Chronological timeline of texts tagged with Hybrid Creatures
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Ancient Near Eastern and Greek art and literature filled the divine and demonic world with composite beings that combined human and animal parts or fused several animals into a single body. Winged bulls and lions with human heads guarded palace gates, scorpion-men kept watch over the mountain passes, and gods spawned broods of horned serpents, fish-men, and bull-men to fight their battles. The Hebrew Bible and Septuagint inherit this imagery, and later Jewish and Christian traditions continued to imagine the heavenly and monstrous realms through the same hybrid forms.
Note: Dates shown in this timeline are approximate and based on scholarly estimates.
Back to Tag2100 BCE
Epic of Gilgamesh IX 42
Ancient Near East
38 To Māšu’s twin mountains he came, 39 which daily guard the rising [of the sun,] – 40 their tops [abut] the fabric of the heavens, 41 their bases reach down to Hades – 42 there were scorpion-men guarding its gate, 43 whose terror was dread and glance was death, 44 whose radiance was terrifying, enveloping the uplands – 45 at both sunrise and sunset they guard the sun –
c. 2000 BCE
Ninurta's Exploits
Ancient Near East
‘Hero, beware!’ it said concernedly. The Šar-ur addressed Lord Ninurta: ‘Hero, pitfall (?), net of battle, Ninurta, King, celestial mace ... irresistible against the enemy, valiant one, tempest which rages against the rebel lands, wave which submerges the harvest, King, you have looked on battles, you have ... in the thick of them. Ninurta, after gathering the enemy in a battle-net, after erecting a great reed-altar, Lord, heavenly serpent, purify your pickaxe and your mace! Ninurta, I will enumerate the names of the warriors you have already slain: the Mermaid, the Dragon, the Gypsum, the Strong Copper, the hero Six-headed Wild Ram, the Magilum Barge, Lord Saman-ana, the Bison, the Palm-tree King, the Anzud bird, the Seven-headed Serpent—Ninurta, you slew them in the mountains.’ ‘But Lord, do not venture again to a battle as terrible as that. Do not lift your arm to the smiting of weapons, to the festival of the young men, to Inana’s dance! Lord, do not go to such a great battle as this! Do not hurry; fix your feet on the ground. Ninurta, the Asag is waiting for you in the Mountains. Hero who is so handsome in his crown, first-born son whom Ninlil has decorated with numberless charms, good Lord, whom a princess bore to an en priest, Hero who wears horns like the moon, who is long life for the king of the Land, who opens the sky by great sublime strength, inundation who engulfs the banks ..., Ninurta, Lord, full of fearsomeness, who will hurry towards the Mountains, proud Hero, this time you will not equal the Asag! Ninurta, do not make your young men enter the Mountains.’
1800–1750 BCE
Enuma Elish I
Ancient Near East
[With poison instead of] blood she filled [their] bodies. Fierce [monster-vipers] she clothed with terror, [With splendour] she decked them, [she made them] of lofty stature. [Whoever saw] them, terror overcame him, Their bodies reared up and none could withstand [their attack]. [She set] up vipers, and dragons, and the (monster) [Lahamu], [And hurricanes], and raging hounds, and scorpion-men, And mighty [tempests], and fish-men, and [rams]; [They bore] cruel weapons, without fear of [the fight]. Her commands [were mighty], [none] could resist them;
c. 650 BCE
Underworld Vision of an Assyrian Prince
Ancient Near East
The Evil Genie had a human head and hands, was crowned with a tiara and had the feet of an eagle. With his left foot he was trampling on a crocodile. Alluhappu had a lion's head, his four hands and feet were (like) those of human beings. The Upholder of Evil had the head of a bird, his wings were spread out and he flew here and there; (his) hands and feet were human. Humut-tabal, the ferryman of the underworld, had an Anzû head, his four hands and feet [...]. The Ghost had an ox's head, his four hands and feet were (like) those of human beings. The Evil Spirit had a lion's head, (his) hands and feet were those of Anzû. Šulak was a lion, standing constantly on his hind legs. The Oath had a goat's head, (his) hands and feet were human. Nedu, the porter of the underworld, had a lion's head, and human hands, his feet were those of a bird. Total Evil had two heads, one was the head of a lion, the second was the head of [...].
5th century BCE (final composition)
Genesis 3:24
Hebrew Bible
22 And the Lord God said, “Now that the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not be allowed to stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God expelled him from the orchard in Eden to cultivate the ground from which he had been taken. 24 When he drove the man out, he placed on the eastern side of the orchard in Eden angelic sentries who used the flame of a whirling sword to guard the way to the tree of life.
