#indian red scorpion

[sakuramoussy]

[whencyclopedia]

Manticore

The Manticore, derived from the Early Middle Persian merthykhuwar or martiora, meaning "man-eater" (also known as a mantichora or a martichore), is a fearsome hybrid creature found in classical and medieval literature. It has the body of a lion, the head of a man and a scorpion tail that can shoot poisonous darts.

The manticore is one of the most bizarre and ferocious creatures depicted throughout classical and medieval bestiaries. Its roots can be traced back to India and Persia (modern-day Iran). The myth of the manticore spreads over several centuries and is mentioned most famously by Ctesias (5th century BCE), Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE) and Pausanias (c. 115 to c. 180 CE).

Appearance & Characteristics

The earliest known mention of the manticore comes from the Greek historian and physician Ctesias in his Indica (written in the 5th century BCE). Although the Indica is now lost to time, fragments of Ctesias' work exist in other authors' writings, and we have a clear description of the manticore. According to Pliny the Elder in his Natural History:

Ctesias writes that amongst these same men there is found an animal called the Mantichora which has three rows of teeth like a comb, the face and ears of a human, and bluish eyes. It is red in colour with the body of a lion and a tail with stingers like a scorpion. Its voice is as if the sounds of the pipe were mixed with a trumpet and it is a creature of great speed which avidly goes after human flesh. (8.75)

Pliny's account of the manticore influenced later writers. He seemed to give the monster a basis in reality as he was considered the expert on strange and marvellous creatures for hundreds of years.

The morphology of the manticore was believed to have developed from its environment – the rugged and barren landscape of the Indian and Middle Eastern deserts. It needed to be fierce and to have weapons at its disposal to be able to catch its prey and prevent being caught by predators. Initially preying on animals like pigs and mountain goats, the manticore began to be lured to villages by the livestock it was hunting and inevitably began to attack and feed on humans, establishing the lore of the man-eating manticore.

The manticore would famously leave no trace of its prey behind. It could attack a human up close with its sharp claws or shoot poisonous darts from its scorpion tail from a safe distance. When it unleashes the poisonous darts from its tail, the tail either bends back or stretches out. Roman writer Aelian (175-235 CE) states that "whatever it hits, it kills, with the exception of elephants" (Characteristics of Animals, 4.21). The poisonous stingers are described as being thick as a rope and one foot (30 cm) in length. Once a stinger has been discharged, another one grows in its place.

Manticores did not just satisfy their appetites by killing one human but would chase after multiple people at a time, taking great pleasure in the hunt. Its favourite way to lure and hunt prey was to hide its body in the long grass, so from a distance, all humans would be able to see would be a human head. Deceived by this, humans would get close to the manticore, and before they knew what was happening, they would be attacked and killed. This showed how cunning and clever the manticore was. Although humans were undoubtedly a manticore's preferred prey, they would also regularly hunt the animal kingdom, except for lions which they could never overpower.

In order to stop the manticores' aggressive nature, the Indians would hunt baby manticores and smash their tails with rocks to prevent them from growing and shooting their poisonous darts and thus taking away their ability to harm humans from a great distance. Manticores lived in burrows deep under the ground where they could hide from their prey and avoid being seen by humans.

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[premiumbitch]

DETAILS ABOUT SOME OF MY DC DR'S ! ⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

Hi luvs! I'll admit I've started writing more DC scripts even though I will only be talking about 3. Initially, I had 3 Batfamily DRs, but I added 2 more, so now there are 5. I still have just 1 Teen Titans DR and 1 Young Justice DR, but I also made another DC script with Wonder Woman as my amazing mama, bringing the total to 8. Does that make sense? LMFAO MOVING ON! I Hope you enjoy this post!

⋆⛧┈┈┈┈﹤୨♡୧﹥ ┈┈┈┈⛧⋆

FIRST BATFAMILY DR ♡ //

OKAY, so I already briefly mentioned this in my other post, BUT in this DR (Desired Reality), I’m a vigilante being raised by my aunt. My parents, who were brilliant and successful scientists, tragically passed away in a lab explosion caused by an experiment gone wrong. They had been working on a groundbreaking (and dangerous) project, and their deaths were tied to its failure.

My aunt, who wasn’t particularly close with my parents, became my guardian because she was my only living family member and didn’t want me to end up in the foster system or an orphanage—she knew how tough those places could be. She’s an incredible person: highly skilled in martial arts, hacking, and technology. She also has a long-standing connection with Bruce Wayne (Batman). They became friends when she attended university in Gotham at 18, where she met him. She lived in Gotham until she turned 29, then moved to the outskirts of Alaska for a quieter life but stayed in contact with him. She even helped him track down villains in her spare time.

