History Main / MythicalMotifs

* '''[[HydraProblem Hydra]]''': Many headed creature, where if you cut off one head, two more grow in its place.[[hottip:*:(The plebeians in ''{{Coriolanus}}'' are called a Hydra.)]]

* '''Basilisk''' and '''Cockatrice''': Two related creatures, often related to a rooster and/or salamander; nobody knows what they look like because [[DeathGaze anyone who meets their gaze dies instantly]]

* '''[[TheBasilisk Basilisk]]''' and Cockatrice: Two related creatures, often related to a rooster and/or salamander; nobody knows what they look like because [[BrownNote anyone who looks on them]] dies instantly

* Several characters in ''TheCircusOfDoctorLao''.

* '''[[OurDragonsAreDifferent Dragon]]''': (Western) Solitary, violent, fire breathing, greedy, dangerous. May eat people or bury hoards of treasure.

* The dragon Smaug in ''TheHobbit''.

* '''{{Unicorn}}''': Purity, rarity, power (which goes against tradition, 'cause in heraldry they are chained down because they're violent [=MFs=]). Usually the [[LastOfHisKind last of its kind]]. Often associated with virgins.

* HYDRA, the ersatz [[JamesBond SPECTRE]] (who incidentally use the very similar motif of the octopuss), in the MarvelUniverse.

* Most of the guilds in ''FairyTail'' have a mythical motif in their name, including the titular Fairy Tail (fairies), Quatro Cerberos, Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, Grimoire Heart (Devils), Phantom Lord and recently Sabertooth and Mermaid Heel.

* Mayland Long (Oolong) from the novel ''Tea With The Black Dragon'' by RAMacAvoy.

* In ''MobileSuitGundam'', the Unicorn is the symbol of the CoolShip ''White Base''. [[CharsCounterattack Later on in life]], Gundam pilot Amuro Ray adopts it as his own.

* Rick Deckard in ''BladeRunner'' has a Unicorn motif, unlike the rest of the cast with regular AnimalMotifs.

Mythical motifs are similar to {{Animal Motifs}}, but with mythical creatures being used as symbols. They, like animals, can be used to underline something important in the plot or to convey a character's personality. A particularly tough and quick-tempered character may be compared to a dragon, or a {{MacGuffin}} or delicate-but-powerful or wise character may be compared to a unicorn.

* '''{{Pegasus}}''' (or winged horses in general): Freedom, high ideals, thought. Can be called "horse of the poets" thanks to his connection with Athena and the Muses, so is also linked with imagination, and writers in particular.

* '''Sphinx''': Cunning, mystery, riddles, desires. ''Terribly'' mysterious.

[[AC:Comics]]

[[AC: Film]]

[[AC:Literature]]

[[AC:Tabletop Games]]

* The Alpha Legion from ''{{Warhammer40000}}'' have the hydra as their symbol, representing the doctrine of autonomous operation and the ability to have multiple fronts who can act even without chains of command (the "head" being removed).

* In the IronKingdoms, the Retribution of Scyrah fields [[MiniMecha myrmidons]] named after mythical beasts and often designed after the traits of their namesake ; the Phoenix is a perfect example with its regenerating force field and ability to bathe its surroundings in a roaring inferno.

* '''ThePhoenix''': A flaming bird capable of rising again from the ashes: Death and rebirth; fire; eternal life; (Eastern) female.

[[AC: Comics]]

[[AC: Literature]]

[[AC: Tabletop Games]]

* '''{{Unicorn}}''': Purity, rarity, power (which goes against tradition, 'cause in heraldry they are chained down because they're violent [=MFs=]). Usually the [[LastOfHisKind last of its kind]]. Often associated with virgins.

* '''Griffin''': Part lion, part eagle; noble, generally. Symbol of kingship/holy power.

* Mayland Long (Oolong) from the novel ''TeaWithTheBlackDragon''.

* '''[[CallAPegasusAHippogriff Pegasus]]''' (or winged horses in general): Freedom, high ideals, thought. Can be called "horse of the poets" thanks to his connection with Athena and the Muses, so is also linked with imagination, and writers in particular.

* In MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Banagher's Unicorn Gundam has The Unicorn Motif

* '''[[TheBasilisk Basilisk]]''' and Cockatrice: Two related creatures, often portrayed as iguana-like, but with fancy scales or crests; nobody knows what they look like because [[BrownNote anyone who looks on them]] dies instantly

* '''{{Unicorn}}''': Purity, rarity, power (which goes against tradition, 'cause in heraldry they are chained down because they're violent [=MFs=]). Often associated with virgins. Usually the [[LastOfHisKind last of its kind}}.

* '''{{Unicorn}}''': Purity, rarity, power (which goes against tradition, 'cause in heraldry they are chained down because they're violent [=MFs=]). Often associated with virgins. Usually the {{last of his kind}}.

* '''[[{{Medusa}} Gorgon]]''': Hideous monsters, causes people to turn to stone (from the Medusa myth)

* '''Basilisk''' and Cockatrice: Two related creatures, often portrayed as iguana-like, but with fancy scales or crests; nobody knows what they look like because [[BrownNote anyone who looks on them]] dies instantly

* '''[[TheBasilisk Basilisk]]''' and Cockatrice: Two related creatures, often portrayed as iguana-like, but with fancy scales or crests; nobody knows what they look like because [[BrownNote anyone who looks on them]] dies instantly

!!General Examples: