New Bestiary, the encyclopedia of imaginary beings

New Bestiary

Welcome to New Bestiary, the encyclopedia of imaginary beings. The word ‘bestiary’ itself comes from Middle Ages. Bestiaries were compendiums of beasts many of which never really existed.

Today there are many modern bestiaries such as Jorge Luis Borges’s Book of Imaginary Beings and many others. Our goal is to create online encyclopedia of ancient and modern imaginary beings based on reliable sources. The major part of New Bestiary is Russian only for the time being. The list of articles in English can be found here.

We are fully aware that such ultimate mission is impossible but we’re trying our best and welcome you to join our journey.

Map of imaginary beings

Map for bestiary tourists, indicating places where we can meet mythological creatures, or at least monuments to them :)

Recent articles

In Arabic and Persian, and later in European medieval sources, the “marvelously large and strong” one-horned fish was known as the terror of the Arabian sea
Article by: A Book of Creatures (en), KOT (ru); 11-01-2025 / 11-01-2025 at 04:58
Visits: 52; without comments
According to the folklore of Japan’s Kōchi Prefecture, a ghost appearing in the vicinity of Haba Mountain takes the form of a boneless woman with long black hair and a legless lower body that fades away as it trails off
Article by: Matthew Meyer (en), Алкэ (ru); 10-30-2025 / 10-30-2025 at 11:40
Visits: 118; without comments
According to the folklore of the people of Shiraz (Far province, southern Iran) children's bogey in the form of a black being with three eyes, eight legs, and sharp claws
Article by: Shakiba Bahrami (en), KOT (ru); 10-19-2025 / 10-19-2025 at 03:18
Visits: 271; without comments
Is bird of Hercynian forest in Germany with feathers which shine at night
Article by: linyok; 06-30-2014 / 10-19-2025 at 03:03
Visits: 22694; comments: 6, last — Barlig, 11-30-2014 at 11:29
According to the japanese folklore, snow spirits, the children of Yuki Onna, who become incredibly heavy if you try to carry them in your arms
Article by: Matthew Meyer (en), Алкэ (ru); 10-11-2025 / 10-11-2025 at 12:51
Visits: 403; without comments
Acording to Iraqi folklore, a half-bestial ogress which haunts the outskirts of towns
Article by: korg; 01-20-2012 / 10-09-2025 at 12:51
Visits: 11934; comments: 1, last — korg, 05-23-2017 at 04:46

Latest Stuff

Типсортировать по иконкамЗаголовокОтзывыПоследний
Страница существаБрунчадло 002.11.2025
ИсточникAdolf Černý "Mythiske bytosće łužiskich Serbow" — Budyšin: Z nakl. M.Hórnika a E.Muki, 1898 (1740) 002.11.2025
ИсточникAdolf Černý "Istoty mityczne Serbów Łużyckich" / z łużyckiego tłumaczył Bronisław Grabowski — Warszawa: Drukarnia Rubieszewskiego i Wrotnowskiego, 1901 (1739) 002.11.2025
ПерсоналииЧерный, Адольф (Adolf Černý) 002.11.2025
ИсточникГура А.В. "Серболужичане" // Низшая мифология славян. Этнолингвистические очерки — М.: Индрик, 2025 — с.315-348 (1738) 002.11.2025
ImageКаспилли. Иллюстрация из книги Андрэ Теве "La cosmographie universelle" 001.11.2025
ImageКаспилли. Иллюстрация с сайта "A Book of Creatures" 001.11.2025
Страница существаКаспилли 001.11.2025
ИсточникA.Paré "Les Oeuvres d’Ambroise Paré" — Paris: Nicolas Buon, 1614 (1737) 001.11.2025
ИсточникA.Paré "Discours d’Ambroise Paré" — Paris: De la Licorne. Gabriel Buon, 1582 (1736) 001.11.2025
ПерсоналииПаре, Амбруаз (Ambroise Paré) 001.11.2025
СказкаРассказ о том, как была съедена горная ведьма (たべられたやまんば). Японское сказание из региона Тохоку 030.10.2025
СказкаПастух и горная ведьма (牛方山姥). Японское сказание из региона Тюбу 030.10.2025
Страница существаХонэнаси-онна 030.10.2025
ImageХонэнаси-онна. Иллюстрация Мэтью Мэйера 030.10.2025
Запись в блогеДомашняя библиотека 20926.10.2025
Страница существаГулу 019.10.2025
ImageГулу. Иллюстрация Мохаммада Расулипура 019.10.2025
Запись в блогеFoul Weather (Непогодушка). Статья из «Эльфийского словаря» К.Бриггс 017.10.2025
СказкаКуриные лапки (Курыныя ножкі). Белорусская быличка из записей С.Сахарова 114.10.2025
ImageКуриные лапки. Иллюстрация к одноименной белорусской быличке 014.10.2025
СказкаКак Юрка чёрта бил (Як Юрка чорта біў). Белорусская быличка из записей С.Сахарова 014.10.2025
ImageКак Юрка чёрта бил. Иллюстрация к одноименной белорусской быличке 014.10.2025
СказкаСкрипач (Скрыпач). Белорусская быличка из записей С.Сахарова 013.10.2025
ImageСкрипач. Иллюстрация к одноименной белорусской быличке 013.10.2025

Our site chronology

11-03-2025 — Your appearance on the site

25.10.2012 — the new bestiary took its rightful place on the main domain

04.01.2008 — the first stone was laid in the construction of a new bestiary

07.11.2005 — new address is Bestiary.us

22.09.2004 — new address is Bestiary.ru

22.03.2004 — we started the forum

07.03.2004 — "Encyclopedia Of Mythical Creatures" moved to Bestiary.com.ru

27.07.2003 — "Encyclopedia Of Mythical Creatures" first appeared online at x-zoo.narod.ru

Please note!

All materials posted on the our site are the intellectual property of their respective authors. Any repost is allowed only with reference to www.bestiary.us.

Commercial use of any material from the site without direct permission of the copyright holders is prohibited.