This list includes 35 Mythological creatures that start with G, from “Ga-gorib” to “Gyalpo”. These entries cover legendary animals, spirits, hybrids, and monsters useful for research, writing, and teaching.
Mythological creatures that start with G are non-human beings drawn from global myths and folklore. Many, like the Gorgon, appear across cultures as warnings, symbols, or storytelling anchors.
Below you’ll find the table with Origin, Description, and Famous stories.
Origin: Tells the culture or region where the creature appears, letting you place it in its mythic context.
Description: A concise summary of appearance, behavior, and role, helping you compare creatures quickly and use them in projects.
Famous stories: Names one or two myths, tales, or works where the creature appears, so you can find primary examples to read.
Mythological creatures that start with G
| Name | Origin | Alternate spellings | Famous stories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Griffin | Greek Mythology | Gryphon, Griffon, Gryps | Legends of Alexander the Great |
| Gorgon | Greek Mythology | Gorgo | Myth of Perseus and Medusa |
| Golem | Jewish Folklore | Goilem | The Golem of Prague |
| Goblin | European Folklore | Gobelin, Goblyn | Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” |
| Grendel | Anglo-Saxon Legend | Gryndel | Epic of Beowulf |
| Gargoyle | French Folklore | Gargouille | Legend of Saint Romanus |
| Gnome | European Folklore | Erdmännchen (German) | Works of Paracelsus |
| Ghoul | Arabian Folklore | Ghūl (Arabic) | One Thousand and One Nights |
| Garuda | Hindu Mythology | Garula (Pali), Karura (Japanese) | Mahabharata, Ramayana |
| Garmr | Norse Mythology | Garm | The Poetic Edda (Völuspá) |
| Geryon | Greek Mythology | Geryones, Geryoneus | The Twelve Labors of Heracles |
| Gremlin | 20th-Century Folklore | N/A | Royal Air Force (WWII) tales |
| Gashadokuro | Japanese Folklore | Gasha-dokuro, Odokuro | Ukiyo-e by Utagawa Kuniyoshi |
| Gumiho | Korean Folklore | Kumiho (Korean) | The Fox Sister (folktale) |
| Glaistig | Scottish Folklore | Maighdean uaine (Green maiden) | Scottish Highland folktales |
| Grindylow | English Folklore | Grundylow | English nursery tales |
| Gullinbursti | Norse Mythology | Golden-bristled | The Poetic Edda (Skáldskaparmál) |
| Gigantes | Greek Mythology | Giants | The Gigantomachy |
| Graeae | Greek Mythology | Grey Sisters, Phorcides | Myth of Perseus |
| Gwyllgi | Welsh Folklore | Dog of Darkness, The Black Shuck | Welsh rural folktales |
| Green Man | European Folklore | N/A | Architectural carvings, May Day festivals |
| Gjenganger | Scandinavian Folklore | Aptrganga (Norse) | Scandinavian ghost stories |
| Gogmagog | English Folklore | Gog and Magog | Geoffrey of Monmouth’s “Historia Regum Britanniae” |
| Gold-Digging Ant | Greek Legend | Myrmekes | Herodotus’s “Histories” |
| Gaki | Japanese Buddhism | Preta (Sanskrit) | Japanese Buddhist scrolls |
| Grootslang | South African Folklore | Great Snake (Afrikaans) | Legends of the Richtersveld |
| Gamayun | Slavic Folklore | Gamayun bird | Russian folktales |
| Gud-elim | Sumerian Mythology | Bull of Heaven | Epic of Gilgamesh |
| Guardian Angel | Abrahamic Religions | N/A | The Bible, the Quran |
| Gwragedd Annwn | Welsh Folklore | Gwragedd Anwn | Legend of the Lady of the Lake |
| Gullinkambi | Norse Mythology | Golden-comb | The Poetic Edda (Völuspá) |
| Ga-gorib | Khoikhoi Mythology | N/A | Khoikhoi folktales |
| Guecubu | Mapuche Mythology | Gwe-kwufü, Vucubus | Mapuche oral traditions |
| Gyalpo | Tibetan Buddhism | rgyal po (Tibetan) | Tibetan religious texts |
| Green Knight | Arthurian Legend | Bertilak de Hautdesert | Sir Gawain and the Green Knight |
Descriptions
Griffin
A majestic beast with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. Griffins were known for guarding treasure and were symbols of divine power.
Gorgon
Three monstrous sisters with snakes for hair and a gaze that turned men to stone. Medusa, the most famous, was mortal and slain by the hero Perseus.
Golem
An animated being created from inanimate matter, such as clay or mud. It is brought to life through a magical ritual to serve and protect its creator.
