A monster, as in a fictional (mythical or later) depiction or concept of a being which is associated with fear.
It does seem that folklore died out in most places by the first half of the previous century. Both archaic and ancient, and later traditions up to WW1 (if one goes by the literature of that era, such as Arthur Machen and his popular concurrent myth of the Angels of Mons1, helping the british troops in the Great war) were producing various stories about local beings which were in the realm of the hidden and the dangerous.
Some types of monsters existed in various cultures, such as the Dragon, which was there in Greek and Roman mythology (as Drakon and Draco) and also in Eastern Asian mythology. Other monsters were more culture-dependent, like the Cyclops, or the Minotaur, and the Jin of the Arabic and Persian world, featured in the islamic golden age in stories such as the collection known as the 1001 nights (arabian nights).
The blinding of Polyphemus, as part of the decoration of an ancient Amphora:
Typhon, the largest and strongest of the enemies of the Olympian order, who even defeated Zeus and cut him up to many tiny pieces, was another very notable monster in Greek mythology and a great antagonist also to Heracles through his offspring:
A rather very expressive ancient depiction of Theseus killing the Minotaur:
A depiction of a Chinese Dragon:
-Feel free to mention your own favorite monsters from any realm of fiction/mythology. Just don't release the Kraken.
It does seem that folklore died out in most places by the first half of the previous century. Both archaic and ancient, and later traditions up to WW1 (if one goes by the literature of that era, such as Arthur Machen and his popular concurrent myth of the Angels of Mons1, helping the british troops in the Great war) were producing various stories about local beings which were in the realm of the hidden and the dangerous.
Some types of monsters existed in various cultures, such as the Dragon, which was there in Greek and Roman mythology (as Drakon and Draco) and also in Eastern Asian mythology. Other monsters were more culture-dependent, like the Cyclops, or the Minotaur, and the Jin of the Arabic and Persian world, featured in the islamic golden age in stories such as the collection known as the 1001 nights (arabian nights).
The blinding of Polyphemus, as part of the decoration of an ancient Amphora:
Typhon, the largest and strongest of the enemies of the Olympian order, who even defeated Zeus and cut him up to many tiny pieces, was another very notable monster in Greek mythology and a great antagonist also to Heracles through his offspring:
A rather very expressive ancient depiction of Theseus killing the Minotaur:
A depiction of a Chinese Dragon:
-Feel free to mention your own favorite monsters from any realm of fiction/mythology. Just don't release the Kraken.
