Middle Eastern and Islamic folklore is full of fantastical beasts from the hidden jinn to the monsters of the night
A thread
A thread
In the deeps of the ocean lies Bahumat, a monster so vast itโs imagined as holding up the whole of the world.
At times depicted as a mighty serpent and other times as a great fish or whale.
So great is it that it can swallow whole islands
At times depicted as a mighty serpent and other times as a great fish or whale.
So great is it that it can swallow whole islands
Among the other monsters of the deep is Falak, a serpentine dragon hidden in the dark of the ocean, fearsome and terrifying in appearance
Hidden in the mountains of Central Asia is Sirinis, a wolf-like beast with many nostrils and mighty in stature.
It is said you can hear its approach by the unique sound of its breath
It is said you can hear its approach by the unique sound of its breath
Some even say its breath makes a lyrical sound which hypnotizes its prey
Also found in the mountains is the Deyo, a giant measuring 20 feet in height.
Reclusive by nature, it is deeply territorial and can be found in lands of Afghanistan and Pakistan
Reclusive by nature, it is deeply territorial and can be found in lands of Afghanistan and Pakistan
the last of the Deyo is buried in Afghanistan where his grave is marked by a massive headstone worthy of his stature
Within the caves and underground of the mountains you can find the azdhar, the flightless dragon of the ancient world.
These destructive monsters used to terrorize human villages for years
These destructive monsters used to terrorize human villages for years
There is a famous tale of one of these dragons who came to destroy a village but was met with the brave Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin of the Prophet
Ali met the beast in battle, slaying it with an arrow to the eye.
The remains of the dragon turned into a great mountain and from where its eye was a healing pool was formed.
This mountain can still be found in Afghanistan where locals bathe in the waters
The remains of the dragon turned into a great mountain and from where its eye was a healing pool was formed.
This mountain can still be found in Afghanistan where locals bathe in the waters
We also hear tales of monsters of the night, creatures of fear and nightmare
There is Kabus, a jinn who creeps into the house on shadowy wings then sits upon its sleeping victims causing night terrors and sleep paralysis
It is a cousin of the Turkic Batsi who perches gremlin like upon your chest
The Qutrub is another jinn which stalks the night. Related to the ghul, the two can be found hunting in cemeteries where they feast on corpses.
What sets the Qutrub apart is its abilities to shapeshift into a terrifying wolf
What sets the Qutrub apart is its abilities to shapeshift into a terrifying wolf
The demonic canine is said to be a master hunter, waiting patiently for its prey and even appearing as an alluring human to ease their doubts before pouncing upon them
A similar shapeshifting jinn is the Silโah, a tricky creature found in the brush and bush.
The Silโah come upon unsuspecting travelers often posing as a helpless victim in need of aid to lead their prey to their doom
The Silโah come upon unsuspecting travelers often posing as a helpless victim in need of aid to lead their prey to their doom
The Silโah can be identified if you look closely for some part of them will remain animal despite appearing mostly human
The Turkish Davara also stalks travelers. While the Batsi and Kabus cause night terrors to those in the house, the Davara find those sleeping outside and sinks its shadowy fangs into them causing paralysis and terror
If outside you must also mind your feet for Palis has a serious foot fetish.
Creeping upon on sleeping victims it licks their bare soles until it has drained all the blood from their body
Creeping upon on sleeping victims it licks their bare soles until it has drained all the blood from their body
Then in North Africa there is the beautiful Aicha Qandisha, sometimes seen as a jinn queen and other times as a monster her own right and yet other times as a spirit of a former human, Aicha is alluring and deadly
She lures her prey into the desert with her beauty where she claims their lives.
She is reputedly identified by her camel feet
She is reputedly identified by her camel feet
Every Halloween people bask in stories of ghouls and goblins but for many people around the world the creatures of the dark arenโt just seasonal tales but a warning that humanity is not alone and there have always been things that to bump in the night
I shall cover more monsters and legendary beings in future threads
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