Growing up in Alaska, my aunt trained me rigorously in 10 different martial arts styles, starting when I was very young. She wanted to ensure I could protect myself. However, when I turned 15, everything changed.

I was bitten by a genetically modified, radioactive hybrid creature—a bizarre fusion of traits from various insects, animals, and plants. This hybrid wasn’t from our universe; it came from an alternate dimension. It originated from a different version of Lex Luthor, who had created the hybrid as part of an experiment to grant himself immense power by being bitten by it. However, during a test run, his device malfunctioned, creating a ripple across multiple universes. This accident transported objects and beings from his dimension into our main DC Universe—including the hybrid creature and Lex himself.

Unluckily for me, the hybrid creature bit me instead of him, granting me powers and putting a huge target on my back. Once Lex and his allies—the other beings brought into this universe—realized I had inherited the powers meant for him, they began hunting me down. This put both me and my aunt in immediate danger.

As their attacks intensified, my aunt made the difficult decision to send me to Gotham to stay with Bruce Wayne for protection. She couldn’t come with me because she needed to stay in Alaska to divert attention away from me and keep the threats occupied. She also wanted to use her hacking and tech skills to gather intel on the alternate Lex and his plans.

At the time, I was super confused—like, who even is Bruce Wayne, and why am I being sent to live with him of all people? Eventually, I found out his secret: he’s Batman!

For my DR self, I took inspiration from Peter Parker, Black Widow, and Miles Morales. With the powers I gained from the hybrid bite, I became a one-of-a-kind vigilante. The hybrid creature that bit me was a crazy combination of:

Scorpions

Deathstalker Scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus)

Indian Red Scorpion (Hottentotta tamulus)

Arabian Fat-tailed Scorpion (Androctonus crassicauda)

Yellow Fat-tailed Scorpion (Androctonus australis)

Striped Bark Scorpion (Centruroides vittatus)

Venomous Spiders

Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus species)

Darwin's Bark Spider (Caerostris darwini)

Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria fera and P. nigriventer)

Funnel Web Spider (Atrax and Hadronyche species)

Sydney Funnel-web Spider (Atrax robustus)

Brown Recluse Spider (Loxosceles reclusa)

Redback Spider (Latrodectus hasselti)

Deadly Insects

Kissing Bug (Triatominae)

Assassin Bug (Reduviidae)

Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata)

Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia)

Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex maricopa)

Blister Beetle (Meloidae)

Assassin Caterpillar (Lonomia obliqua)

Tsetse Fly (Glossina species)

Poisonous Plants

Manchineel Tree (Hippomane mancinella)

Peyote (Lophophora williamsii)

Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric)

Castor Bean Plant (Ricinus communis)

Oleander (Nerium oleander)

Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius)

Belladonna (Atropa belladonna)

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Cannabis sativa

Deadly Snakes

Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus)

Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)

Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)

King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

Russell's Viper (Daboia russelii)

Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus)

Venomous Marine Creatures

Box Jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri)

Irukandji Jellyfish (Carukia barnesi)

Cone Snail (Conus species)

Stonefish (Synanceia species)

Blue-ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena species)

Lionfish (Pterois species)

Toxic Amphibians

Golden Poison Dart Frog (Phyllobates terribilis)

Cane Toad (Rhinella marina)

Common Green Tree Frog (potentially harmful when ingested)

Deadly Mammals

Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer)

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)

African Lion (Panthera leo)

Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)

Leopard Seal (Hydrurga leptonyx)

Toxic Birds

Hooded Pitohui (Pitohui dichrous)

Blue-capped Ifrita (Ifrita kowaldi)

Fungi

Death Cap Mushroom (Amanita phalloides)

Destroying Angel Mushroom (Amanita bisporigera)

Deadly Galerina (Galerina marginata)

Other Deadly Organisms

Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)

Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

Electric Eel (Electrophorus electricus)

Pufferfish (Fugu species)

yikes right? I know what you're thinking "how tf would you mix all that together to make a hybrid creature" well uhh idk ask lex luther ... (jk i haven't scripted the exact how but i dont gotta worry coz I'm not the one making it lex luther is, whatever my subconscious will take care of it!) it did give me a bunch of cool powers tho lol anyways, living in Gotham, I worked with Bruce and his allies to take down the beings and Lex from the alternate dimension. It was intense—fighting enemies who weren’t just physically powerful but also had technology and strategies far beyond anything we’d seen. Together, we managed to eliminate the threats one by one, ensuring Gotham (and my aunt) was safe again.

When the fight was over, I realized something important: Gotham felt like home. The city was chaotic, dangerous, and dark, but it was also full of people worth protecting. I decided to stay in Gotham, both to continue using my powers for good and to train further under Bruce’s guidance. My aunt supported my decision, knowing I’d found my place in the world.

