Outstanding Ovarian Ogres of Old Quiz

Answer: Harpy

The Harpy was believed to look like a large bird, complete with claws, feathers, and wings but also had the head of an old woman. Their feathers could not be pierced by a man-made arrow and served as a coat of armor. While flying, the Harpy would swoop down and snatch up humans and carry them to the underworld.

It was believed that you could tell when a Harpy had been near because of the stench they left behind.

Answer: Japan

The Nure-onna was a creature that was depicted as a snake with a woman's head. She had long beautiful hair with the eyes and fangs of a snake. She lived near bodies of water and was reputed to include humans in her diet. She was said to suck out the blood of her victim before eating them.

Answer: Childbirth

Pontianaks are the undead spirits of women who died in childbirth or while pregnant. The pontianaks are a very scary creature. Depending on the region, the pontianak kills its victim by ripping out the abdominal organs with its fingernails. It can also kill by ripping out the reproductive organs of a man to ensure that he never impregnates another woman.

It is also believed that it can suck your brains, including your eyes, right out of the top of your head. These fearsome beasts are made so much worse by the fact that they appear as beautiful, seductive, young women to all humans who see them.

Answer: Gorgon

These three sisters were believed to be gorgons who had serpents for hair and whose gaze had the ability to turn a man into stone. Stheno and Euryale were immortal but Medusa was not. The Greek hero Perseus was believed to have slain Medusa. The word gorgon comes from the Greek word "gorgos" which translates into the English word "horrible".

Answer: Echidna

In ancient Greco-Roman mythology Echidna was described as a nymph that was half snake and resided in a deep cave in the underworld. She was depicted often in Greco-Roman artwork. She was the mother of the Chimera (a fire breathing beast), Cerberus (the three-headed dog of Hades), and the Hydra, which was a many headed sea monster.

She was also the mother of many, many more monsters. The monotreme animal known as the echidna was named after this mythological monster.

Answer: Lilith

There are many and varied myths about Lilith, but most state that she was Adam's first wife in the Garden of Eden. She was said to have been made in the same manner as Adam, from the earth, and thus demanded equality. When this was refused, she left the Garden and is said to have mated with demons or even Satan himself.

She is often described as the mother of all demons and in some regions is believed to roam the earth looking for babies to steal and/or kill.

Answer: False

Lamia is from ancient Greek culture and was believed to have once been a beautiful queen of Libya. Although stories vary as to why she was cursed, all agree that she feasted on her own children and went on to feast on the children of others. Lamia is often depicted as being a female on top and a serpent below the waist.

It should be noted that there are many variations and descriptions of Lamia that have been seen in literature all over Europe.

Answer: Mermaid

The Iara is just one of the many variations of the mermaid myth. Mermaids have been found in mythology of India, Africa, South America and Europe. The earliest accounts of a mermaid appeared around 1,000 B.C. in Assyrian mythology. Mermaids are said to lure human men with their beauty and their lovely voices before they take them to their underwater abodes.

The stories and varieties on this mythological creature are numerous.

Answer: Fireball

During the day the soucouyant is believed to live on the outer edges of a village in the form of an old woman. At night she turns into a fireball and glides silently around looking for a sleeping victim. They are believed to suck the blood from their sleeping victim trying not to kill them so that they can come back to feed on them again. If the soucouyant sucks too much blood the victim dies and turns into a soucouyant themselves.

This creature is a mixture of the religions of the early French and African settlers, and the mythology of the indigenous populations who already lived on the islands.

Answer: False

The Bean Nighe is actually from Scotch/Irish mythology. They were thought to be the spirits of women who had died in anguish during childbirth. They were often depicted as old hags who sat by forest streams washing the grave-clothes of those who are about to die in the near future. Most old descriptions of the Bean Nighe describe them as having one protruding tooth, one nostril, webbed feet and long hanging breasts full of milk.

They were also known as a banshee in some translations.