What mythical creature, human or non, do you find most facinating?

I'm particularly fond of dragons and fairies, but especially dragons. I like the stories about dragons whose hoardes turn out to be books and manuscripts. That's my kind of creature!

The legends of dragons have so many points of origin that it's difficult to pick any one to focus on, so I'll go general. Speculation on the origin of dragons includes that the legends were the result of left-over dinosaurs, for which there are no physical evidence. Or there is the hypothesis that they began with the Megalania, a giant monitor lizard that is said to be extinct, although there are still rumors of sitings in Australia. A less-popular theory is that the origin of the myth were flying machines from some undiscovered alien race that visited Earth and perhaps settled here. Evidence of the belief of dinosaur fossils being the "bones of dragons" is found in ancient Chinese manuscripts, but it is suggested that the bones only reinforced the legends of giant flying creatures, not started them. There are ancient legends of dragons or serpents to be found in the stories of almost every ancient culture in Europe, Asia and North Africa. Dragons in almost all cultures have aspects not only of snakes but of the great cats and eagles as well. They stalk and sneak to catch their prey, they nest in high, rocky areas, and guard their hoardes and eggs with equal ferocity. Their serpentine nature is obvious, however, especially as the Greek name Drako, meaning snake.

Fairies are supernatural beings with a human-like appearance found in many cultures. They are usually able to do things like fly, cast spells, and see the future. They are supposed to be very long-lived, and they are not always aware of or caring of the passage of time on Earth. There are often seen in many physical aspects, tall and beautiful, short and cute, troll-like, etc. They are often believed to have a weakness when it comes to iron, known as Cold Iron in legends involving them. There are many legends that tell of fairy changelings; it is said that the fairies will exchange a weak fairy child for a healthy human one and raise it as their own. Another explanation for this and the well-known propensity for fairy men and women to lure human men and women into their realm is that the fairies, who are supposed to be immortal as well, need new blood, human DNA, to add to their race to keep them healthy and the population up. It is supposed to be difficult for them to conceive among their own kind, and the children are also often weak, thus the changelings.

The Irish culture tells that the fairies were the previous inhabitants of Ireland who went "into the hills," or literally moved underground when the original settlers of Ireland appeared. They are known as the Tuatha De Daanan. Digging in fairy hills is thought to be particularly unwise.

I like vampires because of how romanticized they have become in literature and movies. I have been reading books that started the myth up until the present day, and it is interesting how much the vampire changes from an evil Satanic beast to a gentle, sexy anime character. Like it or not, the vampire is a part of life and culture and is here to stay (forever).

As far as legends, it can go back to the Greeks considering vampires as demons that walked the earth or even to the Jewish Lilith. Fast forward in time and you have Vlad Tepes who was not a vampire, but may have helped form the Dracula of Bram Stoker's imagination. Also, there were people in the past who were persecuted for having diseases like porphyria, lupus, and other illnesses that made them look or act like a vampire. It's just fascinating because the vampire legend is still with us today and it continues to evolve with the world (we now have psychic vampires, vampire pets, etc).

Vampirism has really uncovered lots of truths about biology, so today we have blood transfusions, blood typing, DNA, and so on with the help of these myths and legends.

Angels... and... Fallen Angels. The whole notion of it facinates me.

The Bible quite plainly teaches that there are other beings in the universe besides man. They are called 'angels.' Angels are spirit beings made a little higher in dignity and power than man. (Heb.2:7) There are literally millions upon millions of angels - some good and others evil. A bit like Human beings on earth.

ANGELS ARE EXTREMELY POWERFUL BEINGS

Man, though made in the image of the Most High (Gen.1:27), is a weak creature. By comparison angels are extremely powerful. Consider the might of angels in these instances: Isaiah 37:36 185,000 Syrian soldiers were slain by one of God's angels.

2 Samuel 24:15 Some 70,000 Judeans were killed because of David's sin.

Revelation 7:1 Hold back the four (symbolic) winds from destroying earth

NOT ALL THE ANGELS ARE HOLY

Sad to say not all the heavenly host are holy. About a third are evil. Revelation 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth...

v 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8: And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9: And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Here we are told that Satan, the symbolic 'dragon' led a third of the mighty angelic host in a revolution against the government of God. In other words multiplied millions of evil angels sided with Satan.

Sorry to get all biblical on you there, but it's quite interesting really...

The Unicorn. I find them facinating because they are so beautiful(a mix between a rhino and a horse). They represent purity, innocence, and virginity. Legend is said that men cannot see them. Only women can. Whenever a maiden sings it is supposed to summon a unicorn. Magnificent creatures! But for me I believe that they are real...

Lilith because she is known as the mother of all demons, Lilith has recently been linked to either giving birth to the first vampires or being the first vampire. There were Jewish superstitions that Lilith drank the blood of children while in the form of an owl.

Vampires. I don't know what it is about them, but they are so freakin' sexy. There is something dark and mysterious about them that makes me naturally drawn to their mythology.

Vlad the Impaler was the basis for Bram Stoker's Dracula, and the sexiness of the vampire is a recent thing. Throughout history they were more zombie-like, kind of mindless monsters, than humans who just happen to suck blood that we hear about now.

Of course, I am fascinated by the more recent kind of vampire.

The Shekhina, in Jewish folklore, was the physical manifestation of God in this world - and Female! Whenever God physically affects the world it would be done through this Feminine persona, and in fact the Shekhina is believed to be in exile until the world is repaired (tikkun olam) or the moshiach arrives.

George Bush.

goat, coz that's what people mispelled "God"

I'm serious, haven't they told you about the Mendes Goat? Baphomet? The bearer of 666?

they put propagandas of "666" throughout the world in casinos, they concealed it by adding 1 on each 6 so it became "777"

HEE HEE HEE HA HA HA HEE HEE HEE

I love the Unicorn. When I am stressed, I dream of them.in One dream I had , the unicorn told me to get on it's back and it took me to a beautiful waterfall hidden in a forest.

For me its Vampires. Anything about vampires I love to check out...and of course every Ann Rice book there is I would love to have in my collection!