What made Athena furious with a local weaver that she transformed her into Greek mythology’s first spider woman, Arachne? Was Scylla always a feared sea-monster, or was she a victim of jealousy? Why is Anansi one of the most popular myths across Africa? What is the symbolism behind French folktale’s infamous night rider, Cheval Mallet? We have all been exposed to a mythological beast in one form or another. Whether it is the three headed guard dog Fluffy in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, or even the story of Smaug in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth in The Hobbit, all these pop culture mythical creatures have a deep connection to ancient mythologies. Whether it is Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson playing an oversized scorpion man in The Mummy Returns and The Scorpion King , or the character of Anansi in Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, these magical creatures have a deep connection to the folktales of ancient cultures. Where did they come from? What relevance do they serve in mythology? Why are some so obscure, while others become pop-culture enigmas? Get the answer to these questions, and learn about beasts from different world cultures. Folklorist Zayden Stone dives deep into the stories of these magical beasts and provides a fictional anecdote, - a retelling of the original myths, - an analysis of the symbolism and relevance of the creatures, - and then pairs it with some beautiful and reimagined black and white illustrations In this special edition combination volume of the previous Mythical Creatures and Mythological Beasts books, the illustrated guide takes you through six themes that have been specifically chosen since they are consistent across cultures. The categories include: arthropods for insects, crustaceans, and arachnids; - avian for birds; - canines for wolves and dogs; - serpents for snakes and dragons; - ungulates for hooved animals like horses and cows; and - aquatic for water dwelling beasts. Presenting the creatures in categories makes it easier to see what the beasts have in common. You will find some overlapping themes across ancient cultures that point to universal ideas in how humans perceive the world. If you have a love for the myths and want to learn about the unique beasts that dwell within them, this book is a great way to do it. Not only will you learn about ones you may have never heard of, but you will also be able to draw parallels between cultures and see how they interpreted their surroundings through stories of mythical creatures and magical beasts. This book is a special edition which combines Zayden Stone's previous volumes into one book: Mythical Creatures and Mythological Beasts.