7th–5th centuries BCE
Isaiah 13:21
Hebrew Bible
19 Babylon, the most admired of kingdoms, the Chaldeans’ source of honor and pride, will be destroyed by God just as Sodom and Gomorrah were. 20 No one will live there again; no one will ever reside there again. No bedouin will camp there, no shepherds will rest their flocks there. 21 Wild animals will rest there, the ruined houses will be full of hyenas. Ostriches will live there, wild goats will skip among the ruins. 22 Wild dogs will yip in her ruined fortresses, jackals will yelp in the once-splendid palaces. Her time is almost up, her days will not be prolonged.
7th–5th centuries BCE
Isaiah 27:1
Hebrew Bible
1 At that time the Lord will punish with his destructive, great, and powerful sword Leviathan the fast-moving serpent, Leviathan the squirming serpent; he will kill the sea monster. 2 When that time comes, sing about a delightful vineyard! 3 “I, the Lord, protect it; I water it regularly. I guard it night and day, so no one can harm it.
7th–5th centuries BCE
Isaiah 34:14
Hebrew Bible
13 Her fortresses will be overgrown with thorns; thickets and weeds will grow in her fortified cities. Jackals will settle there; ostriches will live there. 14 Wild animals and wild dogs will congregate there; wild goats will bleat to one another. Yes, nocturnal animals will rest there and make for themselves a nest. 15 Owls will make nests and lay eggs there; they will hatch them and protect them. Yes, hawks will gather there, each with its mate.
6th century BCE
Ezekiel 1:10
Hebrew Bible
4 As I watched, I noticed a windstorm coming from the north—an enormous cloud, with lightning flashing, such that bright light rimmed it and came from it like glowing amber from the middle of a fire. 5 In the fire were what looked like four living beings. In their appearance they had human form, 6 but each had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, but the soles of their feet were like calves’ feet. They gleamed like polished bronze. 8 They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, 9 their wings touched each other; they did not turn as they moved, but went straight ahead. 10 Their faces had this appearance: Each of the four had the face of a man, with the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left, and also the face of an eagle.
6th–3rd centuries BCE
Psalms 74:14
Hebrew Bible
12 But God has been my king from ancient times, performing acts of deliverance on the earth. 13 You destroyed the sea by your strength; you shattered the heads of the sea monster in the water. 14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you fed him to the people who live along the coast. 15 You broke open the spring and the stream; you dried up perpetually flowing rivers.
5th century BCE
Job 41:25
Hebrew Bible
24 Its heart is hard as rock, hard as a lower millstone. 25 When it rises up, the mighty are terrified; at its thrashing about they withdraw. 26 Whoever strikes it with a sword will have no effect, nor with the spear, arrow, or dart. 27 It regards iron as straw and bronze as rotten wood. 28 Arrows do not make it flee; slingstones become like chaff to it. 29 A club is counted as a piece of straw; it laughs at the rattling of the lance. 30 Its underparts are the sharp points of potsherds; it leaves its mark in the mud like a threshing sledge. 31 It makes the deep boil like a cauldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment, 32 It leaves a glistening wake behind it; one would think the deep had a head of white hair. 33 The likes of it is not on earth, a creature without fear. 34 It looks on every haughty being; it is king over all that are proud.”
2nd century BCE
Daniel 7:3
Hebrew Bible
1 In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream filled with visions while he was lying on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream in summary fashion. 2 Daniel explained: “I was watching in my vision during the night as the four winds of the sky were stirring up the great sea. 3 Then four large beasts came up from the sea; they were different from one another. 4 “The first one was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was lifted up from the ground. It was made to stand on two feet like a human being, and a human mind was given to it. 5 “Then a second beast appeared, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and there were three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and devour much flesh!’
2nd century BCE
Daniel 7:4
Hebrew Bible
3 Then four large beasts came up from the sea; they were different from one another. 4 “The first one was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was lifted up from the ground. It was made to stand on two feet like a human being, and a human mind was given to it. 5 “Then a second beast appeared, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and there were three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and devour much flesh!’ 6 “After these things, as I was watching, another beast like a leopard appeared, with four bird-like wings on its back. This beast had four heads, and ruling authority was given to it. 7 “After these things, as I was watching in the night visions a fourth beast appeared—one dreadful, terrible, and very strong. It had two large rows of iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and anything that was left it trampled with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had 10 horns.
2nd century BCE
Daniel 7:5
Hebrew Bible
3 Then four large beasts came up from the sea; they were different from one another. 4 “The first one was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was lifted up from the ground. It was made to stand on two feet like a human being, and a human mind was given to it. 5 “Then a second beast appeared, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and there were three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and devour much flesh!’ 6 “After these things, as I was watching, another beast like a leopard appeared, with four bird-like wings on its back. This beast had four heads, and ruling authority was given to it. 7 “After these things, as I was watching in the night visions a fourth beast appeared—one dreadful, terrible, and very strong. It had two large rows of iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and anything that was left it trampled with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had 10 horns.
