Throughout history, fantastic beasts have stalked our imaginations. From the ethereal unicorn of medieval European fable to the monstrous eight-headed dragon of Japanese legend, such animals have embodied some of life's greatest mysteries, and humankind's most primal impulses: the love of beauty, the terror of the grave. Familiar myths have lodged them in our consciousness, but we may not know them as well as we think. With stunning artwork and a wealth of enchanting tales, The Mythic Bestiary sheds light on these shadowy creatures, displaying them in all of their beauty and ferocity. The book is a complete materia monstrum organized into three parts, according to habitat—the beasts of the air, those of the earth, and those of the aquatic realms. We meet the monsters and hybrids of the classical world, the myriad serpents and dragons of both East and West, the malevolent ogres and trolls of Scandinavia, and the elusive cannibals, shape-shifters, and ape-people of the dense forests of North America and Eurasia. Detailed entries describe the classic appearance of each beast, chart variations across cultures, and explore contemporary incarnations in film and literature, from Batman to Pirates of the Caribbean, from J. R. R. Tolkien to J. K. Rowling. Indispensable for all those drawn to the beasts of myth and legend, the Mythic Bestiary brings these compelling creatures thrillingly to life.