#mythicalbeasts

[enchantedbook]

Art by William Stout, 1994.

[brittleeonvapor]

Where fantasy meets flight! These magical creatures are ready to soar beyond the skies

[thewritermuses]

Mythical Beasts

Mythical Beasts - John Cherry

This interesting book is a cross between a bestiary and something else altogether. While it is divided into creatures like a normal bestiary the chapters on each creature are very long. They focus on the historical origins of the creatures. These discussions are illustrated by fantastic images of paintings or artifacts that demonstrate the point Cherry is making.So not only do we get to see Cherry's tracking of the creatures through time, but we also get to see how their depiction changes. The changes and differences on display are both over time and cross-cultural.I liked this book so much because of the wealth of detail in the origins and stories around these creatures.I had originally purchased this to aid the development of a TV series I was writing on and the detail and historical accuracy was key for that purpose.

In parts, it does get a bit academic and rambly. If you are keen to see what people thought about Griffins; Dragons; Unicorns; Sphinxes; Centaurs and other half-humans throughout history this is fantastic. Read the full article

[imaginemyuniverse]

“Kitsune’s Fiery Soul” is available @redbubble in my shop imagineuniverse.redbubble.com. I love it turned out on a bunch of these products! Please follow me for more animal artwork! #kitsune #kitsunes #fantasyfox #ninetails #ninetailedfox #ninetailfox #ninetailsfox #fantasyart #fantasy #fantasyillustration #fantasycreature #fantasycreatures #mythicalcreature #mythicalcreatures #mythicalart #mythicalbeast #mythicalbeasts #digitalart #digitalillustration #digitalartist #fantasyartist #fantasyartwork #imaginemyuniverse #findyourthing #redbubble #redbubbleart #redbubblestore #redbubblecreate #redbubbledesign #redbubbleartist https://www.instagram.com/p/CeeD02vF9bE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[katgbirmelin]

'La Belle et sa Bête' Here's my contribution to @heatherhitchman and her wonderful #JunicornInTerratoff prompt: chain. It was once believed the only way to capture a unicorn was to lull it into a sense of ease via the wiles of a maiden, often a virgin. The beast would lay it's head in her lap and fall asleep, allowing her to slip a golden harness or chain over its head. The lady and the unicorn was a popular theme in medieval tapestries, and are thought to be allegories of the five senses. I was inspired by Italian Renaissance portraits of nobel ladies for this piece. Thanks Heather! #junicorn #chain #mythicalbeasts #beautyandherbeast #unicornart #theladyandtheunicorn #fantasyart #femmemyth #watercolors #unicorn #womenpaintingwomen https://www.instagram.com/p/CBp_m_cDOZR/?igshid=195bshffo9seu

[rosemarydanielis]

II YouTube II Instagram II Print Shop II

Don’t be fooled by frozen dragons. Their hearts burn just as fiercely in the winter.

(rights reserved, leave credits * please reblog but not to nsfw 18+) 

[psyentifically-minded]

The Sumerian mythologies mention a few animals:

Asu-Shu-Namir: This creature was formed from the dust under the sky God Enlil’s fingernails and was described as a great hermaphroditic bird, it freed the Goddess Ishtar from the underworld of Ikala by pouring the waters of life on her. Because Asu-Shu-Namir is described as a bird and a hermaphrodite that brought Ishtar back from the dead the myth is likely describing a Hieros Gamos suggesting that the bird like being fused with Ishtar in an exchange of sexual waters becoming one both male and female this may also explain how Ishtar came to later be depicted as a harpy/bird-hybrid creature (as shown left) despite having never been described as such and having previously been described and depicted as a normal woman.

Gugulanna: The bull of heaven (depicted central) was a fierce beast unleashed upon the hero Gilgamesh as punishment for refusing the advances of the Goddess Ishtar. Gilgamesh and Enkidu killed the beast which was then placed in the heavens as the constellation Taurus, Enkidu was struck dead by the Gods as punishment for the act of killing a sacred beast.

Kriocamp: These were hybrid creatures half goat and half fish (shown right) that would eventually come to represent the star sign capricorn. Kriocamp is a Greek word and the original Sumerian is unknown, the creature is still believed to originate in Sumerian mythology.

Lamassu: These were hybrid creatures that existed in the time of Tiamat. The Lamassu (depicted lower centre) was a sphinx-like creature that guarded sacred places and temple entrances, the creature is a compossition of man, lion, eagle and bull, it would come to influence the later Hebrew Cherubim angels who have these same four creatures as faces and the Christian Tetramorophs who represent the apostles Mathew, Mark, John and Luke with these animals, they are also related in Occult mysticism to the fixed signs of the Zodiac; Aquarius, Leo, Scorpio and Taurus respectively.

Zu Bird: A monsterous eagle that took up residence in the crown of the Goddess Ishtar’s sacred Huluppu tree.

[once-upon-a-mythical-fandom]

So I couldn’t help myself and made the decision to join the cult. I’m kidding of course, but it’s official, got these in the mail today.