Criaturas Míticas

1. Mythical Creatures
Phoenix
No creature symbolizes eternal life more than the phoenix, a mythical bird known as much for its
beautyas itsimmortality. The legendof the phoenix appears in a variety of ancient mythologies,
including Greek, Egyptian and Indian. It is usually depicted as an eagle or other bird of prey, but
may alsoresemble aheroninitsdelicate majesty.Inmostmythologies, the phoenix is associated
withthe risingof the sun and hasa close relationshipwiththe sun-god Ra. Another feature of the
phoenix isthat onlyone can existata time.Whenitsensesthatitslife is coming to an end - about
once every thousand years - the phoenix builds itself a funeral pyre made of cinnamon or other
aromatic material and allows itself to be consumed by the flames. Then, as the old phoenix is
reduced to ashes, a new one rises to begin its life on Earth.
Centaur
Originatingin the mythical talesof ancient Greece, the legend of the centaur has long fascinated
mankind. Beingpartmanand part horse,the centauris stuckbetweentwoworlds:thatof the wild
beast and that of the civilized human being. Not only were centaurs part animal, they are also
describedasrowdy warriortypes prone toheavydrinkingandother primal excesses, which often
broughtthem into conflict with their more cultured cousin, man. One exception is the great and
wise Chiron, a centaur who was also a gifted healer and respected intellectual.
Mermaids
Since ancienttimes,sailorscrossingthe world'soceanshave reportedseeing mermaids, beautiful
fish-maidenswithlongflowinghairandincredible powersof seduction.These exquisite creatures
are described as irresistibly attractive with the torso and head of a young woman and the lower
body of a fish. The first mermaid stories date back at least 3,000 years, and reports were still
common up until the discovery of the New World by Europeans. Such tales sometimes describe
mermaids as helpful, saving sailors who had the misfortune to fall overboard. Others convey a
more menacing intention on the part of the fish-ladies, such as their fondness for making ships
crash onto rocky shores. Still others describe these fin-tailed beauties as murderous beasts that
seduce men with beautiful songs and then kill then mercilessly for the sheer joy of it.
Leviathan
Coming in at No. 7 in our countdown is the biblical monster Leviathan, a giant sea creature with
glowing eyes and thehabit of crushing ships and devouring ocean-going humans. With its
enormousbodyandscalyskin, Leviathanis usuallyreferredtoasa giant monstrousfish, butisalso
commonlydescribedasaserpent,crocodile or marine mammal. It is mentioned numerous times
in the Old Testament, but it is sometimes unclear whether this creature was created by God or
Satan. According to some ancient religious texts, God may have originally created a male and

2. female Leviathan,butdestroyedthe femaleinordertoprotect the world from the possibility of a
multitude of angry monsters roaming the seas.
Dragons
Dragon mythology extends back through the ages at least 4,000 years. They are commonly
depicted as large flying reptiles that spitfire or shoot deadly poison from their nostrils. Tales of
these giant beasts date to the dawn of human existence. They've also inspired many a young
warrior to take up arms, bravely trying to prevent a malevolent dragon from consuming a fair
maiden.Onthe otherhand,some culturesactuallyrevere the dragonforbeinggentleandwise. In
China,dragonsare a symbol of courage and heroismandare seen as protectorsof the community.
Pegasus
This mythical animal is the son of Poseidon, god of the sea, and the monster Medusa. He is
portrayedas a beautiful winged horse, sometimes white, sometimes white with gold wings and
sometimes gold all over. There are a couple of versions of the birth of Pegasus in Greek
mythology. In one, he sprang from Medusa's neck when the hero Perseus beheaded her. In
another,Pegasuswasbornof the dropletsof bloodthatspilledfromMedusaupon her death. The
image of Pegasus has been a favorite of artist for centuries; his likeness has inspired countless
paintingsandsculpture.There isalsoaconstellationforPegasus, a gift from Zeus upon his death.
Sirens
This mythical animal is the son of Poseidon, god of the sea, and the monster Medusa. He is
portrayedas a beautiful winged horse, sometimes white, sometimes white with gold wings and
sometimes gold all over. There are a couple of versions of the birth of Pegasus in Greek
mythology. In one, he sprang from Medusa's neck when the hero Perseus beheaded her. In
another,Pegasuswasbornof the dropletsof bloodthatspilledfromMedusaupon her death. The
image of Pegasus has been a favorite of artist for centuries; his likeness has inspired countless
paintingsandsculpture.There isalsoaconstellationforPegasus, a gift from Zeus upon his death.
Hydra
Hydra is the multi-headed serpent beast with poisonous blood and breath so bad it could kill a
man.There are numerous references to Hydra in Greek literature and poetry, but one individual
Hydra is the most well-known for having been slain by the hero Hercules. He was known as the
"Hydra of Lerna" because he lived in the marshlands of the Lernaean region of Greece. As the
legend goes, it was impossible to win a battle with Hydra because cutting off one of its heads
meant that two more would grow back in its place. Then the hero Hercules came along and
figuredouta strategyforwinningafight with Hydra. After chopping off one of the beasts' heads,
he quicklyburnedthe stump so a new one could not regenerate. He proceeded to unburden the
monster of its remaining heads, cauterizing each wound as he cut.

3. Sphinx
No. 2 in our countdown has the body of a lion and the head of a human, sometimes male,
sometimes female. The legend of the sphinx has its origin in ancient Egyptian mythology dating
back about 4,000 years. Often associated with guardianship, this creature is frequently placed
architecturally at the entrance to a building or a city. The oldest and most famous sphinx is
probablythe Great Sphinx of Giza,whichissituatedalongthe westbankof the Nile River near the
city of Cairo in Egypt as a guardian of the ancient tombs. One of the most intellectual of all the
mythical creatures, the sphinx is known for its fondness of riddles. According to legend, anyone
who was unable to solve the riddle of the sphinx was not only forbidden to pass – they were
immediately devoured.
Unicorns
Unicornsare magnificentandnoble creaturesthathave enchantedyoungandoldacrossthe globe
and through the ages. They are both a symbol of purity and goodness and the personification of
untamed freedom. Many cultures throughout the world have their own version of the unicorn
myth, but most depict them as white horses with a long horn extending from the forehead. The
horn isusuallyspiraled, which makes light dance across the body of the animal as the sun shines
down upon it.
Unicornsare oftenassociatedwithrainbows and fair maidens. According to legend, unicorns can
only be captured by maidens alone in the forest.