Goblin
A small, grotesque, and mischievous or evil humanoid creature. Goblins are known for their greed and trickery, often living in caves or dark forests.
Grendel
A monstrous, giant-like descendant of Cain who terrorized the Danish mead hall, Heorot. He was known for his immense strength and hatred of joy.
Gargoyle
A grotesque carved human or animal face, usually on a building. Originally water spouts, they were believed to ward off evil spirits with their fearsome appearance.
Gnome
A diminutive, subterranean spirit who guards underground treasures. Gnomes are typically depicted as small, bearded old men who are masters of craftsmanship.
Ghoul
A demonic, shapeshifting creature that inhabits desolate places and preys on humans, often by luring travelers astray or robbing graves to eat the dead.
Garuda
A legendary, divine bird-like king of birds. He is the mount of the god Vishnu and a sworn enemy of all snakes (nāgas).
Garmr
A massive, blood-stained hound that guards the gates of Hel, the underworld. Garmr is fated to kill and be killed by the god Týr during Ragnarök.
Geryon
A fearsome giant with three heads and three torsos joined at the waist. He lived on the island of Erytheia and was slain by Heracles for his cattle.
Gremlin
Mischievous creatures believed to sabotage aircraft and machinery. This modern folklore originated as an explanation for mechanical failures among pilots.
Gashadokuro
A giant skeleton, fifteen times taller than an average person, made from the bones of people who died of starvation. It bites off the heads of its victims.
Gumiho
A nine-tailed fox spirit that can shapeshift, often into a beautiful woman. It must consume a human heart or liver to become fully human.
Glaistig
A type of ghost or fairy, often appearing as a beautiful woman with a goat’s lower half hidden by a long dress. Her nature could be benevolent or malevolent.
Grindylow
A small, green water demon with long, sinewy arms that lives in ponds and marshes. It preys on children who wander too close to the water’s edge.
Gullinbursti
A powerful, living boar with golden bristles that glowed in the dark, created by dwarves for the god Freyr. It could run faster than any horse.
Gigantes
A race of powerful, aggressive giants, born from the blood of Uranus falling on Gaia (the Earth). They famously waged an unsuccessful war against the Olympian gods.
Graeae
Three ancient sisters who shared a single eye and a single tooth among them. Perseus tricked them to learn the location of the Gorgons.
Gwyllgi
A mythical black dog from Wales, often described with blazing red eyes. It is seen as a terrifying apparition and an omen of death to whoever encounters it.
Green Man
A legendary being representing nature, rebirth, and the cycle of growth each spring. He is typically depicted as a face surrounded by or made from leaves.
Gjenganger
A corporeal ghost that returns from the dead. Unlike a spectral ghost, the Gjenganger is a physical creature that can pinch, harm, and spread disease.
Gogmagog
A legendary giant and one of the original inhabitants of ancient Britain. He was defeated in a wrestling match by Corineus, a companion of Brutus of Troy.
Gold-Digging Ant
A species of giant, fox-sized ants from India that were said to dig up sand rich in gold dust. This legend may have been based on marmots.
Gaki
Ravenous ghosts with an insatiable hunger for a specific substance. They are a manifestation of the souls of greedy and jealous people, a form of karmic rebirth.
Grootslang
A colossal primordial creature, half-elephant and half-serpent, said to live in a deep cave in South Africa. It is known to hoard gems and lure victims to its lair.
Gamayun
A prophetic bird with the head of a beautiful woman. She is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, flying across the world to spread divine messages and prophecies.
Gud-elim
A mythical bull sent by the goddess Ishtar to attack Gilgamesh and Enkidu after they spurned her. Its defeat was a great victory for the heroes.
Guardian Angel
A benevolent spirit assigned by a deity to protect and guide a particular person, group, or nation. They act as intercessors and messengers between heaven and earth.
Gwragedd Annwn
Beautiful and enchanting lake maidens or water fairies from the Welsh Otherworld (Annwn). They would sometimes marry mortals but leave if certain taboos were broken.
Gullinkambi
A golden rooster that lives in Valhalla. Its crowing will be one of the three great signs that herald the beginning of Ragnarök, the end of the world.
Ga-gorib
A monstrous beast that sat at the edge of a great pit, challenging passersby to throw a stone at it. The stone would bounce back and kill the thrower, who then fell in the pit.
Guecubu
Evil spirits or demons in Mapuche religion. They are blamed for causing disease, death, and all other misfortunes that befall the Mapuche people.
Gyalpo
A class of arrogant and wrathful spirits in Tibetan mythology, often appearing as kings in armor. They can cause harm and disruption if angered or disrespected.
Green Knight
A gigantic, otherworldly warrior, entirely green in color, who tests the honor of King Arthur’s knights. He possesses supernatural resilience and regenerative abilities.