Now, as a vigilante in Gotham, I use my unique abilities to take on its criminals and threats. Whether it’s dealing with supervillains or protecting innocent people, I’ve found my purpose in this city that never sleeps. PERIODDDDD.

BEING WONDER WOMANS DAUGHTER DR ♡ //

guys my writing here is a little corny and cheesy pls no judging like yes ik ik...

╰（‵□′）╯

Origins and Creation

I was created by Wonder Woman, sculpted from clay by my mother, Diana—the warrior of Themyscira and a beacon of strength, compassion, and justice. Diana sought to give me life in a way that honored both Amazonian traditions and her deep love for humanity. Blessed by the gods, I was infused with extraordinary gifts and destined to be a protector of the world.

While I was being formed, Ares, the God of War, struck with malicious intent. He viewed my creation as a threat to his dominion of chaos and conflict. Diana’s vision of peace and balance, embodied in me, was antithetical to everything Ares desired—a world consumed by war, ruled by the strong, and devoid of harmony. In an act of defiance and vengeance against my mother and the gods who opposed him, Ares cursed me before I could take my first breath.

A bolt of war energy, laced with fury and chaos, struck the clay, embedding a volatile force deep within my soul. This curse was designed to ensure that I would be a weapon of destruction, a pawn of war, and ultimately, a tool Ares could manipulate to spread his influence.

Gifts of the Gods

Despite Ares�� curse, I was still blessed by the gods, each granting me a piece of their power:

Zeus (King of the Gods): I inherited cosmic strength and the power to manipulate storms, granting me the ability to summon thunderstorms, control weather systems, and wield unmatched physical strength. However, this immense power came with the risk of destruction if I lost control.

Athena (Goddess of Wisdom and War): Athena blessed me with tactical genius and the ability to manifest divine weapons. My combat skills became unparalleled, and I gained the ability to analyze every possible outcome in a fight.

Artemis (Goddess of the Hunt): Artemis gifted me perfect precision, foresight in battle, and a connection to nature, allowing me to blend into shadows, anticipate attacks, and command the wild.

Hermes (God of Speed and Communication): Hermes granted me divine reflexes and the ability to manipulate time, enabling me to react faster than the eye could see and navigate complex situations effortlessly.

Aphrodite (Goddess of Love and Beauty): From Aphrodite, I gained the power to heal emotional and physical wounds and a charm that could influence even the most hardened hearts.

Hades (God of the Underworld): Hades bestowed upon me dominion over shadows and the ability to summon the souls of the dead to fight by my side. This power came with a moral weight, forcing me to tread carefully when wielding the forces of death.

These gifts made me a symbol of hope and strength, but Ares’ curse twisted them, amplifying my anger and bloodlust, constantly pulling me toward chaos.

The Curse’s Effects

As I grew, the curse began to manifest subtly. Though my mother taught me to channel my gifts for peace and justice, there was always a storm brewing beneath the surface—a simmering anger I struggled to control. At times, I felt like I was walking a razor’s edge, unsure if I was a protector or a weapon waiting to detonate.

Diana was devastated by Ares’ interference, but she refused to give up on me. She trained me rigorously in combat, strategy, and diplomacy, teaching me not only how to fight but also how to lead with compassion and integrity. My mother believed that my strength lay in resisting the rage within me, using it to protect rather than destroy.

The Awakening of the Curse (Age 15)

On my fifteenth birthday, the curse fully awakened. A sudden surge of anger erupted during a sparring session on Themyscira, and I lost control. A bolt of lightning tore through the sky as my emotions triggered an uncontrollable storm. My strength, amplified by the curse, became a destructive force, and I nearly injured those closest to me.

It was then I realized that the curse wasn’t just a mark of Ares’ malice—it was his way of testing me. The more I resisted, the stronger the pull toward chaos became. This realization terrified me. What if I couldn’t control it? What if I became what Ares wanted me to be—a harbinger of war and destruction?

Ares’ Motivation

Ares’ interference wasn’t just an act of spite. It was calculated. He believed that by corrupting me, he could turn the gods’ blessings into instruments of war, using my powers to shatter the fragile peace my mother fought to protect. He wanted to mold me into his champion—a warrior who could rival even Wonder Woman herself, but loyal only to him.

For Ares, I represented a paradox: the potential for ultimate destruction or the greatest resistance to his reign. By cursing me, he aimed to tilt the scales in his favor, ensuring that the legacy of peace my mother envisioned would never come to fruition.

Ares’ Confrontation (Age 16)

At sixteen, Ares appeared to me for the first time. He offered me control over my rage, promising unimaginable power if I embraced my destiny as his champion. He painted himself as a misunderstood force of nature, arguing that war wasn’t inherently evil but the only true path to strength and freedom.

For a moment, I wavered. The temptation was overwhelming. But my mother’s teachings and unwavering belief in me pulled me back. I rejected Ares’ offer, vowing to fight his influence no matter how powerful he was.

Enraged by my defiance, Ares swore that he would break me, promising to return when I was at my weakest. His presence was a chilling reminder that the battle for my soul was far from over.

The Ongoing Struggle

Every day since, I’ve walked the line between chaos and control. The curse remains a constant shadow, but so does my mother’s guidance. She reminds me that true strength isn’t about overwhelming power—it’s about using that power to protect and uplift others.

I’ve learned to channel my rage into focus, turning the chaos within me into a force for good. The struggle is far from over, but I’m determined to prove that Ares doesn’t define me. My destiny is my own, and with my mother by my side, I’ll continue to fight for a world where peace can prevail—even if it means facing the storm inside me every single day.

(IM SUCH A MAMAS GIRLLL STOP I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET DIANA SHES SO MOTHERRR I LOVE HER)

YOUNG JUSTICE DR ♡ //

OKAY OMG im really excited for this one yall! (acting like im not equally excited for the others lol dont mind me) my inspirations when writing my dr self was wanda maximoff (wifey fr), jean grey, my queen and mother (in this dr too MUAHAHAHA) wonder woman!! GUYS WAIT ALSO i know the start is similar to the top one (AND THIS IS ALSO CORNY ASF) but it gets different towards the end tho trust me!!!! >:(

Origins and Creation

I was created by Wonder Woman, sculpted from clay on the shores of Themyscira, a land where strength, wisdom, and love reign supreme. My mother, Diana, sought to create me as a symbol of hope and balance for a world fraught with chaos. She petitioned the gods to breathe life into me, and they blessed me with their divine gifts, imbuing me with extraordinary power and potential.

But it wasn’t just the gods who noticed my creation. In an unexpected twist of fate, the cosmic Phoenix Force—a primordial entity of rebirth and destruction—was drawn to the spark of life within me. The Phoenix, recognizing my untapped potential, merged a fragment of its essence with my being, granting me unparalleled cosmic abilities.

As if the blessings of the gods and the touch of the Phoenix Force weren’t enough, a surge of Chaos Magic intertwined with my soul. The magic, wild and unpredictable, was not the result of a curse but a mysterious gift bestowed by unknown forces. It made me a conduit of untamed potential, an enigma even to the gods who had helped shape me.

Blessings of the Gods and Goddesses

Each deity granted me a piece of their strength, wisdom, or grace:

Zeus (King of the Gods): Zeus granted me the power of storm manipulation and divine strength. I could summon lightning, create hurricanes, and command the skies with ease. His blessing made me a force of nature, capable of shaping the heavens themselves.

Athena (Goddess of Wisdom and War): Athena bestowed upon me unparalleled intelligence and foresight. I became a master strategist, able to see through deception and outthink my enemies before they even acted.

Artemis (Goddess of the Hunt): From Artemis, I gained an unbreakable bond with nature. Her gift gave me supernatural agility, precision, and an uncanny ability to track and anticipate movement, no matter how subtle.

Hermes (God of Speed and Communication): Hermes’ blessing gifted me with superhuman speed and the ability to travel between realms. With a thought, I could move faster than the eye could see and traverse dimensions with ease.

Aphrodite (Goddess of Love and Beauty): Aphrodite granted me the power of emotional healing and a radiant aura that inspired hope and unity. Her blessing allowed me to calm even the most turbulent hearts.

Hestia (Goddess of the Hearth): Hestia gifted me with the power of fire manipulation, specifically tied to protection and sanctuary. I could summon flames to shield myself and others, creating impenetrable barriers of warmth and light.

Hades (God of the Underworld): Hades gave me dominion over shadows and the ability to commune with spirits. I could summon phantoms to guide or defend me, but only when my intentions were pure.

The Phoenix Force

The Phoenix Force, drawn to the spark of my creation, merged a fragment of its essence with my soul. It gave me cosmic energy manipulation, allowing me to harness raw power capable of creating or destroying entire realities. With this gift came the ability of rebirth, granting me near-immortality and the power to rise stronger from every defeat.

The Phoenix Force also awakened a cosmic awareness within me, letting me see the threads of life and energy that connected all things. However, this connection came at a price—the risk of losing control if I let the power consume me.

Chaos Magic

Chaos Magic flowed through me like an unpredictable current, amplifying all my other powers and allowing me to warp reality itself. I could bend the laws of physics, manipulate probabilities, and reshape the very fabric of existence. But Chaos Magic was as dangerous as it was powerful—it demanded mastery and restraint, for its influence could easily spiral out of control.

This magic made me a nexus of possibility and uncertainty, a being who could defy even the gods' will if I chose.

The Trials of Power

Growing up, my powers were both a blessing and a burden. My mother taught me discipline, balance, and the importance of humility. She guided me through rigorous training, not just in combat but in understanding the weight of my abilities.

