Misunderstood Monsters Episode 8: Mothman and Other Harbingers of Doom

Our feature monster this week is one whose stories are spun out of urban legends, making him a more recent addition to the monster roster. It’s time to talk about the mysterious Mothman. And while we're at it, we'll meet some other mythological figures of fate, destiny, and bad luck from Greek, Celtic, and Germanic mythologies.

Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board!

All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales.

Transcript for Episode 8

If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!).

Stuff to Read: 

• • Mothman: 
    • Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage: An Ode to a Hometown Creature: Mothman of Point Pleasant, West Virginia 
    • Paranormal West Virginia: The Legend of Mothman
    • The Mothman Festival
  • Banshee: 
    • Irish Myths: What Is a Banshee? The Mythic Origins of Ireland’s Most Infamous Shrieking Spirit 
    • The Irish Post: Exploring Irish Mythology: The Banshee
    • History Cooperative: The Banshee 
  • Spectral Dogs:
    • 6 Folktales about Black Dogs
    • Britain’s Black Dog Legends – 7 Spooky Canines & Hellhounds
    • ‘They called them the demon dogs’- the Cwn Annwn, Welsh Hounds of Hell
  • Wild Hunt: 
    • Norse Mythology: The Wild Hunt 
    • History Today: The Wild Hunt of Odin 
    • Monster of the Week: The Wild Hunt
  • Moros: 
    • At THEOI and Olympoi

Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube Playlist for this episode!