Magic and Monsters

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Rising from its watery home in the Blue Ridge, the great horned serpent of Cherokee lore, the Uktena, pounces on its unsuspecting prey.

From the muddy lake stepped a tall, armless thing with glowing green eyes, webbed feet, and a gaping maw — or so said three Ohio teens.

Indians of the northern forests tell tales of the Wendigo, an emaciated giant with fangs, horns, claws, and a fondness for human flesh.

This statue in Aachen, Germany depicts a local beast, the Bahkauv, that has a calf’s body, a panther’s teeth and paws, and a reptile’s tail.

Winged horses appear in the legends of many cultures, from Pegasus of Greek mythology to the Tulpar of Turkey and the Tianma of China.

The prophet Tenskwatawa urges Indian communities to embrace traditional beliefs and promises magical aid against their enemies.

The Rompo is an African monster with a rabbit’s head and body parts from other animals. It sings a mournful song as it feasts on human corpses.

For generations, people found stones that looked as though they’d been shaped by magical forces. Such fairy crosses inspired many a tale.

Awaiting its prey from the depths of the Valley River at Murphy, NC, is the Tlanusi, the bloodthirsty Giant Leech of Cherokee legend.