Mythical Creature Collection (#67)

Scythian crest for a horse, 5th century BC
Scythian crest for a horse in the shade of a gryphons head. From barrow two at Palyrk, Altai, in Russia. Currently at the Heritage Museum in Leningrad, 5th century BC

Pictish cross-slab showing Pictish horsemen and centaurs, 7th century
Reverse of a Pictish cross-slab showing Pictish horsemen and centaurs, at Megile Museum, 7th century

Glazed brick relief of a mushrushu on the Ishtar Gate, 7th century BC
Glazed brick relief of a mushrushu, sacred to Marduk, on the Ishtar Gate erected in Babylon in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II, 7th century BC

Persian enamelled brick Griffon, 6th century BC
Persian enamelled brick Griffon, from the palace of Dairus at Susa, from the Louvres collection, 6th century BC

Detail from the Egyptian satirical papyrus of a lion and a unicorn playing a board game
Detail from the Egyptian satirical papyrus of a lion and a unicorn playing Senet, a board game similar to draughts

Griffin-headed Armlet
Griffin-headed armlet which originally had inlays in the recessed parts

Embossed ornament in the form of a lion-griffin, from the Oxus treasure, 5th-4th century BC
Embossed ornament in the form of a lion-griffin, from the Oxus treasure, Achaemenid Persian, 5th-4th century BC. The Oxus treasure is the most important collection of silver

Greek vase showing Perseus killing a Gorgon, made in Thebes, from the Louvres collection

Greek vase detail of Perseus killing the Gorgon, 7th century BC
Greek vase detail of Perseus killing the Gorgon. A Greek Rithos from Thebes, from the Louvres collection, 7th century BC

Greek terracotta in the shape of a siren, c570BC
Greek terracotta perfume-bottle in the shape of a siren, c570BC. From the British Museums collection

Jug with a griffin-head spout, Greek, c675-c650 BC. Made on one of the islands of the Cyclades, Aegean Sea, perhaps Paros; found on Aigina, off the south-east coast of Greece, Aegean Sea

Dragon sacred to the god Marduk, detail of the Ishtar Gate, c604-c562 BC. In the collection at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin

Detail of the Ishtar Gate, Babylon, c604-c562 BC
Detail of the Ishtar Gate leading to the Ishtar Gate, Babylon, c604-c562 BC. In the collection at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin

Alabaster Sphinx, Memphis, Egypt, 18th or 19th Dynasty, c14th-13th century BC

Head detail of Alabaster Sphinx, Memphis, Egypt, 18th or 19th Dynasty, c14th-13th century BC

Closeup of Sphinxs head, Temple sacred to Amun Mut & Khons, Luxor, Egypt, c370 BC
Closeup of a sphinxs head from the avenue of Sphinxes, Temple sacred to Amun Mut and Khons, Luxor, Egypt, c370 BC. The avenue of Sphinxes leads the way to the Temple sacred to Amun, Mut and Khons

Frontal view of sphinx from the avenue of Sphinxes, Temple sacred to Amun Mut & Khons, Luxor, Egypt
Frontal view of a sphinx from the avenue of Sphinxes, Temple sacred to Amun Mut and Khons, Luxor, Egypt, c370 BC. The avenue of Sphinxes leads the way to the Temple sacred to Amun, Mut and Khons

A sphinx from the avenue of Sphinxes, Temple sacred to Amun Mut & Khons, Luxor, Egypt, c370 BC
A sphinx from the avenue of Sphinxes, Temple sacred to Amun Mut and Khons, Luxor, Egypt, c370 BC. The avenue of Sphinxes leads the way to the Temple sacred to Amun, Mut and Khons

Closeup of head ofThe Sphinx, period of Khafre (Chephren), 4th Dynasty, 26th century BC
Closeup of head ofThe Sphinx, period of Khafre (Chephren), Giza, Egypt, 4th Dynasty, 26th century BC

The Sphinx and Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren), Giza, Egypt, 4th Dynasty, 26th century BC
The Sphinx and Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren) viewed from the left, Giza, Egypt, 4th Dynasty, 26th century BC

The Sphinx, Giza, Egypt, period of Khafre, 4th Dynasty, 26th century BC
The Sphinx, Giza, Egypt, period of Khafre (Chephren), Giza, Egyptian, 4th Dynasty, 26th century BC

St George killing the dragon, 1598. Perhaps a Roman centurion beheaded near modern Tel Aviv, St George (dc303) is the patron saint of England, Catalonia, Genoa, Greece, Portugal, Russia, Venice

St George killing the dragon, 1884. Artist: George Heywood Maunoir Sumner
St George killing the dragon, 1884. Perhaps a Roman centurion beheaded near modern Tel Aviv, St George (dc303) is the patron saint of England, Catalonia, Genoa, Greece, Portugal, Russia, Venice

Hades, 18th century. Hades, the underworld of Greek mythology, showing Charon the ferryman, Cerberus, the three-headed dog guarding the entrance, Pluto and Persephone (centre left) and the River Styx

The Wolf-Charmer, 1881. Artist: John Le Farge
The Wolf-Charmer, 1881. Belief in wolf charmers widespread in France in the first half of 19th century and was the last vestige of the werewolf legend

