigantism could be behind some of the myths about giants (though not the most extreme tales). Scientists have pinpointed a gene responsible for familial gigantism, and it’s also believed that those with gigantism may have a tumor in their pituitary gland, which causes excessive growth.
The biblical giant, Goliath, was said to stand at over 274 centimeters (9'0") tall. There is no single definition of what height qualifies as a giant, as average heights vary between societies, with differences reaching as much as 30 centimeters (11.8 in).
A study published in the Ulster Medical Journal proposed that Goliath, who was famously slain by David with a slingshot, may have had 'an identifiable family tree suggestive of autosomal dominant inheritance.' The stone that struck Goliath in the forehead could have been harder to see if he was suffering from a pituitary tumor pressing on his optic chiasm, causing visual disturbances.
4. Banshees
In Irish folklore, a banshee (meaning 'woman of the fairies' in Gaelic) was a striking young woman with flowing white hair and eyes red from weeping, whose mournful wail, known as a 'keen,' served as a warning to those who heard it that a family member would soon die. Rather than being a curse, it was meant to offer time for the listener to say their goodbyes to their loved ones.
The exact origins of the banshee legend are unclear. Accounts of the creature can be found in Cathreim Thoirdhealbhaigh, a historical record of the village of Torlough dating back to 1350, with stories about her continuing to be told into the mid-19th century.
Keening, a traditional Irish practice, was a way for women to express their sorrow. At funerals, they would gather around the gravesite and let out loud wails to mourn the deceased. This practice slowly faded during the 19th century when it became a spectacle for tourists eager to witness a 'real Irish funeral.'
It's not hard to understand how the imaginative Irish, always inclined toward the supernatural, could merge the idea of a fairy woman with the mournful cries of women keening for their lost loved ones, ultimately creating the myth of the beautiful banshee, a figure who calls the family home to offer their final farewells.
3. Basilisks
In both Greek mythology and Harry Potter, the basilisk, also known as a cockatrice, was a serpent with a deadly gaze and foul breath. It was believed to have hatched from an egg laid by a rooster and incubated by a serpent. Its only fears were the crowing of the cock and the weasel, known for being immune to its venom (or Harry Potter’s sword). While the basilisk in Greek myths was of a normal size, it grew to enormous proportions by the time it appeared at Hogwarts.
Although the idea of a rooster laying an egg or a serpent incubating it seems highly unlikely, there may be a kernel of truth behind the basilisk myth. It's probable that the basilisk was inspired by the Egyptian cobra, a deadly snake known for its constant hissing and ability to spit venom at a target from 2.4 meters (8 feet), usually aiming for the eyes of its prey.
This might explain the myth of the basilisk’s deadly gaze. The cobra’s most formidable enemy is the mongoose, which closely resembles a weasel.
It is said that Alexander the Great once used a mirror to defeat a basilisk. When the serpent saw its reflection, it died instantly. This tale was also adopted by J.K. Rowling in her books.
2. Dire Wolves
Today, dire wolves are perhaps most famous for their connection to the Stark children in Game of Thrones. However, the existence of the dire wolf predates the GoT creators' fictional world.
Much larger than today's wolf, the dire wolf once roamed the Americas before going extinct around 10,000 years ago. More than 4,000 fossilized remains of these creatures have been uncovered at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. It's thought that they may have become ensnared while feeding on the carcasses of other trapped animals.
The dire wolf had an enormous skull but a relatively small brain compared to the modern wolf. If their brains had been larger, perhaps they would have realized the danger of the tar pits. There is no evidence suggesting that albino dire wolves ever existed, though albino cubs have been born in the modern wolf population.
1. Hydra
In Greek mythology, the hydra was a massive sea serpent with nine heads, one of which was immortal. Whenever one head was severed, two more would sprout from the freshly exposed wound.
Slaying the hydra was one of Hercules' 12 legendary tasks. To complete this feat, he called upon his nephew, who cauterized the wounds as Hercules chopped off the heads, leaving only the immortal one. Hercules then severed that head and buried it beneath a massive rock.
The tale of the hydra might have been inspired by real-life occurrences. There have been several recorded cases of snakes with multiple heads (though nine is an extreme number). Polycephaly is observed more frequently in reptiles than in any other species.
Scientists studying conjoined twins have even managed to create polycephalic animals. In the early 20th century, Hans Spemann experimented by tying young salamander embryos together with human baby hair, resulting in creatures with two heads.
