Web Hunt: Behind Mythic Creatures

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Laurel Kendall is an anthropologist at the American Museum of Natural History (Photo Credit: © AMNH / Craig Chesek)

Dragons. Unicorns. Mermaids. For thousands of years, these creatures have been the subjects of myths and legends across the globe. They're also a few of the stars in a new exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History. Why would a natural history museum feature an exhibition about fantastic, make-believe characters? Even though mythic creatures aren't "real," they tell us a lot about the cultures that created them. Some also have very real connections to the natural world, since many creatures were inspired by real animals or fossils. Explore just a few mythic creatures from cultures around the world.

1. For more than a thousand years, European sailors traveling the world claimed to spot mermaids during their voyages. Describe a mermaid's body.

2. The ancient Greeks were the first to tell stories about the unicorn we think of today. Over a thousand years ago, the legends spread throughout Europe, where unicorns appeared in art and literature — including the Bible. Explain why Mary, Queen of Scots carried a horn she claimed was from a unicorn. What kind of horn might Queen Mary have really carried? What other kinds of horns might ancient sailors have found and sold as unicorn horns?

3. Dragons have been familiar creatures in ancient myths from Europe to China. But people in the West and East had very different ideas about the dragon. First, read about the Chinese dragon. Then read about the Red Dragon of Wales, a sculpture made especially for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Compare and contrast how this dragon is seen in both cultures. What does it symbolize in each culture? Who uses this symbol to represent themselves?

4. One of the most famous sculptures in the world is this Great Sphinx near the Giza pyramids of ancient Egypt. Describe what the sphinx looks like. Do all sphinxes have the same face? Why or why not? What does this mythic creature represent?

5. Hinduism and Buddhism share some of the same mythic creatures. One example is Garuda, the Bird of Life. Describe Garuda's face and body. What is this creature often shown doing? Who might have worn the pendant shown in the image?

6. Check out What's This? to see a mystery photo from the American Museum of Natural History. Long ago, sailors who found the long, spiral tusks of this animal believed they were unicorn horns. Can you guess what it is?

BONUS: More Myths Frp, Around the World

Read about a few more mythic creatures in Myths Around the World.

a) Read an ancient myth of India and describe the two mythic creatures Mahisha and Durga. What happened in the battle between them?

b) Describe Hydra, a creature in the ancient Greek myth about Heracles. What is the symbolism of Hydra?

c) What does the South American myth about Jaguar, the Master of Fire, reveal about how these cultures viewed jaguars?

Now create your own myth with the Myths Brainstorming Machine. You can choose a god or goddess, a monster, and a natural setting for your myth. Once you make your picture, click on the idea outline to see the name and description of each creature. Then write your own myth to support the picture.

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