When we talk about "legendary creatures" we refer to the fantastic animals and hybrids that play a leading role as villains, heroes or helpers in the myths and legends that form part of our culture's folklore, and therefore of our history.
Since these creatures never really existed - or, at least, their existence has not been proven scientifically - their origin is rooted in a culture's ancient mythology. In some cases, real animals have become legendary and gained all sorts of supernatural attributes in stories that have been passed down through generations. In other cases, different species have been mixed to create mythological hybrids.
Some legendary creatures are very famous, like the unicorn, the dragon or the Minotaur, while others are more obscure. Others have become more popular with "recent" fantasy stories such as The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. Each mythological creature has its own attributes, and some are notable for being very intelligent and dangerous.
In this AnimalWised article we'll stray away from science to talk about the most powerful legendary creatures. Human cultures have created them by the thousands, but we have selected only 6. Don't forget to share your favorites in the comments section!
Dragons
Dragons are usually reptiles; although they vary in size and characteristics depending on their origin, they are certainly one of the most powerful legendary creatures. They appear in many myths around the world, and also in popular modern stories such as Harry Potter, The Hobbit or Game of Thrones.
In the Eastern tradition, which includes the mythology of China, Korea and Japan among other countries, dragons are usually four-legged reptiles with no wings, and they are extremely clever. In the Western tradition, which includes Europe but also Western Asia, dragons are winged and legged reptiles and are presented as incredibly strong, but not particularly bright: you can see this latter type in the picture below.
Some of the most powerful dragons in worldwide mythology include:
- Mo'o Kuna: according to Hawaiian mythology, Rainbow Falls in the Wailuku River fall over a cave that is the home of the goddess Hina. However, the large dragon Mo'o Kuna (who is described as lizard-like or as a shapeshifter) tried to drown her out of spite. Luckily, Hina's son Maui drove him away by throwing lava into the river.
- Shenlong: of Chinese origin, Shen-lung or Shenlong is the sky-blue imperial dragon that rules over the wind, the water and the storms. It was highly respected, as it was responsible for causing storms and droughts and thus had power over agriculture.
- Mušḫuššu or Sirrush: this dragon hybrid has scales, but also long horns, cat-like forelegs and eagle-like hind legs, and it is of Mesopotamian origin. This dragon is depicted in the Ishtar gate of Babylon, and it was considered to be very dangerous not just for its ferocity, but also for its intelligence.
Manticore
The Persian manticore, similar to the Greek chimera and the Egyptian sphinx, is one of the legendary creatures that we refer to as "hybrids", because it has the body of a lion, the head of a human, the wings of a dragon or bat, and the venomous tail of a scorpion. Stories about the manticore spread across Europe in the Ancient and Medieval ages, when it was believed that manticores inhabited the deserts of what is now Iran.
The manticore is known as one of the most powerful legendary creatures due to its reputation for devouring humans. Whilst it isn't one of the most intelligent mythological beings, the manticore was considered to be truly evil and dangerous.
If you heard about manticores in Game of Thrones or the books it's based on, A Song of Ice and Fire, you may be surprised at this description. In that universe, manticores are a hybrid of scorpion and scarab beetle, and they have a very powerful venom that is highly sought after by alchemists and masters.
Naga
While they aren't as famous in the West as dragons or manticores, nagas are extremely powerful legendary creatures in Hinduism. In that tradition, nagas are semi-divine beings with the body of a serpent and the torso of a human, usually a woman: in that case, they are called nagas or naginis - yes, like Voldemort's snake in Harry Potter.
While they aren't considered to be evil, nagas are have a deadly venomous bite. Their size can be gigantic, but they do not tend to act violently. In fact, their intelligence and patience makes them very wise beings. Here you can learn more about what is a naga in Hinduism.
Qilin
Here we have another very powerful legendary creature. Fortunately, the qilin is not a deadly beast, so you have nothing to worry about. It is one of the four sacred animals of Ancient China, along with the dragon, the tortoise and the phoenix. Because of its peculiar appearance, the qilin is sometimes known as the "Chinese unicorn". However, it doesn't look at all like an European unicorn.
This hybrid creature, which has the body and horns of a deer, the head of a lion or dragon, the tail of an ox and the hooves of a horse, is highly intelligent and considered to be sociable. It is considered lucky to see a qilin, and it is normally depicted surrounded by flames, which it uses to protect those who have pure hearts.
The strongest mythological animals aren't always evil, and the qilin is proof of that. According to Chinese folklore, the qilin announces the birth or death of leaders and philosophers, and so it has an important role in society. Among its powers we can find walking on water and walking over flowers without flattening any of them.
Griffin
If you have read the Harry Potter saga, you will be familiar with the famous hippogriff. However, the griffin - a relative of the former - was better-known in the Western Ancient and Middle Ages, when it was believed to be one of the most powerful legendary creatures.
Griffins, half eagle from their head to their waist and half lion from the waist down, are ferocious, intelligent and noble flying creatures that had the best qualities of both animals. In the stories, griffins are portrayed as excellent hunters with a sharp vision and great sense of smell.
It is said that griffins used to guard treasures in Mesopotamia, and they are depicted in many coats of arms due to their ferocity, loyalty and courage. Many people believed that griffins could be tamed and used as mounts. Griffins appear in many famous works, from the Divine Comedy to The Chronicles of Narnia.
The list of mythological animals around the world is very extensive: if you do a little bit of research, you will realize that there are many more than you might have thought. Our list of the most powerful legendary creatures - based on their strength, intelligence, danger and symbolic role - is quite limited, so you should share the ones we have missed in the comments section!
If you want to learn more about animals in folklore, don't miss the following articles:
- What is the story of the Kamadhenu cow?
- What is the story of the Rainbow Fish?
- What is the story of Nandi the bull?
- Why is Hanuman a monkey?
- All about the wolves in Game of Thrones
If you're interested in learning about amazing creatures which have been scientifically proved to exist, take a look at these articles with incredible pictures:
- Marine prehistoric animals
- The 5 oldest animals in the world
- The 10 most solitary animals in the world
If you want to read similar articles to The 6 Most Powerful Legendary Creatures, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category.