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"Mamu (Spooky Spirits)," a 2006 painting by Nura Rupert.
mythology

Mapping the Many Monsters of Aboriginal Australian Lore

A "terrifying pantheon" of ogres, sorcerers, and malevolent mermaids reflects a diversity in geography and environment.
Christine Judith Nicholls October 10, 2022
Through the centuries, the vampire myth has taken many different forms.
vampires

Five Vampire Stories You Haven’t Heard Yet

From Dracula’s Indian inspiration to just how long it would take these mythical bloodsuckers to annihilate humanity.
April White October 5, 2022
Skinwalkers are not hapless victims who fell prey to dark magic—they want to be monsters.
mythology

Beware the Skinwalkers, Werewolf Witches of the American Southwest

These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors.
J.W. Ocker October 5, 2022
Diana and the Hounds Fountain
Melbourne, Australia

Diana and the Hounds Fountain

A striking bronze sculpture of a Roman goddess with two hound dogs for company.
Sutton, West Virginia

Flatwoods Monster Museum

In 1952, a strange encounter in the woods of West Virginia led to the legend of a 10-foot-tall monster with glowing eyes and a distinctive style.
Risan, Montenegro

Risan Roman Mosaics

The only known mosaic depicting the Greek god of sleep, Hypnos.
The Black griffin-riding Queen Calafia is the fierce namesake of California.
vikings

6 Epic Female Warriors You Don’t Want to Mess With

From California’s mythic warrior queen to the swole women of Sparta to female hunters in ancient Peru.
Sarah Durn March 30, 2022
“La griffe du Diable” (the claw of the devil)
Uchon, France

Les Rochers du Carnaval

Erosion left these fascinating granite formations strewn across fields and mountains in Burgundy.
Ivoini, Comoros

Dos du Dragon

This moss-covered, rocky outcropping looks like a mythical beast resting in the water.
Thor's Rock
Thurstaston, England

Thor's Rock

A geological wonder shrouded in myth.
Buckley's Bunyip
Aireys Inlet, Australia

Buckley's Bunyip

A tribute to one man's encounter with a frightening cryptid.
Zuma Rock
Abuja, Nigeria

Zuma Rock

This igneous rock monolith towers above the surrounding landscape just outside the Nigerian capital.
General view of the fence
Barcelona, Spain

The Güell Pavillions Dragon Gate

This stunning iron gate designed by Modernist architect Antoni Gaudí is filled with mythic symbolism.
Ado Awaiye, Nigeria

Iyake Suspended Lake

Ado Awaye Mountain and the unique lake that sits near its peak are shrouded in ancient legends.
La Segua, from Costa Rica.
collections

An Artist's Journey Through a Thousand Mythical Creatures

Dive into Iman Joy El Shami-Mader's collection of disembodied limbs, chimerical monstrosities, and unicorn cats.
Winnie Lee October 28, 2021
The Omani Caves Exploration Team (OCET) is the first documented team to explore the 367-foot-deep sinkhole.
haunted

The History and Mystery of Yemen’s ‘Well of Hell’

The first-ever expedition to the bottom of a startling desert sinkhole found wonders—but only natural ones.
Sarah Durn October 20, 2021
What a dragon is, and how it interacts with humans, varies widely by culture and era.
dragons

The Historian of Hell and the Undead Takes on Dragons

Medieval expert Scott Bruce delves into the darker—and sometimes more hopeful—corners of human imagination.
Gemma Tarlach October 20, 2021
Bienno, Italy

Bosco di Quercus

A giant owl named Rocco oversees mythical woodland creatures along these charming mountain trails.