Monsters and Creatures of Myth (Art by Edward Kwong)
| “ | I spent the last thirty years trying to prove of what I learned that day when the USS Lawton sunk. This planet wasn't ours to begin with. Even the holy types will tell you that other ancient species roamed this planet long before Adam and Eve ever set foot on it. And if we keep our heads buried in the sand they will take it back. Long story short: Monsters exist. | „ |
| ~ Ian Thatch |
Monsters, also known as Creatures of the Night, Fantastic Beasts, Night Fiends, Beasts of Terror, among many other monikers are frightening creatures that live on Earth, often posing a danger to humankind. They are usually classified as mythical beasts attributed to the supernatural, preternatural, and metaphysical.
Overview[]
Monsters are creatures that appear in horror, fantasy, mythology, folklore, science fiction, and religion. They have served many purposes in history, but their main feature is arguably to enforce ethics and discipline such as warning of the dangers of engaging in unlawful or "sinful" ways, and also being an easy way to keep young or superstitious people from endangering themselves. Example being telling tales about evil water-hags or bugbears in the forest so as to discourage dangerous play near rivers or venturing too far into forests, which may of been populated by wild animals and criminals in the days of old.
Monsters can be found in folklore from all across the world and are an almost universal part of human society, being nearly as old or older than humanity itself. Their origins are unclear but many strongly believe that the first generation of monsters originated from Tiamat and the second generation were spawned from Typhon and Echidna. There were other external sources like Amanozako who is ancestor to all Yokai and Lilith who was treated as the mother of all vampires. Monsters embody the many fears and anxieties humans share as a species, and vary depending on the culture or mythology from which they come from. Unlike demons, who are considered a spiritual evil, monsters are instead fantastical biological beasts or exceptionally gruesome humanoids capable of being physically harmed or kept at bay.
Often in folklore, a monster is the result of some forbidden and blasphemous union, such as human and animal or (in some cultures) human and divine (especially gods or angels). They may also be the result of black magic or a curse given by either mortals, demons, deities or God Himself as punishment for some great misdeed; normally a taboo such as cannibalism or the murder of children.
Description[]
They are usually depicted as hostile, ferocious and aggressive with strange or grotesque appearances which strikes terror and fear in their victims. Monsters commonly resemble animals that are bizarre, deformed and/or mutated in appearance and their varying sizes, but they may also take on different forms, such as humans, mutants, ghosts, spirits, zombies, or even cannibals.
Aside from taking on alternate forms, monsters can even possess supernatural powers or magic abilities, though they are often capable of killing and even cause some form of destruction, which threatens the social or moral order of the human world in the process. Animal monsters are outside of the moral order but they sometimes have their origin in some human violation of the moral law. Human monsters are creatures that are never fully human by birth, or who, through some supernatural or unnatural act, had lost their humanity, and thus can no longer/never would follow the moral order of human society.
Aside from being described as monstrous and aggressive, monsters may be depicted as friendly and misunderstood creatures who unintentionally frighten individuals, and their appearance may be so large, strong, and clumsy may cause accidental damage or death. In fiction, some monsters are depicted as mischievous and boisterous but not necessarily threatening, while others may be prone to fits of rage or hunger. Thus, they are needed to be tamed and taught to resist savage urges or be killed if they cannot successfully be or are uncontrollable.
Origins[]
- Tiamat: Not just the mother of the Mesopotamian gods, this primordial deity is the mother of monsters. It's said that before she died she gave birth to monsters, demons, and all sorts of abominable creatures that roam the Earth.
- Typhon and Echidna: Two god-like monster who spawned most of the chimeric monsters of the Mediterranean Sea, such as Cerberus, Chimera, Ladon, Hydra and Orthrus.
- Phorcys and Ceto: Two primordial sea gods who spawned a host of monstrous children that dwell within the ocean depths.
- Lilith: In some writings, Lilith was treated as the mother of all vampires or monsters giving her the titles of the First Vampire and the Mother of Monsters.
- Amanozako: A malignant Japanese deity of conformity, who does the opposite of what is expected by society, and who is ancestor to all Yokai.
- Loki: A trickster deity, who spawned Jormungandr and Fenrir.
- Shub-Niggurath: An Ogdru Jahad, who spawned abominable creatures.
