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Monsters


Witches, golems, vampires, demons and more horrible creatures.



316 photos
The Minotauros, a wallpainting (15th BCE) in the Royal Palace of Knossos.
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The Minotauros, a wallpainting (15th BCE) in the Royal Palace of K...

Circe hands the magic potion to Ulysses and his companions which will change the companions into pigs. Attic black-figured lekythos(1st quarter 5th BCE) Height 28.5 cm Inv. 1133
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Circe hands the magic potion to Ulysses and his companions which wil...

Apollo Temple at Didyma, Turkey. Medusa Gorgo head from the frieze. The temple at Didyma was designed by Greek architects Paeonios of Ephesos and Daphnis of Milet. Construction began around 313 BCE and lasted until 40 CE. 118.34 x 60.13 m
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Apollo Temple at Didyma, Turkey. Medusa Gorgo head from the frieze. The tem...

Tomb with the head of Medusa Gorgo. Necropolis of Hierapolis, Turkey. Tumuli, sarcophagi, and house- shaped tombs line both sides of a 2 kms long road north of the town. The tombs span several centuries from Late Hellenistic (2nd BCE) to Palaeochristian (1st CE).
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Tomb with the head of Medusa Gorgo. Necropolis of Hierapolis, Turkey. Tumu...

Clay mask of the demon Humbaba, 1800-1600 BCE. One method for predicting the future in ancient Mesopotamia was the study of the shape and colour of the internal organs of a sacrificed animal. A cuneiform inscription on the back of this mask suggests that the intestines have the shape of Humbaba's face. Humbaba was the guardian of the Cedar forest and was defeated by Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The divination expert who made the mask is named in the inscription as Warad-Marduk. The mask was founs at Sippar, the cult center for the sun-god Shamash. ANE 116624
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Clay mask of the demon Humbaba, 1800-1600 BCE. One method for predicting the fut...

Small Pyramid with relief of Sungod Re-Harakhte as falcon and evil demon Apep as serpent. Tales of Apep's battles against Re were elaborated during the New Kingdom. Limestone; New Kingdom (19th dynasty).
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Small Pyramid with relief of Sungod Re-Harakhte as falcon and evil demon Apep as...

Ivory figure of a griffin-headed demon, Urartian, from Toprakkale in eastern Anatolia, 8th - 7th BCE. This figure may have been part of a throne, since griffin-headed demons were protective deities. Toprakkale had a fortified citadel with a major temple of the god Haldi. Urartu disappeared before 600 BCE, possibly destroyed by horse-born Scythians. ANE, 118951
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Ivory figure of a griffin-headed demon, Urartian, from Toprakkale in eastern Ana...

Ulysses leaves Circe and sails past the Sirenes. Mosaic (3rd CE) from the pavement of the impluvium at the house of Dionysos and Ulysses, south of the Thugga forum,Tunisia. Inv. 2884 A See also overall 11-01-03/13 and detail 03-05-04/40
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Ulysses leaves Circe and sails past the Sirenes. Mosaic (3rd CE) from the pavem...

The death of Hypolitos.The horses of his quadriga shy before the monster which Aphrodite has sent from the depth of the sea.Around 340 BCE. Crater,Sicilian production,from tomb 229 bis.
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The death of Hypolitos.The horses of his quadriga shy before the monster which...

Ulysses receives the wine from Maron,priest of Apollo, with which he will make Polyphem drunk,Odyssee IX/197. Crater of Sicilian production,340-330 BCE.
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Ulysses receives the wine from Maron,priest of Apollo, with which he will make...

Ulysses receives the wine from Maron,priest of Apollo, with which he will make Polyphem drunk,Odyssee IX/197. Crater of Sicilian production,340-330 BCE. Detail of 10-03-07/8
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Ulysses receives the wine from Maron,priest of Apollo, with which he will make...

Perseus and Medusa,mid-6th BCE.In death,Medusa gives birth to Chrysaor and Pegasus whose father is Poseidon. Medusa holds her last-born in her arm. Metope from Temple C in Selinunte,Sicily,Italy.
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Perseus and Medusa,mid-6th BCE.In death,Medusa gives birth to Chrysaor and Pe...