Lycanthropy: forest demon captured in Germany in 1531 (1669). This creature was said to inhabit forests round Salzburg and Hamburg

Alchemical symbol representing the transmutation of base metal into silver and gold, 1652. The transmutation of base metal (Earth at bottom) into gold (Sun) and silver (Moon)

Unicorn, 1644. From Handelene van de Natuere, a Dutch translation of Natural History by Pliny the Elder (23-79), the Roman writer on natural history who died in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that

St George, mounted on a spotted horse, killing the dragon, 19th century. St George was a half legendary Christian soldier from Cappadocia

St Margaret or Marina of Antioch, early 4th century virgin Christian martyr, 19th century. She is depicted standing on the Devil in the form of a dragon

Hecate and giants, Roman relief. Hecate was the Greek goddess of the lower world, magic, ghosts and witchcraft. Honey, dogs and black lambs were offered to her at crossroads

St George and the Dragon, c1500. St George (dc303) was an early Christian martyr and is the Patron Saint of England. Here he is depicted in a suit of black armour standing on a dragon he has killed

St George Killing the Dragon, Russian icon. St George (dc303) is the Patron Saint of England and Portugal

St Michael the Archangel, c1503-1504. Artist: Raphael
St Michael the Archangel, c1503-1504. St Michael depicted as a knight in armour with shield and sword attacking the dragon as described in Revelations

The Great Sphinx at Giza, Ancient Egyptian, c2550 BC. A portrait statue of King Khafre (Chephren) in the form of a sphinx, a mythical creature with a lions body and human head who posed riddles

Nymphs attending the winged horse, Pegasus. In Greek mythology Pegasus assisted Bellerophon in his fight against the Chimera and the Amazons

The Hermetic Androgyne, late 17th century. Miniature from a German manuscript. King=Sun=Gold, Queen=Moon=Silver, Dragon=Mercury=Volatility and so transmutation

Bronze ritual vessel, Shang dynasty, China, 12th century BC

Griffin-lion relief in glazed brickwork, Achaemenid Period, Ancient Persia, 530-330 BC. From the Musee du Louvre, Paris

Etruscan amphora decorated with mythical beasts, c7th-6th century BC

Olmec carved jade head, Pre-Columbian, Central America, 1150-800 BC. A carved head, possibly representing a dragon

Scene from Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream, c1858. The play was first performed c1596. In this scene (Act 2 Sc 2), Ariel stands on a toadstool conducting The Fairies Song; You spotted snakes

The Fairy Queens Messenger, c1870. Artist: Richard Doyle
The Fairy Queens Messenger, c1870. Illustration for a poem by William Allingham, showing a fairy sitting on the back of a stag beetle

Vlad Tepes (Vlad III, The Impaler), Ruler of Wallachia 1456-1462 and 1476-1477. Vlad was apparently the source of the legend of Dracula of Translyvania as he was a member of the Order of the Dragon

The Treaty of Amiens, March 25, 1802, 19th century

Daniels vision of the beasts, 1804. Four great Beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. Daniel was one of the four great Hebrew prophets. From the Bible (Daniel 7:3)

Apollo, Ancient Greek god of music, poetry, archery, prophecy and healing, 1798. Apollo depicted as the perfection of youthful manhood. Laurel was his plant

Alfred Austin (1835-1913), British poet, 1883. Artist: Edward Linley Sambourne
Alfred Austin (1835-1913), British poet, 1883. Cartoon from the Fancy Portraits series in Punch, London, 3 March 1883, when Austin became editor of National Review

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"Unleashing the Mystical: A Journey through Mythical Creatures" Bigfoot Film, 1967: Unveiling the elusive legend of Bigfoot on the silver screen. Trotsky Slaying the Counter-Revolutionary Dragon (Poster), 1918: A powerful portrayal of revolution triumphing over opposition in a mythical battle. Ulysses Deriding Polyphemus, 1829 (1904): JMW Turner's masterpiece captures the epic encounter between man and monster from Homer's Odyssey. Faerie Queene, c1900: Walter Crane's enchanting artwork brings to life fantastical creatures from Edmund Spenser's renowned poem. Hercules Brings Cerberus to Eurystheus, with Hermes and Athena, c6th century BC: Witness the mighty Hercules' daring feat as he confronts the fearsome three-headed guardian of Hades. The Temptation of Saint Anthony (Oil on canvas): Delve into an artist's interpretation of Saint Anthony facing a surreal world filled with monstrous temptations. A Statue of Hercules and Cerberus: Marvel at a sculptural representation immortalizing Hercules' heroic struggle against Cerberus, guarding the gates to hell itself. Sakata Kintoki Wrestling with a Tengu, c. 1715/18: Enter an ancient Japanese tale where legendary warrior Sakata Kintoki grapples with a mischievous and formidable Tengu spirit. Dante and Virgil with Three-Headed Monster, 1951: Shirley Markham encapsulates Dante Alighieri's journey through Hell alongside his guide Virgil while confronting terrifying beasts along their path. Design for Scouts Enrolment Card (1944): Robert Baden-Powell incorporates mythical elements into this captivating design that symbolizes courage and adventure for young scouts worldwide.