At times, I felt overwhelmed. The Phoenix Force burned within me, urging me to transcend the boundaries of my mortal form. The Chaos Magic crackled unpredictably, threatening to tear through reality if I didn’t keep it in check. Even the gods’ blessings occasionally clashed, creating moments of inner turmoil.

But through it all, my mother stood by me. Diana reminded me that strength wasn’t just about power—it was about control, compassion, and the courage to do what was right, even when it was difficult.

Joining Young Justice: My Story

By the time I turned 15, life on Themyscira felt... too serene. Don’t get me wrong—I loved the island, the sisters who raised me, and, of course, my mother, Diana. But there was always this feeling deep inside me, like a storm brewing beneath calm waters. I knew my gifts weren’t meant to stay confined to our shores. I was meant to do something more, something that mattered beyond the safety of paradise.

The turning point came when I joined my mother on a mission with the Justice League. It was supposed to be a simple diplomatic endeavor—convincing world leaders to work together in the wake of rising tensions. Of course, things didn’t go as planned. A rogue faction threatened to level the city, and the League stepped in to stop them. I wasn’t meant to fight, but when the chaos escalated, I couldn’t stand by.

The First Step

I remember the moment like it was yesterday. Buildings were collapsing, people screaming, and the air thick with smoke. My mother told me to stay back, but something inside me refused. The Phoenix Force burned bright within me, and the Chaos Magic surged, itching to be unleashed. Before I knew it, I was in the thick of the battle, shielding civilians, pulling people from rubble, and using my powers to stabilize collapsing structures.

The Justice League noticed. Batman gave me that sharp, scrutinizing look of his; Superman smiled with approval. But it was Kaldur—Aqualad—who approached me afterward.

“You have a gift,” he said. “But gifts like yours need guidance and focus. Have you ever considered joining a team?”

At first, I hesitated. “I’m not sure I belong on a team."

“We all are,” he replied. “But Young Justice could use someone like you.”

Why I Said Yes

The idea stuck with me for days. My mother wasn’t thrilled about it. She worried about the dangers, about how my powers—especially the Phoenix Force—might overwhelm me in high-stakes situations. But she also saw the fire in me, the need to step into the world and make a difference.

“You’re my daughter, Astraea,” she said, placing her hands on my shoulders. “And I see so much of myself in you. But remember, with power like yours comes responsibility. If this is what you want, I’ll support you—but promise me you’ll stay true to who you are.”

I promised.

Joining Young Justice

When I first walked into the team’s headquarters, I was nervous. These were the protégés of legends—Robin, Kid Flash, Miss Martian, Superboy, and the others. But they weren’t what I expected. They were flawed, funny, and just as unsure of themselves as I was.

The first few missions weren’t easy. I had to learn to work as part of a team, to trust others with their strengths while managing the chaos inside me. The Phoenix Force was a blessing and a curse; its overwhelming power made me a powerhouse in battle, but it also drew attention—from enemies who wanted to harness it and from my teammates, who sometimes looked at me with fear.

It was Miss Martian who helped me the most. She understood what it meant to carry immense power and to fear losing control. Through her guidance, I learned to balance the Phoenix Force with the divine gifts from the gods and the unpredictable nature of Chaos Magic.

My Mission

I am a child of gods, cosmic forces, and wild magic, but more importantly, I am my mother’s daughter. Diana created me to be a protector, a beacon of hope, and a bridge between worlds. I carry the wisdom of the gods, the fire of the Phoenix, and the untamed potential of Chaos Magic.

My mission is to use my gifts to bring balance to a fractured world, to heal its wounds, and to protect those who cannot protect themselves. The path ahead is fraught with challenges, and the temptation to lose myself in the chaos is ever-present.

But I will not falter. I am not just a vessel for power—I am the wielder. And no force, no matter how wild or destructive, will define me.

EEEEKKK HOPE YOU ENJOYED MY NOT SO LITTLE RANT ABOUT SOME OF MY DC DRS !! and again yes i know some parts are corny and cheesy BUT WHOO CARESSS HAVE FUN JESUS ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ ALSO IF YOU'RE ALSO A DC SHIFTER PLS TELL ME I WANNA BE FRIENDSSS GOD PLSSS

[pathesis]

idk how to explain it... but there's just such a soft look in late 1970s - early 2000s films that I just wish we could get back.

Alien (1979) The Thing (1982) Poltergeist (1982) The Shining (1980) Labyrinth (1986) Ghostbusters (1984) The Dark Crystal (1982) The Princess Bride (1987) Fellowship of the ring (2001) Halloween (1979) The Mummy (1999) The Scorpion King (2002) Indian Jones: Raiders of the lost arc (1981) Sleepy Hollow (1999) Willow (1988) Indiana Jones: Temple of Doom (1984) Jaws (1975) Rose Red (2002) Titanic (1977) Silent Hill (2006) Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

[shannendoherty-fans]

Shannen's Native American Descent

We all know Shannen Doherty was of Irish descent through the paternal side of her family.

