Glossary of Mythical Creatures
Part 2: M-L

Mages and Wizards: People throughout many legends gifted in the use of magic. They are known for their use spells and potions, etc.
Manticor: A lion with the head of a man, and the tail of a scorpion. These creatures roam the wilderness within the fantasy world. It is said they have a tast e for man.
Medusa: She was one the the three Gorgon sisters. They had living snakes as hair, bronze hands, and golden wings. Sometimes they were also shown having a snake's tail instead of legs. Any who looked at them would be turned to stone. They were daughters of a sea god and a sea monster. The sisters names were Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa. Medusa was later slain by Perseus (Greek hero).
Mermaid: A woman with the tail of a fish. Said to be the daughters of Triton God of the seas. The song of a mermaid as been said to be able to entrance sailors.
Minotaur: Man with the head of a bull. It is said that King Minos kept the creature in a large labyrinth. They would send captured enemies into the labyrinth for food for the Minotaur.
Naga: The Naga looks like a snake but has the head of a human. They are used as temple guardians in some fantasy stories and roleplaying games. Nagas originate from India.
Ogre: Large beast-like men with low intelligence that roam within many legends. More akin to trolls and giants, these creatures are often battled by heros and are known to be evil. It is said they enjoy the taste of man. (Some have notified me that this picture is a troll...if anyone has a good picture of an Ogre please send it to me.)
Orcs: A race of degenerate creatures that look like distorted humans with animal features. Tribes of these evil creatures roam the fantasy worlds battling humans. In Tolkian it was told that dark forces took elves and warped them through dark magic into the orcs.
Pegasus: Is a horse with wings. In legend they were creatures created by the Greek God Zeus.
Phoenix: a firebird. This bird of myth is said to always rise from the ashes. The bird was sometimes seen as a sign of good luck or a bad omen depending on the legend.
Piasa Bird: In Illinois there is a local Native American legend that tells of a great bird that would eat humans. When Europeans came they saw the bird painted on the cliffs.
Roc: Giant eagles that were large enough to block out the sun with the shadow of their wings. They were said to prey on elephants and other large animals. These birds come from Arabian legends.
Satyr: A man with the legs and tail of a goat. Stemming from Greek legends they are said to like music which they would play from their pipes as they danced in the woodland glens. They are also thought to be quite promiscuous and lustful
Sphinx: Has the body of a lion and the head of a human. In Egypt the Sphinx was a creature used to guard temples and other holy places. Statues of them are often found outside of tomes. The most noted as the statue of the Great Sphinx. In Greece the Sphinx was a monster that attacked a city in one of their legends. The beast challenged people to a riddle. If they answered wrong they died. Finally a hero came and answered the riddle, thereby setting the city free. The riddle was this:

What walks on four legs in the morning, on two at mid-day(noon), and three in the evening?"

Well it seems someone leeked the answer. The answer is man.

Titans: The Titans were the older race of Gods before the Greek Gods like Zues and his crew took claim of their place. There was a great battle between them in which the Titans lost. Titans looked like Giant humans. The picture shows the Titan Altas bearing the weight of the heavens. He was sentenced to carry the heavens after the battle with the Greek Gods.
Trolls: large underground dwelling creatures that by legend have a taste for man. In certain fairy tales they live under bridges and other dark areas ready for the unwary traveler to come.
Unicorn: a horse with a single horn. Said to have magical powers in healing and the bringing of luck. The horn of the unicorn was prized for its ability to nullify all poisons that it came in contact with. Legend says that only those most pure in heart and soul may be approached by them.
Vampires: Thoughout history people have told stories of manlike demons that feed off blood in the night. Most Vampire legends were born in the middle ages because of fear of the black plague and ignorance. The most noted legend is the story of Dracula.
Werewolves: humans that can shapeshift into a wolf or a half-wolf form. They tend to only transform during the full moon.
Witches: In legend they are often portrayed as old hags that dabbled in the black arts of magic. They often were dressed in black and were said to even be the brides of the devil. These days witch-craft is being enbraced again but in a much better light. Modern "witches" use magic for healing and good and have nothing to do with the devil. They are the followers of the modern religion of Wicca.

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