Vampires & Werewolves & Others [information]

Book of Imaginary Beings

Jorge Luis Borges wrote and edited the Book of Imaginary Beings in 1957 as the original Spanish Manual de zoología fantástica, or Handbook of Fantastic Zoology, expanding it in 1967 and 1969 to the final El libro de los seres imaginarios. The English edition, created in collaboration with translator Norman Thomas di Giovanni, contains descriptions of 120 mythical beasts from folklore and literature.

In the preface, Borges states that the book is to be read "as with all miscellanies...not...straight through.... Rather we would like the reader to dip into the pages at random, just as one plays with the shifting patterns of a kaleidoscope"; and that "legends of men taking the shapes of animals" have been omitted.

*Creatures mentioned

Á Bao A QuA creature that lives on the staircase of the Tower of Victory in Chittor. It may only move when a traveler climbs the staircase, and it follows close at the person's heels. Its form becomes more complete the closer it gets to the terrace at the tower's top. It can only achieve this ultimate form if the traveler has obtained Nirvana, otherwise it finds itself unable to continue.Abtu and AnetTwo identical fish that, according to Egyptian legend, swam in front of the prow of the sun god's ship on the lookout for danger.The AlicantoA mine shaft dwelling bird that feeds upon gold. It is pursued by miners.The AmphisbaenaA two-headed snake, with one head being where its tail would normally be. It is venomous and, if chopped in half, its two parts can reunite.An Animal Imagined by KafkaA kangaroo-like animal with a flat, human-like face and a very long tail.Singing Beast Imagined by C. S. LewisAn animal that sits upon its haunches like a dog, but appears more like a horse. Its toes are camel-like, and, unable to produce its own milk, it raises its young by nursing them on the milk of other animals. It has an entrancing call that sounds almost like a glorious song. (from Perelandra)An Animal Imagined by PoeA small, flat animal with pure white fur and bright red claws and teeth. Its head is feline, except for its canine-like ears.Animals in the Form of SpheresAt the time of its writing, some believed that planets and stars were actually living beings, and that the movement of the heavenly bodies was voluntary.Antelopes with Six LegsAccording to Siberian myth, these six-legged antelopes were far too fast for human beings to catch. A divine huntsman, Tunk-poj, cut off the animal's rear-most legs to make the animal easier for humans to hunt.The Ass with Three LegsThis massive creature is said to stand in the middle of the ocean. It has three legs, six eyes, nine mouths, and one golden horn.Axehandle HoundBahamutA huge, measureless fish which is often used to describe the spaces between heaven, earth, and hell.BaldandersAlso known as Soon-Another's, these creatures can assume many shapes. It appears to have a human head and torso, the tail of a fish, the leg of a goat, and the wings and claws of a bird.The BansheeThe "woman of the fairies" does not have a distinct shape, but is instead described by her keening wails.BarometzThis "animal" is actually a plant in the shape of a lamb with golden fleece.BasiliskThe basilisk's appearance has changed over the ages, but it is most often considered a chicken-like serpent with anywhere from four to eight legs. It is extremely venomous, and its gaze can turn anyone into stone.BehemothA massive creature that is often likened to an elephant or hippopotamus.BrowniesSmall brown colored men that often visit homes while the inhabitants are asleep to perform various chores.BurakA horse-like creature with long ears and the wings and tail of a peacock. It may also have a man's face.CarbuncleThis creature was alleged to be seen in Latin America. Legends say the Carbuncle has some sort of jewel on its head.CatoblepasDescribed as a black buffalo with a hog's head, this creature's head is so heavy that it constantly hangs low to the ground. It is also believed that, like the basilisk, looking into its eyes will kill you instantly.Celestial CockThe Celestial Cock, also known as the Cock of Dawn, has three legs and makes its home in the Fu-sang tree, a mile-tall tree that grows in "the region of dawn." It is said to crow three times each day: once at dawn, once at midday and once when the sun sets.Celestial StagNo one has ever seen a Celestial Stag. They live in underground mines, searching for the light of day. They will attempt to bribe, speak to, and even