Mar 22, 2023 · Empusa was a kind of spirit, often likened to a phantom or ghost, with the ability to assume different shapes. Sometimes she transformed into a terrifying creature to frighten travelers; other times she appeared as a beautiful woman …

Mar 23, 2023 · Philostratus’ biography of the first-century CE sage Apollonius of Tyana—a work full of strange and miraculous occurrences—describes an encounter between Apollonius and a lamia or empusa (the terms are used interchangeably). In Corinth, says Philostratus, one of Apollonius’ pupils, a handsome young man named Menippus, was targeted by a ...

Mar 8, 2023 · These “phantoms,” unlike daemons, were almost always evil or malevolent. They included beings such as Lamia and Mormo, “bogeywomen” known for eating children; the hideous Empusa; and the nightmare-inducing Ephialtes. The angry or restless souls of the dead (the so-called “ahoroi”) could also be included in this group.

Creature names: Origin, structure, and meaning. From the three-headed dragons of Greek myth to creepy crawlies, the world of fantasy creatures is an endless abundance of mystery.