Greek Mythology.

Gigantes (Giants) (Gi-gan-tues) The Gigantes were the children of Gaia or Gaea, who was fertilized by the blood of Uranus, after Uranus was damaged (he was castrated, but I doubt you want to tell a classroom of kids that) by his son Cronus. Cronus gained the majority of his power by re-imprisoning or trapping his siblings, the Hecatonchires and Cyclopes, and his (newly-created) 'children', the Giants (in Tartarus). Cronus and his Titans lost the battle to his son Zeus shortly after and Gaea, which was very unhappy about the the imprisonment of the Titans in Tartarus by the Olympians, called upon the Giants to rise up in arms against them, end their reign, and restore the Titans'. Led on by Alcyoneus and Porphyrion, they challenged the weaknesses and strength of the Olympians in a 'Gigantomachia' or 'Gigantomachy'. The Giants Otus and Ephialtes stacked the mountain ranges of Thessaly, Pelion, and Ossa, on top of each other as they belived the could climb to Mt. Olympus. The Olympians called for Heracles as they believed he was the only one capable to defeat the giants. Heracles became a slayer to not only Alcyoneus, but he killed the giants that were already wounded by the olympions. One of the most infamous Gigantes is Athos. Athos was the giant that threw a mountain at Zues. It was him that knocked it down to which became the holy peak of Mt. Athos. Campe. (meaning twisted) (Kampa) Were a 'chthonic' (in or under the earth) female monster. Campe was sent by Cronus to guard the Hecatonchires and Cyclopes in Tartarus after Cronus had trapped them. Eventually she was slayed by Zeus when he rescued the Cyclopes for help in the battle with the Titans. Campe was a she-dragon with a woman's head and torso and a scorpionlike tail, and her legs resembled that of a snake. Charybdis. (Car-E-diss) Charybdis was a sea monster. She was once a beautiful naiad and the daughter of Poseidon and Gaia. She takes form as a huge bladder of a creature whose face was all mouth and whose arms and legs were flippers and who swallows huge amounts of water three times a day before belching them back out again, creating whirlpools. She created such a stirr over land, and singlehandedly created so much choas and damage that Zues turned her into a sea monster. Hellhound. The hellhounds were created by the gods of the underworld to protect them. Their features are usually demonic, with black fur, glowing red, yellow or bright green eyes, super strength or speed (some of them had powers from their demigod creators). They

were known for smelling foul, having the ability to manifest and even gaining the ability to speak. Hekatonkheires. (He-Ka-Tunk-Airs) These were also giants, but were known for having higher strength, and each of them posses one hundred hands, and fifty heads. These eventually become the popular guards of tartarus. Nemean lion. The lion derrives from Nemea. (location) It was eventually slayed by Heracles, even though Zues took credit for it himself. The lions skin was known as almost armor like and mortal weapons could not cut through it's 'gold' like fur. Also, Its claws were sharper than any weapon known to man and could cut through any type of armor. Icelandic Mythology Kraken ( kra ken, IPA: /krkn/) are legendary sea monsters of gargantuan size, said to have dwelled off the coasts of Norway and Iceland. The sheer size and fearsome appearance attributed to the beasts have made them common ocean-dwelling monsters in various fictional works. The legend may actually have originated from sightings of real giant squid that are estimated to grow to 13 meters (46 feet) in length, including the tentacles. These creatures normally live at great depths, but have been sighted at the surface and reportedly have "attacked" ships. they are 330-490 feet wide. Their tentacles can grow up to 900 feet long. and can weigh up to 400 tons These huge, many armed creatures would attack a ship by wrapping their arms around the hull and capsizing it, resulting in the crew drowning or being eaten by the monster, and sometimes can thrust its tentacles down with so much velocity it can snap a large ship in 2 parts. _______________________________________________________________________ _ Additional Creatures: Canada- Native American Uktena OR WINDIGO Greece- Manticore OR Chimera (Chimaera) Japan- Nue OR Kappa (suijin) Saudi Arabia- Jinn/Djinn

Egypt- Sphinx