torture miners in their quest to reach the surface, where they turn into a deadly liquid form.CentaurA well-known beast with the torso of a man and the hindquarters of a horse. Most are portrayed as savage beasts, but others can be well learned in many arts.CerberusA three-headed dog known to guard the gates of the underworld in Greek mythology.CharybdisA sea monster, once a beautiful naiad and the daughter of Poseidon and Gaia. She takes form as a huge bladder of a creature whose face was all mouth and whose arms and legs were flippers and who swallows huge amounts of water three times a day before belching them back out again, creating whirlpools.The Cheshire CatA rather mischievous cat with a large, grinning face. It can also make itself invisible, leaving behind only its disembodied smile.The ChimeraAlthough it may have several different forms, the chimera is most often described as a three-headed beast. Sprouting from its back is the head of a goat, a lion's head at its front, and a snake's head as its tail.The Chinese DragonCompared to the Western Dragon, this dragon is considered divine and holy. It is often seen with antler-like horns and protrusions running along its spine. The Chinese dragon is often pictured with a pearl: the source of its power.The Chinese FoxThese foxes appear like average foxes, but may sometimes be seen standing on their hind legs to walk. They presumably live about a thousand years, and are bad omens for their mischievous ways. They are known to shapeshift and are able to see into the future.The Chinese PhoenixTwo basic creatures are described as a symbol of eternal love: the male Feng and the female Huang. They are described as very beautiful birds similar to a peacock, have three legs, and live in the sun.ChonchonCh'ou-T'iA legendary Chinese creature with a head both front and back.Chronos or HeraclesThis dragon-like creature is often known by two names. Like the chimera, it is made of three heads: a bull's head at its front, a god's head at its middle, and a lion's head at its rear.The Denizens of Ch'uan-T'ouCreatures with human heads, beaks, and bat wings.An Insect Imagined by C. S. LewisA strange, jointed insect consisting of a cylindrical body and many thin legs.Crocotta and the LeucrocottaThe crocotta is described as a hybrid of a dog and a wolf, and may be able to imitate the voice of a person. The leucrocotta is similar, but described as an antelope and hyena hybrid.A CrossbreedAn animal described by Kafka in "Description of a Struggle" that is half cat and half lamb. Its fur is woolly and soft, yet it has a cat's face and claws. It does not make any sounds, and refuses to chase after rats.DoppelgängerAlso known as the Double, the Doppelgänger is best described as a man's exact counterpart.Eastern DragonQuite similar to the Chinese dragon of the same region, the Eastern dragon takes roughly the same form, but may be lacking wings. The pearl is also the source of its power, and they can make themselves invisible if they so wish.Eater of the DeadMost commonly associated with Egyptian myth, the Eater attends to the "wicked". It is described as having the head of a crocodile, the midsection of a lion, and the hindquarters of a hippo.Eight-Forked SerpentA massive serpent with eight heads and eight tails. Its eyes are a deep red, and trees are said to grow along its back.The Elephant That Foretold the Birth of the BuddhaA white elephant with six tusks that appeared in a dream to, as its namesake suggests, foretell the birth of Buddha.The Eloi and the MorlocksIn the setting of H. G. Wells' The Time Machine, it is suggested that humans evolve (or devolve) into two distinct species. The Eloi are thin and fragile artisans, living on fruits. The Morlocks are blind laborers, living underground and rising to the surface on moonless nights to feed on the Eloi.ElvesLittle is known about the actual appearance of elves, but they seem to be very small people, and are often portrayed as having pointed ears. They are known for causing all sorts of mischief, such as tangling hair and stealing cattle.The Wonders of God's Creation Manifested in the Variety of EightA mysterious creature that lives in the world of Bliss. Allegedly, all sounds, sights, and smells to this creature are divine.The FairiesFairies are described as beautiful, tiny people that like to meddle in the affairs of humans.FastitocalonA massive whale that many sailors often mistake for an island.Fauna of MirrorsIt was believed that another world existed behind all mirrors, inhabited by a wide