Resources · Creatures, spirits & other beings
Folklore Dictionary
Meet the beings of folklore: explore their names, descriptions and associated traditions, from familiar creatures to less familiar inhabitants of the otherworld.
1,598 reference entries · Browse A–Z or explore by place
Explore by place
Creature coverage
Zoom or move the map, then choose “Filter to this area” to list creatures with a tradition location in that view. You can combine this with a character family or a search term.
Creatures associated with a tradition
8 creatures at 20 tradition locations · 1 without tradition coordinates
Markers use tradition coordinates linked through source names, recorded aliases, language groups or reviewed associations. Language-group links show cultural context, rather than verified creature occurrences in every tradition. Creatures sharing a location are grouped; select a marker to see their names. Counts cover all matching entries across every results page.
Use the location filter or the list below to browse associated places.
Browse associated places without the map
- Albania (1)
- Albanians, Balkarians (1)
- Ancient Greece (1)
- Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography (3)
- China (2)
- Chol; pre-Columbian Mayan iconography outside of Yucatan (1)
- Chontal (1)
- Chorti (1)
- Greece (1)
- Greeks (modern), Balkarians (1)
- Greeks of Cyprus (1)
- Huastec (Teenek) (1)
- Kekchi; Mopan (1)
- Lacandon (1)
- Mam, Ixil, Aguatec, Avakatec (1)
- Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong (1)
- People's Republic of China (2)
- Quiche, Achí, Cakchiquel, Pocomchi, Pocomam (1)
- Tojolabal, Chuj, Jacalteca, Kanjobal, Mocho (incl Tuzantec), Acatec (1)
- Tzeltal (1)
- Tzotzil (1)
- Tzutujil (1)
- Yucatec, Itza (1)
Browse the dictionary
9 matching entries
| Creature | Tradition | Description | Map locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| XanaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Asturian | Female water spirit | — |
| XanthusAnimals (suggested) | Greek | Man-eating horse | 3 |
| XecotcovachAnimals (suggested) | Mayan | Bird | 14 |
| XelhuaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Aztec | Giant | 1 |
| XhindiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Albanian | Elves | 1 |
| Xiao (mythology)Animals (suggested) | Chinese | Ape or four-winged bird | 1 |
| Xing TianGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Headless giant | 1 |
| XiuhcoatlSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Aztec | Drought spirit | 1 |
| XochitónalGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Aztec | Giant iguana | 1 |
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How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. Citation version 1.261028.1 (28 October 2026). https://folkloredatabase.com.
0009-0006-1672-4451
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