The Doherty / O’Doherty family is an Irish clan based in County Donegal. The O’Dohertys are named after Dochartach (c. 10th century), a member of the Cenél Conaill dynasty which in medieval Irish genealogy traced itself to Niall of the Nine Hostages. The O’Doherty clan and family name is one of the most ancient in Europe. The clan traces its pedigree through history, pre-history, and mythology to 2BC. (Source)

Shannen and her dad, John Thomas Doherty, in Ireland ca. 1996/97.

Shannen was also from English and Scottish descent through her mother Rosa Elizabeth née Wright. The red-haired Southern belle also has Native American ancestry, most concretley the Chumash people (Source), and thus has Shannen (Source).

Shannen and her mum spending time in nature, ca.2024.

Shannen explained that she wasn't able to be with her dad when he passed away on the 4th of November of 2010. Her best friend Chris Cortazzo told her to spend some quality time with her mother and him at his ranch in Tennesse, which is surrounded by Native American ground. When she was there suddenly the wind shaked the plants and trees and she felt her father’s arms go around her and say “It’s ok baby, I love you. I’m here" (Source) (Source).

Her mother Rosa said that one of her great-great-grandmothers (she doesn't know the grade) was forced to move in the called "Trail of Tears", the forced displacement of approximately 60,000 people of the "Five Civilized Tribes" [Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminoles] between 1830 and 1850, and the additional thousands of Native Americans within that were ethnically cleansed by the United States government (Wiki). Furthermore, she said her ancestor was from the Chumash people and was forced to move from Mississipi to Oklahoma (Source).

Rosa also said about Shannen's Native American's heritage:

"The whole Indian heritage to Shannen was very, very important ... Shannen swore when she bought this property [a ranch in Malibu to live with her mum, her friends, and to do a shelter for horses]… she says, I just feel it. She says, I know that this is where I'm supposed to be. And she just felt that whole Indian."

Also she was proud of having directed "Charmed"'s episode "The Good, The Bad and The Cursed" that features a storyline involving American's First Nations people's and Native actors Kimberly Guerrero (from Colville and Salish-Kootenai native peoples from Alaska) and Michael Greyeyes (Nêhiyaw (Plains Cree) from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada).

Shannen Doherty (R) with First Nations' actors Kimberley Guerrero and Michael Greyeyes.

The Chumash are a Native American people of the central and southern coastal regions of California (Wiki), in portions of what is now Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, extending from Morro Bay in the north to Malibu in the south to Mt Pinos in the east. Their territory includes three of the Channel Islands: Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel; the smaller island of Anacapa was likely inhabited seasonally due to the lack of a consistent water source.

Modern place names with Chumash origins include Malibu, Nipomo, Lompoc, Ojai, Pismo Beach, Point Mugu, Port Hueneme, Piru, Lake Castaic, Saticoy, Simi Valley and Somis. Archaeological research demonstrates that the Chumash people have deep roots in the Santa Barbara Channel area and lived along the southern California coast for millennia.

The Chumash lived in over 150 independent villages, speaking variations of the same language. Much of their culture consisted of basketry, bead manufacturing and trading, cuisine of local abalone and clam, herbalism which consisted of using local herbs to produce teas and medical reliefs, rock art, and the scorpion tree. The scorpion tree was significant to the Chumash as shown in its arborglyph: a carving depicting a six-legged creature with a headdress including a crown and two spheres. The shamans participated in the carving which was used in observations of the stars and in part of the Chumash calendar. The Chumash resided between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the California coasts where a bounty of resources could be found. The tribe lived in an area of three environments: the interior, the coast, and the Northern Channel Islands. Some researchers believe that the Chumash may have been visited by Polynesians between AD 400 and 800, nearly 1,000 years before Christopher Columbus reached the Americas.

Chumash Family by American sculptor George S. Stuart

The maritime explorer Juan Cabrillo was the first European to make contact with the coastal Alta Californian tribes in the year 1542. Spain claimed what is now California from that time forward, but did not return to settle until 1769, when the first Spanish soldiers and missionaries arrived with the double purpose of Christianizing the Native Americans and facilitating Spanish colonization. The Chumash people moved from their villages to the Franciscan missions between 1772 and 1817.

Mexico seized control of the missions in 1834. Tribespeople either fled into the interior, attempted farming for themselves and were driven off the land, or were enslaved by the new administrators. After 1849 most Chumash land was lost due to theft by Americans and a declining population, due to the effects of violence and disease. The remaining Chumash began to lose their cohesive identity. In 1855, a small piece of land (120 acres) was set aside for just over 100 remaining Chumash Indians near Santa Ynez mission. This land ultimately became the only Chumash reservation, although Chumash individuals and families also continued to live throughout their former territory in southern California.

