The Mythological Ghosts are beings or spirits that are considered a form of life after death in some mythologies and cultures.
Mythological ghosts and their representations
These beings can be seen as souls of deceased people who have returned to the world of the living, either because they have not found peace in the afterlife or because they have unfinished business to resolve. All the Mythological ghosts can be seen as malevolent or benevolent entities and can be evoked or conjured through rites and ceremonies. Mythological ghosts can also be depicted in mythological or more current literature such as Hamlet, in the cinema in movies such as Poltergeist and many other entertainment media.
Mythological Ghosts in Europe
There are many more ghosts and mythological spirits in different cultures in Europe. Some other examples include:
- Ghost of Acheron: a hellish river in Greek mythology believed to be the place where the souls of the dead go before being judged.
- Ankou: a mythological character in Celtic lore who is considered to be the last specter a person sees before death.
- Banshee: a female spirit in Celtic mythology that is believed to herald someone’s death.
- Draugr: a spirit or specter of a dead person in Norse mythology that is believed to inhabit their grave or former home.
- Púca: a spirit or demon in Celtic mythology that appears as a horse or a half-horse half-man animal, and has the ability to change shape.
Mythological Ghosts in America
In America, ghosts play a very important role in ancient culture with mythological beings and in modern culture. Here are some examples:
- La Llorona: known in Mexico and Central America is a woman who cries for her lost children and is attributed with the power to cause misfortune to those who cross her path.
- El Cadejo: a Central American myth comes in two forms, one white and kind and the other black and malevolent. It is said that the white cadejo protects travelers, while the black cadejo torments them.
- El Duende: known in Argentina is an evil spirit that is attributed with misfortunes and accidents in the home, a kind of Gremlin.
- The Mapinguari: is located in Brazil and is a mythological creature of the Amazon jungle, described as a kind of giant bear with one eye and a tail. It is attributed with the power to cause disease and death.
- El Sombrerero: found in Chile an evil spirit attributed with the power to cause illness and death, he is described as a man with a hat and a long cape.
- La Pishtaco: a creature from Peru attributed with the power to absorb human fat, described as a white man who disguises himself as an Indian to lure his victims.
- Wendigo: an evil spirit from the mythology of the indigenous peoples of North America that is believed to feed on human flesh and can possess people and make them commit violent acts.
Ghosts in Asian mythology
Within the Asian culture, ghosts have always been in a very important position and have many meanings. Let’s see some of the most important ones.
- Vodyanoy: a water spirit in Russian mythology that is believed to live in rivers and lakes and can lure people into its waters and drown them.
- Nian: a monster in Chinese mythology, celebrated during the Chinese New Year, the Nian is believed to be an evil spirit that comes out of its lair in the mountains to wreak havoc on nearby villages, devouring children and animals.
- Jiāngshī: a spirit or ghost in Chinese mythology that is believed to be the soul of a person who has died a violent or unexpected death.
- Hantu Raya: a spirit or ghost in Indonesian mythology, it is considered to be an evil and powerful spirit that has the ability to possess people.
- Aswang: a mythological being from the Philippines, who may be a vampire or a werewolf, believed to feed on humans, especially children.
- Yurei: a spirit in Japanese mythology is the soul of a person who died tragically or unexpectedly and has not been able to rest in peace.
- Onryō: vengeful spirits in Japanese mythology that are believed to have been caused by a violent or unjust death.
- Kuchisake-Onna: a female spirit in Japanese mythology believed to appear with her mouth open and cut from the ear to the other ear, asking people if she is believed to be pretty.
- Churel: a female spirit in Indian mythology believed to be the spirit of a woman who died during childbirth or during her menstrual period, and who returns to take revenge on her husband and his family.
