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Monsters


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



318 photos
Ulysses and the Sirens: the Greek hero Ulysses, sailing by the rock of the Sirens. He is standing on the deck with his hands tied to the mast to prevent himself from succumbing to temptation. (detail) Mosaic from the pavement of the impluvium at the house of Dionysos and Ulysses, south of the Thugga forum, Tunisia; 3rd century CE Inv. 2884 A Detail of 11-01-03/13 and 03-05-01/68
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Ulysses and the Sirens: the Greek hero Ulysses, sailing by the rock of the Siren...

Gold belt buckle fom the ship-burial at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, early 7th century. It is hollow and made in two parts joined by a hinge. The master-craftsman who made it devised a locking system involving a complex system of sliders and internal rods which fit into slotted fixings. These fill the interior leaving little space for the safe storage of a relic, a function which has been suggested for such hollow, high-status buckles. The surface of the buckle and the tongue plate are decorated with writhing snakes and intertwining four legged beasts. Their bodies are highlighted with punched ornament filled with black niello. At the toe of the buckle, two animals gently hold a tiny dog-like creature in their gaping jaws. On the shoulders are two birds' heads with cruel, curving beaks (perhaps a reference to Odin, a god from Norse mythology). The metal and decoration of these buckles reflected the wealth and status of their owners. M&ME, 1939,10-10,1
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Gold belt buckle fom the ship-burial at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, early 7th century....

Earthenware tile with a monster mask (kwimyun) design, from Korea, Unified Silla dynasty, 7th-9th CE. The concept of using tiles decorated with monster masks to ward off evil spirits originated from China. The tiles were placed in each of the four cardinal directions on top of the roof of royal buildings and Buddhist temples. OA 1992.6-15.24
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Earthenware tile with a monster mask (kwimyun) design, from Korea, Unified Sill...

Earthenware tile, from the Red Pagoda at Mount Quingliang, Henan Province, China, around 627-650 CE. It came from the topmost row of tiles, just under the eaves of the pagoda. OA 1982.7-25.1
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Earthenware tile, from the Red Pagoda at Mount Quingliang, Henan Province, China...

Bearer of the demon's head, 10th century. A Persian representation of the constellation Perseus, who holds the head of Medusa, in accordance with the myth. From the star catalogue of the Persian astronomer Al-Sufi. It is shown in double aspect in order to show it as seen from the earth and reversed as on a star-globe.
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Bearer of the demon's head, 10th century. A Persian representation of the conste...

Varaha with Bhu, Pahari region, North India, around 1740. The four armed Varaha is shown holding Vishnu's characteristic attributes, the discus, conch shell, a lotus and a club with which he strikes the sea-demon. Blood pours from the demon's chest and he staggers back, dropping his broken sword. Varaha lifts the earth balanced on is tusks, saving the earth goddes Bhu from the swirling black ocean. OA 1966.7-25.01
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Varaha with Bhu, Pahari region, North India, around 1740. The four armed Varaha...

Ceremonial axe from Daulatabad,Baktria,northern Afghanistan,showing a griffin holding two rams. End 3rd to early 2nd Mill.BCE. Copper
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Ceremonial axe from Daulatabad,Baktria,northern Afghanistan,showing a gr...

Ceremonial axe from Daulatabad,Baktria,northern Afghanistan,showing a griffin holding two rams. End 3rd to early 2nd Mill.BCE. Copper
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Ceremonial axe from Daulatabad,Baktria,northern Afghanistan,showing a gr...

Demon,from the Monastery of Tapa-Kalan Hadda,Afghanistan. 3rd-4th CE Stucco,21,5 x 10 x 6,5 cm TK 68(?)
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Demon,from the Monastery of Tapa-Kalan Hadda,Afghanistan. 3rd-4...

One of many late Sasanian bowls used in magical ceremonies to protect individuals and their relatives or possessions from evil spirits. Spells were writtin in a variety of scripts and occasionally the bound spirit or magicians were also depicted inside the vessel. The abstract figure in the centre of this bowl may be a demon, the inscription is in Aramaic. ANE 91725
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One of many late Sasanian bowls used in magical ceremonies to protect individual...

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Human headed monster trampling a hind. Bronze, 18 x 18 cm
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Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Human headed monster tr...

The Spider Monster Creating Monsters in the Mansion of Minamoto no Yorimitsu. Colour woodblock print; Japan, 1843. Height: 34.6 cm, Width: 72.7 cm. Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) was a master of the triptych format and a highly accomplished exponent of the musha-e or 'warrior print' genre. In this triptych he deals with a legend about Minamoto no Yorimitsu that was adopted by the Noh theatre. Yorimitsu is attacked by a spider monster when he is ill in bed, but slays it with the help of his four senior retainers. When the print was published, a rumour circulated that it was meant to satirize the backward-looking Tempo Reforms promoted by the government at the time. Neither the artist nor the publisher were punished, however.
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The Spider Monster Creating Monsters in the Mansion of Minamoto no Yorimitsu. Co...