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What is the 2nd most iconic mythical beast?
- Thread starter Deleted member 52442
- Start date
It's not ubiquitous across cultures now, but across time, the Sphinx was dominant for like three thousand years! Unicorns are a flash in the pan by comparison.
I think the Phoenix deserves some consideration since it spans both the East and West, as well. The Yeti/Bigfoot/Wendigo also deserves some consideration for cultural ubiquity. Same for giants.
I think the Phoenix deserves some consideration since it spans both the East and West, as well. The Yeti/Bigfoot/Wendigo also deserves some consideration for cultural ubiquity. Same for giants.
What's exactly western-centric about Dragons?
They are also highly prominent in Chinese and Japanese mythology as well.
You are probably right about some sort of Deity being up there. I mean in most myths focus on Deities or some sort of Pantheon of Gods, regardless of culture.
I know is not el sacamantecas, but I like to talk about him, is the guy that will come in Spain to kidnap you if you don't behave as a kid. He put you in a bag and eats you starting with your fat.
Giants might even be more ubiquitous than dragons even. I can't really think of a dragon like creature in polynesian myths though I'm sure someone will point out an example I'm unaware of but there are giants for sure.
I am talking about the replies so far in regards to the topic at hand, the 2nd most iconic mythical creature.
my mind went to pheonix, but upon reading the thread yeah it'd be ghosts if we're willing to include those
Vampires maybe? But they aren't "beasts" per se. But maybe we have to differentiate between mythical beasts which are purely fictional like dragons and unicorns, and mythical beasts which belong to cryptozoology, like the Loch Ness monster and Bigfoot. And then you have things that are just vague, but completely universal, like "ghosts" or "giants."
I'd say Dragons is a good #1 seed.
I'd say Dragons is a good #1 seed.
Pretty sure you were right with first comment. Mythical beasts can be supernatural but should be from folklore and before history was treated as science vs being straight up fictional. Ghosts never seem to be included because they're not a specific beast merely spirits of people and in same vein, Vampire's etc. don't get counted too I'm pretty sure.
Of course they vary from culture to culture. Dragons (in some form) do seem fairly common as do Unicorns and a few others.
I've seen it argued creatures in Asian myths have fuck-all to do with western dragons and that westerners just localized them as "dragons" for convenience and very superficial likeness.
Hmm, what about Undead in general?
Lots of cultures, I'd venture to even say most, have traditions about burial rites and how the recently deceased should be treated. Some with negative consequences if these traditions are not followed. That includes ghosts and zombie-like creatures.
Lots of cultures, I'd venture to even say most, have traditions about burial rites and how the recently deceased should be treated. Some with negative consequences if these traditions are not followed. That includes ghosts and zombie-like creatures.
OP
OP
The T-Rex.
Because as we all know, dinosaurs were a lie, planted in the ground by Satan to trick us good Christians.
Because as we all know, dinosaurs were a lie, planted in the ground by Satan to trick us good Christians.
Greek/Roman dragons were the same as Asian dragons. The western dragon came about because in the Medieval Era (after the fall of the Roman Empire), western Europe didn't have much access to classic literature and basically played the telephone game in regards to dragons. Hence why it got warped into the current depiction of Western Dragons.
There are no unicorns or similar in Pacific islander myths, same with dragons. There are giants however.
I've read speculation that the digging up of dinosaur fossils helped inspire the image of dragons. I also believe the same was theorized happening for mammoth skeletons which were dug up and assembled in a bipedal fashion and inspired myths of the cyclops.
