This list includes 29 Mythological creatures that start with P, from “Panotti (Panotii)” to “Púca (Pooka)”. These entries cover spirits, monsters, legendary animals, and hybrids from global folklore and myth. You can use this list for research, storytelling, game design, or teaching.
Mythological creatures that start with P are non-human beings from myths and folk tales whose names begin with P. Many reflect local beliefs about nature, danger, and the supernatural; the Púca is a famous shapeshifting example.
Below you’ll find the table with Origin, Description, and Famous stories.
Origin: Shows the culture or region where each creature appears, so you can understand historical and geographic context.
Description: Brief, 20–40-word summaries that highlight appearance, powers, or behavior, helping you compare creatures quickly.
Famous stories: Lists one or two myths, texts, or works where the creature appears, so you can find original narratives.
Mythological creatures that start with P
| Name | Origin | Type | Famous stories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | Greek/Egyptian | bird | Herodotus accounts; various Greek legends |
| Pegasus | Greek | winged horse | Bellerophon and the Chimera |
| Púca (Pooka) | Irish | shapeshifter | Various Irish folktales |
| Puck | English | trickster | Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream |
| Peryton | Medieval Europe | hybrid | Medieval bestiaries; Borges’ Book of Imaginary Beings |
| Piasa | Native American (Illini) | winged monster | Piasa legend (Illini) |
| Penanggalan | Malay | vampire | Malay folktales |
| Pontianak | Malay/Indonesian | vampiric ghost | Malay folktales |
| Polong | Malay | household spirit | Malay folklore |
| Pelesit | Malay | demonic familiar | Malay folktales |
| Pishacha | Hindu | demon | Mahabharata; Puranic tales |
| Preta | Hindu/Buddhist | hungry ghost | Buddhist Jataka tales; Hindu texts |
| Pazuzu | Mesopotamian | demon | Akkadian incantations |
| Poltergeist | German | ghost | European ghost lore |
| Pukwudgie | Algonquian | trickster | Wampanoag and Algonquian tales |
| Popobawa | Zanzibari/Tanzanian | shapeshifting demon | Zanzibar urban legends |
| Pugot | Philippine | headless spirit | Philippine folktales |
| Patupaiarehe | Māori | fairy | Māori legends |
| Panotti (Panotii) | Classical/Medieval | monstrous race | Pliny’s Natural History; medieval travel tales |
| Peg Powler | English (Tees) | river hag | Tees River folklore |
| Pombero (Pombéro) | Guaraní | household spirit | Guaraní folktales |
| Pouakai | Māori/New Zealand | giant bird | Māori legends |
| Papinijuwari | Tiwi (Australian) | giant cannibal | Tiwi myths |
| Peuchen | Mapuche/Chilotan | vampiric serpent | Mapuche and Chilote legends |
| Pishtaco | Andean (Peruvian) | bogeyman monster | Andean folktales |
| Psoglav | South Slavic | dog-headed monster | South Slavic folktales |
| Polkan | Slavic | hybrid warrior | Russian lubok tales; folk epics |
| Python | Greek | serpent | Apollo and Python (Delphi) |
| Peri | Persian | fairy | Persian epic poems; Shahnameh references |
Descriptions
Phoenix
Legendary firebird that cyclically dies in flames and is reborn from its ashes; symbol of renewal and immortality.
Pegasus
Winged divine horse born from Medusa’s blood, aided Bellerophon in battling the Chimera and later became a constellation.
Púca (Pooka)
Mischievous spirit that takes animal or human form—horse, dog, goat—capable of helpful or trickster behavior at night.
Puck
Mischievous fairy or sprite, playful and sometimes cruel; famous as Oberon’s jester and a cause of comic confusion.
Peryton
Deer-bodied, bird-winged hybrid reported in bestiaries; later described as having a human shadow and ominous habits.
Piasa
Cliff-painted river monster of Mississippi lore—winged, horned, and said to devour people in Illini oral tradition.
Penanggalan
Female vampire whose head detaches with trailing entrails to fly at night, seeking blood—especially dangerous to infants and pregnant women.
Pontianak
Vengeful ghost of a woman who died in childbirth; appears pale, preys on travelers and men at night.
Polong
Small invisible vampiric familiar kept by sorcerers to attack enemies; feeds on victims under owner’s control.
Pelesit
Tiny cricket-like spirit owned by sorcerers, often accompanying a polong to torment or possess victims.
Pishacha
Flesh-eating, night-haunting demon associated with cremation grounds, possession, and causing madness in Hindu lore.
Preta
Hungry ghost cursed with insatiable hunger or thirst; depicted with thin necks and huge bellies, symbolizing greed.
Pazuzu
Wind demon with animal features; feared but also invoked in apotropaic rituals to protect against other demons like Lamashtu.
Poltergeist
Noisy, mischievous spirit blamed for physical disturbances—objects moved, loud knocks—common in European folklore and modern reports.
Pukwudgie
Small, humanlike forest spirit both helpful and dangerous, known for tricks, shapeshifting, and ambushes in Northeastern tribes.
Popobawa
Nightmarish bat- or demon-like attacker blamed for assaults and possessions in Zanzibar; mixes traditional belief with modern panic.
Pugot
Headless being in Philippine folklore that steals heads or taunts villagers; associated with particular mountains and local legends.
Patupaiarehe
Fairy folk of misty forests—pale, nocturnal, skilled in music; often aloof or dangerous to those who encounter them.
Panotti (Panotii)
Legendary people described with enormous ears covering much of their bodies, appearing in classical and medieval marvel literature.
Peg Powler
River hag said to lurk in the River Tees, luring and drowning children; described with mossy skin and green hair.
Pombero (Pombéro)
Nocturnal trickster spirit of the forest who causes mischief, protects wildlife, and can be placated with small offerings.
Pouakai
Terrifying giant predatory bird in Māori tradition, sometimes said to prey on humans and large birds.
Papinijuwari
Cannibalistic giant from Tiwi Islander lore that eats corpses and children; feared spirit in local oral tradition.
Peuchen
Large flying serpent or vampiric creature with a hypnotic gaze, reputed to suck blood and emit eerie sounds at night.
Pishtaco
Human-like predator who kills to harvest victims’ fat; a bogeyman used to explain disappearances and enforce social norms.
Psoglav
Therianthropic creature with a human body and dog head, often depicted with iron teeth and cannibalistic habits.
Polkan
Centaur-like or half-horse, half-man figure in East Slavic tales, portrayed as a powerful warrior or foe to heroes.
Python
Primordial earth-serpent or dragon slain by Apollo at Delphi; associated with chthonic power and prophetic sanctuary.
Peri
Supernatural beings resembling fairies—beautiful, sometimes rebellious spirits who feature in Persian epics and folktales.