Mythical Beast

Phoenix · Firebird — Legendary bird reborn from flames

The phoenix (Φοῖνιξ) is an immortal bird from ancient Egyptian and Greek mythology with a lifespan of 500 or 1,461 years, after which it builds a nest of cedar, cinnamon, and myrrh, sets itself ablaze, and is reborn as a young bird from its own ashes. First recorded in Herodotus's Histories Book 2, it originated from the sacred Egyptian bird Bennu of Heliopolis — the soul of the sun god Ra and embodiment of resurrection and renewal. Spreading to Greece and Rome, it gained its name from 'phoinix' (purple) and was depicted as a vibrantly multicolored bird. In Christianity it became the sacred bird symbolizing Jesus's resurrection. Similar immortal bird myths exist in every civilization — Chinese fenghuang, Japanese hou-ou, Slavic zhar-ptitsa (Russian firebird).

Pegasus · Winged Horse — A Legendary Creature from Greek Mythology

Pegasus (Πήγασος) is a white winged horse from ancient Greek mythology, born when blood from Medusa's severed head met the sea, with the giant Chrysaor as his brother. The hero Bellerophon, with goddess Athena's help, tamed Pegasus and together they slew the Chimera — one of Greek mythology's most heroic adventures. However, when Bellerophon's hubris led him to attempt riding Pegasus to Mount Olympus to join the gods, Zeus sent a gadfly to sting Pegasus, throwing only Bellerophon while Pegasus safely reached Olympus. He became the messenger carrying Zeus's thunderbolts, and after death was placed eternally in the heavens as the constellation Pegasus. As the archetype of 'winged horse,' he is the most familiar sacred animal appearing in fantasy worldwide.

Unicorn · Monoceros — Legendary Horse with a Sacred Horn

The unicorn is a legendary creature in the form of a white horse with a single spiraling horn on its forehead, a symbol of purity, virginity, and divinity. Originating from ancient Greek physician Ctesias's monoceros, it developed extensively in medieval Europe. Medieval bestiaries depicted it as a creature too fierce and fast for hunters to catch directly, willingly lying down only on the lap of a virgin maiden — religious iconographic allegory of the Virgin Mary and Christ's Passion. The horn, called 'alicorn,' was believed to neutralize all poisons, with real unicorn horns (actually narwhal tusks) traded for more than gold in medieval European royal courts. Standing alongside the lion (England) on the British royal coat of arms is the unicorn (Scotland). In American English, 'unicorn' also means 'extremely rare thing.' A sacred creature in every fantasy work from Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings.

Monoceros · Unicorn — Legendary one-horned creature

The monoceros (μονόκερως) is the unicorn of ancient Greek and Roman literature — the name combining Greek 'mono' (one) and 'keros' (horn). It first appears in the 4th-century BCE Greek physician Ctesias's Indica (Indian travelogue), described as a wild ass living in India with a 50cm horn striped white, red, and black on its forehead, with cups made from the horn rendering drinkers immune to poison. Pliny's Natural History redescribes it as 'horse body, elephant feet, pig tail, with a 60cm black horn at center,' gradually transforming. As it spread to medieval Europe, it became the Latin 'unicornus' and evolved into the familiar white horse-like unicorn — though the monoceros is still sometimes distinguished as a more wild and fierce original form.

Valkyrie · Warrior Maidens — Choosers of the Slain in Norse Mythology

The Valkyrie (Valkyrja) is a female demi-divine being in Norse mythology guiding warriors' souls to Odin, god of war. The name means 'chooser of the slain' (Val-kyrja) in Old Norse — they decide who falls gloriously in battle, then guide the heroes' souls to Valhalla, the gods' hall, gathering an army for the final battle of Ragnarok. In Valhalla, Valkyries pour mead and serve the fallen heroes. Traditionally thirteen Valkyries existed. The most famous is Brunhilde — her tragic love for the hero Sigurd became central to Wagner's opera Der Ring des Nibelungen. Depicted in shining armor, winged helmets, mounted on horses or swans, they appear in all Norse fantasy from Marvel's Valkyrie to the Diablo series and God of War Ragnarok.