Every mythological legend has its representatives of good and evil. Usually they became closely associated with the corresponding culture that worshiped or feared them. Here we'll present a short list of the most horrible and cruel mythological evildoers known to us from numerous myths and legends.
Medusa
Medusa the Gorgon is depicted with a hideous face and head, growing snakes instead of hair. In later Greek mythology she is sometimes described as a beautiful woman. Anyone who looks her directly in the eyes turns to stone immediately. Medusa was killed by Perseus, who beheaded her while looking at her reflection in a shiny shield.
Set
The Egyptian god of storms, deserts, chaos and war, Set has been depicted as an usurper who killed his brother Osiris and defiled his body. The most popular stories in Egyptian mythology tell of the battles between Set and Osiris's son - Horus.
Ahriman
In Zoroastrian mythology, Ahriman is an evil spirit, who according to one legend created all that is evil to oppose all of the good created by Ahura Mazda. He is expressed in human beings through greed, lust and envy.
Lamashtu
The most terrifying female demon in the religion of Mesopotamia. This demon has a female body, lion's head, donkey teeth and ears, long fingers and fingernails, as well as the legs of a bird of prey. Lamashtu brings diseases and misfortune. She kidnaps children and kills them, harms mothers and pregnant women, drinks the blood of men and chews their flesh. She bears famine and disease, destroys rivers, lakes and greenery.
Grendel
This is a monster, which, along with its mother, lives near the castle of the Danish king Hrothgar. He terrorizes the villagers by leaving his lair at night and killing his victims. He is eventually killed by the hero Beowulf, who rips Grendel's arm off with superhuman strength.
Circe
She is the daughter of the god of the Sun Helios and the sea nymph Perse. Circe possesses the knowledge to create magical potions and can turn the people she doesn't like into animals. In Homer's Odyssey, she turned most of the men from the crew into pigs.
Mara
In Buddhist tradition, Mara is the temptress who tries to seduce Buddha, while he is meditating, by showing him visions of beautiful women. Mara is seen as the embodiment of various passions which lead people astray from a spiritual life.
