BEASTS OF LEGEND

Don’t read this list if you are scared easily: Top 10 scariest beasts

Image: Alyzah K

What was your room like when you were a little kid? Do you remember fearing that monster under the bed or inside the closet? Don't worry, you're not alone. Since ancient times, humans have conceived and perpetuated myths and stories about supernatural beings, monsters, or creatures with terrifying physical attributes and incredible powers. Come with us to learn about these 10 terrifying mythical creatures of history! Are you brave enough to meet them?

Image: Ramon Vloon

Before earning the nickname "Nessie," the legendary creature from Loch Ness has appeared in many tales from Scottish mythology. The story of the Loch Ness monster can be traced back to ancient times, with the earliest written mention dating back to the 7th century.

The myth gained popularity in the early 20th century when some features of the monster became famous, such as its huge size and long, dinosaur-like neck. To this day, some adventurers still dare to explore the waters of Loch Ness in Scotland, hoping to encounter the monster.

Image: David Clode

This is one of the most feared monsters in Chinese mythology. Once you discover the qualities of this beast, you’ll understand its scary reputation.

The origins of this creature go back to ancient Chinese texts dating as far back as the 5th to 3rd centuries B.C. Bashe is described as a giant serpent mixing the bodies of a dragon and a python, and famous for its appetite for elephants, devouring them whole after chasing them.

But it doesn't end there. Legend has it that after three years of feasting, the Bashe regurgitates the bones of its prey. A creepy detail!

Image: Yaopey Yong

In Greek mythology, Cerberus stands as one of the most famous creatures. As the watchdog of the underworld, Cerberus's duty was to prevent the escape of souls and to stop any living mortal attempting to cross the gates of Hades' realm.

But Cerberus is not an ordinary dog. Described in ancient Greek texts from the 7th and 8th centuries B.C., Cerberus is a huge hound with three heads and snakes growing out of his back. While accounts vary, some sources, like Hesiod's Theogony, attribute the impressive amount of fifty heads to this not-so-friendly dog.

Image: Jakob Owens

Have you ever experienced that sensation when something touches your leg in a river or ocean? Terror! Now, imagine what roams beneath the water is an immense fish capable of stirring the earth with its tail.

In Japanese mythology, this creature is known as Namazu, a giant catfish that lives beneath the islands of Japan, with the power to cause earthquakes. As you probably guessed, this myth is deeply linked to the usual seismic activity in Japan.

Image: Alexas_Fotos

The Griffin is a beast with the head and claws of an eagle combined with the body and tail of a lion. A fusion of two symbols of strength and nobility.

This creature was venerated, symbolizing power, prestige, and protection. But be careful, you don’t want to provoke its anger!

While Griffins can also be found in artistic representations from Ancient Greece and Rome, evidence reveals early descriptions of these beasts in Ancient Egypt, back to the 2nd millennium BC.

Image: K. Mitch Hodge

When it comes to unique combinations, Greek sirens take a special place. We're talking about a woman's head and torso fused with a bird's body. But this isn’t the creepiest part.

In Greek mythology, these evil creatures that live near the sea are said to use their voices to tempt sailors. The tale of Odysseus, renowned for resisting the sirens' enchanting song, is a well-known example. He cleverly tied himself to the mast of his ship to experience the song but not succumb to it. Then, he instructed his crew to plug their ears with wax, ensuring they would not be seduced by the sirens.

Image: Dustin Humes

As if an ordinary squid wasn't creepy enough, ancient Scandinavian folklore brings us a mythological monster that's among the most terrifying on this list.

The Kraken, feared by all sailors crossing the sea between Iceland and Norway, is described as a monstrous cephalopod of huge proportions, capable of destroying ships and sinking them.

While tales of this beast's sightings date back to ancient times, one of the earliest surviving written descriptions of the monster dates back to the early 18th century.

Image: Keagan Henman

Have you ever walked through a forest at night? If not, learning about this myth might make you never try it. While not technically a monster, Banshee, from Celtic folklore, is one of the most terrifying legends, with tales dating back to the 8th century or earlier.

She is often described as a spectral female figure with red eyes and baggy, ragged clothing. Banshee is said to roam the forests at night, emitting scary screams that announce catastrophes to those who can hear her.

Image: Slava Auchynnikau

Any beast walking upright on two legs is enough to cause chills. But if that creature doubles or even triples your size, fear intensifies.

That is the case of the Yeti, the famous bipedal monster that is said to live in the Himalayas. Described as an ape-like creature, but distinguished by its large size, it is often compared to our Bigfoot.

Many tales from both locals and adventurers speak of sightings from afar, encounters with its huge footprints, or creepy echoes of its grunts at night.

Image: Olena Lev

Often hailed as one of the most fearsome figures in mythology, Medusa is also among the most famous.

With her impressive snakes for hair, she plants terror in anyone who encounters her. Legend has it that her power lies in the ability to turn anyone who meets her eyes into stone.

According to Greek mythology, Medusa is one of the three Gorgons, but she possesses a distinctive factor: mortality. In many interpretations of the myth, it is the Greek Perseus who seals her fate, using his sword to behead the mighty Medusa.

UNBELIEVABLE ADVENTURES

10 Of The Most Daring Expeditions In Human History

Image: Museums Victoria

Throughout history, humans have always had an innate desire to venture into the unknown, continuously pushing the boundaries of exploration, even when it means taking enormous personal risks.

From conquering the highest peaks to traversing hostile and uncharted territories, these 10 expeditions redefined human limits and expanded our understanding of the world.

Image: Brooks Rice

Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson in 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition sought to explore the uncharted American West. Over two grueling years, the Corps of Discovery—a select group of U.S. Army and civilian volunteers—traversed the vast American wilderness, studying its geography, nature, and making contact with local Native American tribes.

This grand adventure would become a pivotal point in the history of the United States, and both Meriwether Lewis and William Clark are remembered as true pioneers who shaped the nation's destiny.

Image: Michael Clarke

In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first to summit Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak. Their historic ascent marked a milestone in mountaineering history, showcasing the triumph of human determination and teamwork.

For Hillary—who Queen Elizabeth II promptly knighted—and many other participants of the expedition, however, this achievement was just the beginning of their stellar mountaineering careers.

Image: Annie Spratt

Roald Amundsen's quest to traverse the treacherous Northwest Passage in the Arctic waters is truly a testament to human determination. In 1903, aboard the Gjøa, his crew became the first to successfully traverse this perilous Arctic route, thus unlocking a coveted maritime passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

To achieve this feat, they had to endure incredibly harsh conditions while navigating through icy waters, relying significantly on crucial Arctic survival skills learned from the local Inuit population, which played a vital role in their survival.

Image: Harris & Ewing

In 1932, Amelia Earhart made history as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. In a single-engine Lockheed Vega 5B, and a mere five years after Charles Lindbergh's groundbreaking solo flight, she embarked on a difficult journey that spanned over 14 hours.

Battling fierce winds and a host of mechanical challenges, she persevered until touching down safely in a pasture in Northern Ireland. Despite her tragic disappearance a few years later, Earhart's remarkable feats shattered gender stereotypes of the time and she still is an enduring inspiration for aviators everywhere.

Image: Nasjonalbiblioteket from Norway, CC BY 2.0

In 1947, Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl embarked on a daring voyage across the Pacific Ocean aboard a primitive raft named Kon-Tiki. Heyerdahl's expedition sought to prove that ancient civilizations could have made transoceanic voyages, challenging historical knowledge of the time.

Even though the voyage didn’t prove that any significant migration of humans could have happened this way, Heyerdahl’s journey is remembered to this day for its audacity in the pursuit of knowledge and its great spirit of adventure.

Image: Abhisek Hazra

Inspired by the expeditions of 19th-century Swedish geographer Sven Hedin, the archaeologist Aurel Stein embarked in the 1930s on a series of expeditions along the ancient route of the Silk Road—the trading network that connected Europe with Eastern Asia in the 15th century.

Along the way, he uncovered a treasure trove of artifacts and manuscripts from forgotten civilizations, shedding light on the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Image: Olav Bjaaland (1873–1961)

Famously stubborn Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen beat his rival Robert Falcon Scott in the race to the South Pole in 1911. Despite facing almost insurmountable obstacles, Amundsen's meticulous planning and leadership ensured the success of his expedition without loss of life, securing his place in history.

Tragically, the rival Terra Nova Expedition led by Scott met a dark fate, highlighting the harsh realities and unforgiving nature of polar exploration.

Image: State Library of New South Wales

Despite falling short of its original goal to traverse the Antarctic continent, Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance expedition of 1914-1917 is indelibly etched in history due to its heroic nature. Stranded in the icy waters of Antarctica after their ship was crushed by unexpectedly thick ice, Shackleton and his crew endured unimaginable hardships, yet miraculously all survived.

It would take more than forty years before the first successful crossing of Antarctica was achieved, accomplished by the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition from 1955 to 1958.

Image: Brian McGowan

No exploration-themed article would be truly complete without a mention of NASA’s Apollo program. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin accomplished the unimaginable, stepping onto the lunar surface after traversing vast expanses of void space.

Their monumental achievement marked a breaking point in human history, igniting a newfound confidence in humanity's ability to reach beyond earthly confines.

Image: NASA

Although no humans were aboard this mission, it still was a groundbreaking achievement for humanity. In 1997, NASA's Pathfinder mission launched the Sojourner rover, marking the first successful deployment of a robotic rover on the surface of Mars.

Sojourner, a compact six-wheeled vehicle equipped with scientific instruments, paved the way for future Mars exploration by demonstrating the feasibility of mobile robotic exploration on the rocky Martian terrain.