No native Chumash speak their own language since Mary Yee, the last Barbareño speaker, died in 1965. Today, the Chumash are estimated to have a population of 5,000 members.

Map of the Trail of Tears

Chumash worldview is centered on the belief "that considers all things to be, in varying measure, alive, intelligent, dangerous, and sacred." "They assume that the universe with its three, or in some versions five, layers has always been here."

Human beings occupy the Middle Region, which rests upon two giant snakes. Chronological time is unimportant, though the past is divided into two sections: the universal flood that caused the First People to become the natural world and, thereafter the creation of human beings, the arrival of the Europeans, and the devastating consequences that followed."

The middle region (sometimes referred to as 'antap), where humans and spirits of this world live and where shamans could travel in vision quests, is interconnected with the lower world (C'oyinahsup) through the springs and marsh areas and is connected to the upper world through the mountains. In the lower world live snakes, frogs, salamanders. The world trembles or has earthquakes when the snakes which support the world writhe.

Water creatures are also in contact with the powers of the lower world and "were often depicted in rock art perhaps to bring more water to the Chumash or to appease underworld spirits' at times of hunger or disease." Itiashap is the home of the First People. Alapay is the upper world in Chumash cosmology where the "sky people" lived, who play an important role in the health of the people. Principle figures of the sky world include the Sun, the Moon, Lizard, Sky Coyote, and Eagle. The Sun is the source of life and is also "a source of disease and death." The Sky Coyote, also known as the Great Coyote of the Sky or Shnilemun, is considered to be a protector and according to Inseño Chumash lore, “looks out for the welfare of all in the world below him”. During the creation of mankind, the Sky Coyote was present among the other important cosmological figures. The Eagle, also known as Slo’w, is the force that maintains momentum and order among the other stars so that they do not fall down on and destroy earth.

Chumash pictographs.

The Chumash cosmology is also centered around astronomy. Rock art and arborglyphs that have been found within Chumash sites are thought to have depicted Polaris (the North Star) and Ursa Major (the Big Dipper). These two astrological entities were paramount to the Chumash belief system as well as their perception of time. It is believed that the Chumash used these constellations to determine what time of the year it was depending on the position of Ursa Major around Polaris.

***

I love that Shannen showed her respect to her ancestry in some "Charmed" episodes, like in 2x10 "Heartbreak City" (click to see if bigger):

Charmed 3x01 "The Honeymoon is Over" (click to see bigger):

And the already mentioned 3x14 "The Good, The Bad and The Cursed" (click to see bigger). Her love for horses also comes from that connection:

[onenicebugperday]

@cephelagod submitted: My three new friends! Went to an expo and picked up the Brazilian White and Red and the Red-Eyed Tailless Whip Scorpion a week ago; their names are Rhubarb, Klandathu, and Chrysanthemum in order of pictures. The little baby is my Indian Ornamental, and they and Rhubarb both molted within a day of each other! Just thought I'd share my buggos 💜

They are all beautiful and perfect! Very proud of them for molting successfully. Please...tell them all I love and admire them deeply :)

[loli-momo1908]

"NH: Ustura reference sheet"

Hey, everyone! Here's the new reference sheet for one of the antagonists for my very own Nature Healers series. 

Name: Ustura (oos-too-rah) Age: 30 Species: Indian Red Scorpion hybrid Personality: Serious, cold, evil, manipulative, easily annoyed, cunning Likes: Winning, seeing humans and animals flee in terror, mocking Nature Healers' efforts, sun bathing, seeing her master pleased, mango juice Dislikes: Nature Healers, sight of friendship, losing, Reina Terrastone, dealing with Crotalus and Gyps comically arguements/fights, her plans failing, getting yelled at by her master Theme color: Red/Orange and Yellow as sub color Weapon: Sabaku monster Bio: Ustura is one of the 3 Generals of the Predatrons and the sole female who's also the leader. She alongside Crotalus and Gyps serve the Boss of the Predatrons as their main mission is to exact his vengence against Mother Nature for banishing them by taking over Earth as their global territory. When Ustura was sentenced to capture Tilli, the tiger lily fairy from Emerald Floratina, she came across with Reina Terrastone, who started protecting the little fairy mascot after seeing how evil that scorpion villainess can be. Just as Ustura decided to strike Reina and Tilli together with her stinger from her hair, Reina's strong heart has summoned a Rainbow Gaia Gem as it deflected her stinger attack, much to her shock as she witnessed Reina's transformation into Healer Gold Tiger. After Reina defeated the Sabaku monster and saved the day, Ustura coldly declared that she will get the leader of the Nature Healer and retreated for now until the rightful time comes to settle the score between them both once and for all.

