I've always been interested in old stories, especially those passed down centuries ago. I'd always heard of Greek mythology, like Zeus and Athena, but I'd never really read it. Seeing this three-headed dog piqued my curiosity. I decided: I might as well spend a few days researching the origins of these monsters.
I didn't want to copy encyclopedia descriptions or listen to standard AI answers. I just wanted to find out the truth about these monsters my own way.
How I Started My Research.
The first step, of course, was to find a book.
I dug out an old book at home, its cover yellowed. It was about Greek mythology. I also searched online for a few university websites dedicated to mythology, not just random blogs. I didn't want to read random, fictionalized material.
As I read, I took notes. Like the Minotaur—the bull-headed creature who lives in a labyrinth; the Hydra, whose head snaps off and two more immediately appear; and Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hell.
These names sounded familiar, like they were familiar to many people. But I was looking for something even stranger, perhaps something particularly terrifying or with a truly absurd story.
And I found it!
There's a strange bird called the Stymphalid, whose feathers are made of iron and can cut like blades when it flies. There's also a monster called the Empusa, which changes its appearance and scares people at night, a bit like a vampire.
The more I researched, the more excited I became, and the more my notes piled up on my desk. I had only intended to list ten monsters, but I ended up with over twenty!
Problems arose when researching.
The most difficult part wasn't finding information, but the sheer volume of it, all conflicting with each other.
For example, regarding the Hydra, some say that every time you chop off a head, two new ones grow; another book claims it only grows one. Which is right? No one can say.
Some monsters have completely different stories told in different places. The same name can sometimes be a good guy, sometimes a bad guy. I spent an entire afternoon, like a detective, comparing various accounts to figure out which one was more reliable.
I also went to the city library. That day, I was carrying a pile of books—books about Gorgons, cannibals, and giants fighting each other. The librarian looked at me strangely, as if to say, "Is there something wrong with this guy?"
The hardest step: choosing which ten?
Now here's the problem: I want to write a list of the "Top 10 Coolest Monsters," but I've listed over 20, each one fascinating. How do I choose?
I thought of a few criteria:
- Is the appearance unusual enough? The less it resembles a normal animal, the better.
- Is the story memorable?
- Does it represent something terrifying, like the sea, death, or a storm?
Based on this criteria, some must-haves made the list:
The Minotaur, who lived in a labyrinth and ate people—it's too classic to not include.
The Chimaera, with the body of a lion, the head of a goat on its back, and the tail of a venomous snake that breathes fire—who came up with that combination? It's insane!
And then there's Scylla and Charybdis. One has multiple heads on a cliff and specializes in catching people on ships; the other is a whirlpool that can suck entire ships in. Sailors fear these two most.
I also wanted to include Talos, a walking bronze figure made of metal that can throw stones. But it had too little story, so I had to reluctantly cut it.
When writing, I want to make it "come alive."
Just listing names and characteristics is too boring. I want to write like a conversation, like sitting in a cafe and telling friends about these bizarre things.
For example, when writing about the Chimera, I don't say, "It's made up of many different animals." Instead, I say, "Imagine there's a big lion in front of you. As it's running, a goat's head suddenly emerges from its back. It lets out a 'baa!' Then, with a flick of its tail, a snake emerges from behind, breathing fire! Isn't that scary?"
I describe each monster clearly:
- What does it look like?
- Where does it live? In the mountains, in the sea, or underground?
- What does it do? Is it a gatekeeper? A man-eater? Or is it sent by the gods to punish people?
- Has anyone ever fought one? For example, Hercules killed the Hydra and Odysseus was nearly sucked into a whirlpool while on his ship.
I don't use complicated words or recite text. I use the simplest sentences to tell the most outrageous stories.
I discovered something interesting.
After researching so much, I'm slowly starting to see the key.
The Greeks seem to have a particular fondness for piecing together animals. Bull heads, snake tails, bird wings, lion bodies... It's as if they felt that the less natural something was, the more terrifying it was.
Furthermore, many monsters actually explained natural phenomena. For example, they attributed storms to wind monsters; shipwrecks to sea monsters.
These monsters often related to conflicts between gods and humans. For example, a god might get angry and send a monster to punish humanity.
These aren't directly from books; I pieced them together bit by bit. It feels really good, like solving a puzzle.
Finally, I understood why this was worth doing.
At first, I was just curious about a three-headed dog. But then I realized these monsters weren't just "scary things." They were the imagination of the ancients, their way of understanding the world.
Now, when I see a sphinx, I no longer ask, "What is that?" I know there's a story behind it, a sense of fear, and a touch of creativity.
Although I drank a lot of coffee and had a sore back while researching, I think it was worth it.
If you ever see a picture of a strange-looking monster, don't just swipe away. There might be a story behind it that will shock you.