Top 20 Most Terrifying Mythical Creatures

This half man, half bull has struck fear into many hearts for ages. After all, this is not a creature that regular humans can outrun or overpower. With tremendous strength, agility, and a primal rage that pretty much can’t be quelled, the Minotaur is a force to be reckoned with. He also had a habit of eating people Kept imprisoned in King Minos of Crete’s shadowy Labyrinth, the Minotaur was actually the result of a punishment from Poseidon. Minos ordered Daedalus to build the great maze to contain the beast. According to Greek myth, Theseus bested the Minotaur — with some navigational help from the king’s daughter, Ariadne.

If you find regular spiders scary enough, you better hope you don’t get caught up in a jorōgumo’s web. This entity from Japanese folklore tends to appear to victims under the guise of a beautiful woman. But once a jorōgumo gets your attention, it quickly traps you in its inescapable web and poisons you. These seductive spiders have a particular hunger for humans. In one story from the Jōren Falls of Izu, a jorōgumo lives as mistress of a waterfall and attempts to drag men to a watery demise. Variations and adaptations of the legend have been said to enchant victims, shape shift, and breath fire.

This goddess from Egyptian mythology has the body of a lion, the lower half of a hippo, and the head of a crocodile. If that’s not enough to make you bolt straight for the exit, then we’re not quite sure what will. Besides being quite the amalgamation of animals, Ammit’s also known as Devourer of the Dead. When souls being judged in the underworld are deemed impure, it’s Ammit’s job to eat them. To pass judgment and avoid their hearts being on the menu, Ancient Egyptians were typically buried with a copy of the Book of the Dead.

Gashadokuro might be a group effort, but don’t think that makes this monster any less formidable. The Japanese mythical creature is made from the skulls of people who died in the midst of terrible events, typically battle. The vengeful souls of the departed merge to form Gashadokuro, a menacing skeletal figure. This giant would then stalk the night in search of humans to eat. Animated by resentment, the creature would stop its reign of terror only when every soul’s anger was gone. That task seems a bit easier said than done.

Ever wonder where the word “nightmare” comes from? We owe it to the mare — a demonic creature from across multiple mythologies which haunts sleeping people. The mare would essentially break into your home, sit on your chest, and use your fears to give you a chilling dream. A visit from the mare could also result in tangled hair or attempted strangulation. Sometimes, victims would actually wake up during this experience and be unable to move. Does that make mares the original sleep paralysis demons? Either way, they’ve got a fearsome reputation.

Everything about the nuckelavee is gross. The Orcadian demon is said to have a body without any skin and an enormous head — sometimes even two heads. It’s also said to have breath so poisonous it could cause plants to wilt and livestock to perish. Sorry, but there’s not enough mints in the world to fix that problem. The nuckelavee is actually a sea demon which takes its monstrous part-horse form when it goes on land. The Islanders’ saving grace is the Sea Mither, an ancient being that contains the beast to the ocean during the summer. Maybe avoid the Northern Isles of Scotland in the off season.

Roughly translating to “ox demon,” ushi-oni are malevolent Japanese monsters. Accounts about their physical appearance have varied, changing based on where the legends arose. Ushi-oni are said to have the head of an ox with spider or crab-like bodies. Other legends include wings and tusks. But despite whatever they may look like, they always end up terrorizing people. Often appearing near bodies of water including at beaches, rivers, swamps, and pools, they have been said to drain the souls of victims. A face like the ushi-oni is absolutely one of the last things you’d want to find when going for a walk or crossing the ocean.

When a creature has been sometimes referred to as the father of all monsters, there’s a good chance it’s going to send shivers down your spine. Typhon is no joke. The half-serpent giant has one hundred snake heads on his shoulders and has been said to breathe fire. Add flashing eyes and giant wings coming out of his back, and just the sight will cause chaos. With the monster Echidna, Typhon’s offspring included multi-headed dogs, the hydra, and the Chimera. In Greek mythology, a vicious battle with Zeus ends with Typhon cast into Tartarus.

She may not always look as monstrous as other entities in Latin American folklore — such as the livestock-killing chupacabra — but La Llorona can be very dangerous. According to legend, the “weeping woman” drowned her own children after finding out her husband was unfaithful to her. In some versions of the tale, she then drowns herself. Mothers warn their children not to wander near bodies of water, since they may find a mourning La Llorona. Those who spot her usually see her covered in a white dress and can also hear her weeping loudly. The story has scared kids — and adults — for generations.

You should never reveal personal information to people you don’t trust. That’s especially true when it comes to the Dullahan. According to Irish folklore, this creature can guarantee your death just by saying your name. If that’s not enough, the Dullahan is also very physically imposing. It typically rides on a horse and can carry a whip that’s fashioned from a human spine. Oh, and it carries around its own severed head. You may be aware of some depictions of the Dullahan as the Headless Horseman. There’s no easy way to say this, but if the Dullahan wants you gone, then you’re gone.

Demonic canines can be found in stories of cultures from around the globe. Though any big, angry, aggressive dog can be terrifying, the Hellhound in any iteration is much, much worse. Closely associated with death wherever it’s found, depending on who you ask, the Hellhound can kill you with just a few glances. In other cultures, simply hearing its howl can spell demise. Some versions suck blood, some are as large as a horse, while others actually have shapeshifting abilities. Most cultures seem to agree, however, on the Hellhound being extremely strong, fast, and having incredibly foul breath. In the case of Cerberus, you’re looking at a three-headed Hellhound. Triple yikes!