amount of unknown and strange creatures. Luckily, our worlds are now cut off from one another.GarudaThis beast is the mount of the god Vishnu. It is half man and half vulture, with a white face, deep red wings, and a golden body.GillygalooA bird which nests on mountain slopes and lays square eggs, which lumberjacks use as dice.GoofangA fish("about the size of a sunfish but much bigger") which swims backwards to keep the water out of its eyes.Goofus BirdA bird that builds its nest upside down and flies backwards.GnomesSprites of the earth and hills, gnomes are often shown as bearded dwarves, often with rough features. They often watch over treasure as well.GolemThis creature was created for the purpose of doing menial chores, and was controlled by a magic tablet placed under its tongue. Normally apathetic and unaware, if uncontrolled the creature enters a wild frenzy.GriffinThe griffin is best described as an eagle with the body of a lion, and is very strong.Haniel, Kafziel, Azriel, and AnielSometimes referred to as angels, these four beasts also possessed four faces: a man's, a lion's, an ox's, and an eagle's. They also possessed four wings.Haokah, the Thunder GodHe appears as a man with large antlers, using the wind to beat his thunder drum.HarpiesCreatures with a vulture's body, a woman's face, and an insatiable hunger. They are described as having filthy genitalia and a foul smell about them.Heavenly CockAlso known as the Bird of Dawn, this Chinese rooster has three legs and crows three times a day, to signal dawn, noon, and dusk.HideA many-eyed octopus-like creature shaped like an animal's hide.HidebehindA strong, nocturnal creature which feeds off the intestines of its prey. It captures and hides from wayfarers in the woods by sucking in its body so that it can hide behind the trunk of any tree, or the person trying to look at it. It is said they have an aversion to alcohol.HippogriffA creature invented by Ludovico Ariosto in the 16th century in his epic Orlando Furioso, based on an expression of Virgil's denoting the impossible, "to cross griffons with horses"; the griffon [see above] being a cross between a lion and an eagle believed by Virgil's commentator Servius to loathe horses.HochiganA long-ago bushman who stole the animals' gift of speech. Borges links this to Descartes' idea that monkeys stay silent to avoid having to work, and to a story by Argentinian author Lugones about a chimpanzee killed by the strain of learning to talk.HsiaoAn owl-like creature with a man's face, an ape's body, and a dog's tail.Hsing-T'ienA headless creature with eyes on its chest and its mouth on its belly.Hua-FishA flying snake-fish that foretells drought.HuallepenA swift-moving dog with a human head, which laughs maliciously.HuiAn amphibious sheep-like animal, which can mate with cows to produce deformed offspring; if a pregnant woman sees one, her child will also be deformed.HumbabaA giant in the Assyrian epic Gilgamesh that guards mountain cedars, he is scaly, with vulture claws, lion paws, bull's horns and a tail and penis with snakes' heads at the ends. Men-scorpions from the poem, which guard the mountain Mashu, are also mentioned.Hundred-HeadsThe hundred heads was said to be a gigantic fish with many heads, each one that of a different animal. Legend holds that the fish was the reincarnated spirit of a monk who had often called others "monkey-head" or something similar. The karma of these insults had made him return as a monster.The Hydra of LernaeaIchthyocentaurfrom the waist up, this creature has the form of a man, but below the waist they have the fins and tail of a fish. Their forefeet are either in the form of a lion's or a horse's.Jewish DemonsIn Jewish tradition the world between those of the body and spirit is that of angels and devils, densely populated and including creatures from many other cultures. One of the devils is Keteb Mereri, Lord of the Noontide and of Scorching Summers.Jinn- One of the three kinds of intelligent creatures created by Allah in Muslim tradition, Jinn are formed from smoke of fire, have five orders, can be good or evil and of either sex and can appear as clouds or in various forms or be invisible. Borges mentions various legends about them, as well as Victor Hugo's poem "Les Djinns", and the possible link between the Latin genius and Jinn.the Kilkenny CatsThese cats often fight with each other, devouring everything but the other's tail.A King of Fire and his SteedThese were beings formed completely of the constantly changing flames of fire.Kraken