2nd century BCE
Daniel 7:7
Hebrew Bible
6 “After these things, as I was watching, another beast like a leopard appeared, with four bird-like wings on its back. This beast had four heads, and ruling authority was given to it. 7 “After these things, as I was watching in the night visions a fourth beast appeared—one dreadful, terrible, and very strong. It had two large rows of iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and anything that was left it trampled with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had 10 horns. 8 “As I was contemplating the horns, another horn—a small one—came up between them, and three of the former horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This horn had eyes resembling human eyes and a mouth speaking arrogant things.
1st century BCE
LXX Isaiah 13:21
Septuagint
19 And Babylon, which is called glorious by the king of the Chaldeans, shall be as when God overthrew Sodoma, and Gomorrha. 20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall any enter into it for many generations: neither shall the Arabians pass through it; nor shall shepherds at all rest in it. 21 But wild beasts shall rest there; and the houses shall be filled with howling; and sirens shall rest there, and devils shall dance there, 22 and donkey-centaurs shall dwell there; and hedgehogs shall make their nests in their houses. It will come soon, and will not wait.
1st century BCE
LXX Isaiah 34:14
Septuagint
13 And thorns shall spring up in their cities, and in her strong holds: and they shall be habitations of monsters, and a court of ostriches. 14 And demons shall meet with donkey-centaurs, and they shall cry one to the other: there shall donkey-centaurs rest, having found for themselves a place of rest. 15 There the hedgehog has made its nest, and the earth has safely preserved its young: there the deer have met, and seen one another's faces.
70–100 CE
4 Ezra 11
Pseudepigrapha
9 For you have judged me worthy to show me the end of time and the last events of the times.” 10 He said to me, “This is the interpretation of this vision which you saw: 11 The eagle, whom you saw come up from the sea, is the fourth kingdom which appeared in a vision to your brother Daniel. 12 But it was not explained to him, as I now explain it to you or have explained it. 13 Behold, the days come that a kingdom will rise up on earth, and it will be feared more than all the kingdoms that were before it. 14 Twelve kings will reign in it, one after another. 15 Of those, the second will begin to reign, and will reign a longer time than others of the twelve.
c. 730–700 BCE
Hesiod, Theogony 820
Classical
[825] grew a hundred heads of a snake, a fearful dragon, with dark, flickering tongues, and from under the brows of his eyes in his marvellous heads flashed fire, and fire burned from his heads as he glared. And there were voices in all his dreadful heads [830] which uttered every kind of sound unspeakable; for at one time they made sounds such that the gods understood, but at another, the noise of a bull bellowing aloud in proud ungovernable fury; and at another, the sound of a lion, relentless of heart; and at another, sounds like whelps, wonderful to hear; [835] and again, at another, he would hiss, so that the high mountains re-echoed. And truly a thing past help would have happened on that day, and he would have come to reign over mortals and immortals, had not the father of men and gods been quick to perceive it. But he thundered hard and mightily: and the earth around [840] resounded terribly and the wide heaven above, and the sea and Ocean's streams and the nether parts of the earth. Great Olympus reeled beneath the divine feet of the king as he arose and earth groaned thereat. And through the two of them heat took hold on the dark-blue sea, [845] through the thunder and lightning, and through the fire from the monster, and the scorching winds and blazing thunderbolt. The whole earth seethed, and sky and sea: and the long waves raged along the beaches round and about at the rush of the deathless gods: and there arose an endless shaking. [850] Hades trembled where he rules over the dead below, and the Titans under Tartarus who live with Cronos, because of the unending clamor and the fearful strife. So when Zeus had raised up his might and seized his arms, thunder and lightning and lurid thunderbolt, [855] he leaped from Olympus and struck him, and burned all the marvellous heads of the monster about him. But when Zeus had conquered him and lashed him with strokes, Typhoeus was hurled down, a maimed wreck, so that the huge earth groaned. And flame shot forth from the thunderstricken lord
92–96 CE
Revelation 4:7
New Testament
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit, and a throne was standing in heaven with someone seated on it! 3 And the one seated on it was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald encircled the throne. 4 In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne, 6 and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. In the middle of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like an ox, the third creature had a face like a man’s, and the fourth creature looked like an eagle flying.
92–96 CE
Revelation 13:1
New Testament
1 Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule. 3 One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement;
92–96 CE
Revelation 13:2
New Testament
1 Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule. 3 One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; 4 they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?”