This monstrous creature looks like a science experiment gone wrong. Though there is some variance, the classic Chimera has the head of a lion (an admittedly cool start), a tail with a snake’s head on it (again, badass), and a goat’s head sticking out of its back. Yikes. Yep… that’s where it takes a sharp left turn into terror territory and brings to mind David Cronenberg’s “The Fly.” The Chimera hails from Greek mythology and counts the aforementioned Cerberus amongst its siblings. While Cerberus is terrifyingly intimidating, it’s the oddness of the Chimera that inspires a certain grotesque fear. Of course, its ability to breathe fire and signal impending disaster doesn’t hurt.

This distinct brand of Jewish ghost is a cut above the rest when it comes to wreaking havoc in a person’s life. The slightest religious doubt or misstep make a body vulnerable to possession by these otherworldly entities. Dybbuk roughly translates to “clinging spirit” and refers to a malicious ghost that, rather than moving on, latches onto other living things. Should it find its way into the body of a living person, it can have disastrous influence. To avoid catching your very own Dybbuk, avoid purchasing old wine cabinets off Ebay, and be sure to get your mezuzahs from a quality source.

These mythic creatures require very little introduction. Sure, you may have fantasized about Khaleesi giving you a dragon of your very own. But though they are indeed awe-inspiring, let’s be honest… would it not be pants-wettingly terrifying to meet one face to face? A colossal, flying reptilian beast with a nearly impenetrable hide, massive gnashing teeth and, who could forget, the ability to breathe fire - how is that not the stuff of nightmares? They’re absolutely captivating on-screen, but a world in which dragons were real is a world that any sane person wouldn’t want to inhabit. Have you seen “Reign of Fire?” Go watch “Reign of Fire.”

Deep sea fishing sure sounds like fun, until you start to contemplate all the water beneath your feet. Honestly… space may be the final frontier, but just think of what might be lurking miles beneath the ocean’s surface. You know what? Why bother using your imagination when we could just release the kraken. It’s long been spoken about in hushed voices by sailors of Scandinavian cultures, particularly those coming from Greenland and Norway. The Kraken, in its most popular interpretation, is described as a gargantuan, octopus-like creature with the ability to sink ships. So… yeah. Points for staying on dry land.

These sensual creatures are to be avoided at all costs. It doesn’t matter whether you’re invited to bed by an incubus or seduced by a succubus. In either case, a demonic romp in the sheets with them could cost you your health, sanity, or even your very life. Though they might appear attractive at a glance, you should be on the lookout for talons of serpent-like tails. The fear of these beings was so widespread at one point that the church released a guide of at least five ways to avoid the most dangerous hookup of your life. While one evening with an Incubus or succubus wasn’t always a death sentence, the prospect is so risky that you’re better off immediately swiping left.

Though the monsters that populate myths of old are indeed the stuff of nightmares, few can inspire fear quite like werewolves. Why? Because a werewolf isn’t just a vicious creature… it’s a vicious creature that you yourself could very well become. The beast within unleashed - an uncontrollable animal driven by pure instinct. The concept of werewolves has plagued mankind dating back to the middle ages, if not earlier. A human being, after being bitten, cursed or otherwise afflicted, transforms into a wolf or wolf-like creature. After transforming, most werewolves have no control over their actions and could very well harm those nearest and dearest to them. It’s terrifying that you could become your own worst nightmare.

Are you familiar with this particular witch? If not, you probably actually slept well as a young child. But don’t worry, this terrifying figure from eastern European folklore is scary enough to make up for lost time by robbing you of your sleep now. She lives in a cabin in the woods that stands on two tall chicken legs, and rides around in a mortar, wielding a pestle. But don’t let these eccentricities fool you. Though she can be benevolent at times, she’s truly startling to behold given her gnarled, witchy appearance, and she’s got a well-documented penchant for human flesh. The English have Black Annis, but Baba Yaga is even worse.

They vant to suck your blood! Seriously though, while “Twilight” made them relatively benign and “What We Do in the Shadows” made them hilarious, vampires, when stripped of all the modern pop culture baggage, are downright terrifying. Sexy? Sometimes. But for centuries, dating back to medieval times, these bloodsucking fiends have been scaring the life out of people. Not just regular vampires, but weird variations like the goat-soaking chupacabra, the ghoulish nachzehrer and the shapeshifting strigoi. Imagine a creature draining you of your blood in order to temporarily sate its unquenchable thirst. Sure, a nighttime visit from a vampire might sound like an erotic premise, but in application it would be a most grisly end to your life.

Never heard of it? Consider yourself lucky for having avoided this pure dose of nightmare fuel as long as you did. We’re here to ruin that for you. This walking/flying horrorshow, hailing from the Philippines, is like a vampire on steroids. It also puts most other creatures on our list to shame with its characteristics. It’s a hideous being that is capable of… (wait for it) splitting its own body in half. The upper half flies off in search of prey while the creepy bottom just stands there and waits. According to folklore, Manananggal like to prey on pregnant women, loving couples and would be grooms who never got married. Oh, and did we mention it likes to attack sleeping victims? Sweet dreams!

Is there a nightmare-inducing creature we missed? Scare us in the comments.