Fun Facts: Ustura gets annoyed by Crotalus and Gyps' typical arguments, she would usually end it by slamming their heads against each other comically. When getting angry, she lifted up her hair/stinger in a most threatening manner. One sting from the tip of the stinger will make you feel very weak and sick. She's used her scorpion legs for her to boost up her speed and uses her swift kick attacks. She takes her mission seriously that she scolds at Gyps and Crotalus for each failure in their mission and reminds them about how would their master feel, if they fail again.

Well, I hope you like it and more of the antagonist reference sheets for my Nature Healers will be coming soon.

Nature Healers, Ustura (c) me

*DO NOT STEAL MY ARTWORK OR MY CHARACTER*

[dwollfieldnotes]

Manticore

Indica by Ctesias (5th Century BC)

Lives in India

Has the face and ears of a man, is cinnabar-red all over, and has light blue eyes

Three rows of teeth

Tail is like that of a land scorpion, with a cubit-long sting at the end

It has other stings on either side of its tail and one on top of its head

A sting-made wound is always fatal, except to elephants

If attacked from a distance it can discharge its sting as if from a bow, if from behind it will straighten its tail [so the tail seems to have some sensory system, like the hairs of an insect, to detect motion near it]

Called the man-eater in the languages of the Persians and Greeks

Though it consumes animals as well, the greater portion of its diet is made up of human beings

Stings grow again after being discharged

Natural History by Pliny the Elder (77)

Cites Ctesias

Lives in Æthiopia [sub-Saharan Africa]

Triple rows of teeth, which fit together like the teeth of a comb

The face and ears of a man, azure eyes, the body of a lion colored blood red, and a tail ending with a sting like a scorpion [so, not just a straight-up scorpion tail, but similar in effect]

Too swift to be caught by men

Has a voice like the union of a flute and trumpet

Craves human flesh above all else [may be a specialist predator of humans, using its face and voice to lure people in]

"On Animals" by Aelian (2nd century)

Cites Ctesias

Lives in India, and is called the man-slayer by Persians

As large as the largest lion, with red cinnabar fur and a shaggy coat like a dog's

Has the head of a man and human-like ears, but larger and shaggy. Eyes are blue-grey

Three sets of teeth on the upper and lower jaw, larger than the fangs of a hound

At the end of the tail is a sting like a scorpion, a cubit in length, with stings in intervals at each side

The prick of the tip is fatal to anyone, and death is immediate

Can discharge its stings like a bow. When it shoots ahead of it, it must bend its tail above itself, like a scorpion. If behind, the tail must be straightened. [Seems to be momentum-based]

Stings are as thick as a bulrush

In the places where those stings have been let fly others spring up, so that this evil produces a crop [so… the stings are able to grow like a plant when detached from the manticore. Are the stings a separate organism, that symbiotically attaches to the manticore's tail? A creature that grows like a plant and produces poison, but is otherwise sessile, requiring the manticore to disperse them. The manticore gets a poisonous weapon for its tail and the stings grow/regenerate in the tail]

Hunted by Indians when they're young, still without spines. They crush the tip of the tail with a rock so that they can never grow. [Again, suggesting a sort of symbiosis. Young manticores have to seek out these spine-organisms and accept their eggs onto their tails for them to grow]

Their voice is remarkably like a trumpet

Some were spotted in Persia, and Ctesias brought this up with the Persian king to discuss the issue [spreading their range?]

[diodellet]

warning in advance if ur scared of bugs 😵‍💫 theres a photo of a scorpion further down ! ! !

hiii dio~~~ its skellie!!! i was wondering if you’d like to be included/tagged in a post where i delve into abstruse and the ocs i wanna write in?

i revisit ur tags on my recent ficpost often (tysm for leaving such glowing feedback 😭 i love how u dissected it and were so specific in what u enjoyed, i smile ear to ear irl everytime i think about it 😫🤧) and i was thinking to myself that you’d totally like a little more of what i’m cooking for this universe! i hope i’m not wrong 😭

i have 9(-10???) ocs i’d like to include into the narrative, four of which are gonna be slot into the scarabia dorm, with the fifth on the nrc staff! three are twisted from the aladdin show series, one is from an aladdin-based game, and the third is twisted from bagheera (the black panther/leopard that helps mowgli in the jungle book!) because i learned that the plot of the jungle book is based in asia, much like aladdin 🎉🥳

the other five are alotted in different dorms! i’ve got an anglerfish (based off the finding nemo one), a mad hatter, a leopard based off the one in tarzan, a wildebeest from the stampede in the lion king, and a mystery boy from the ignihyde dorm!

one of mine from the scarabia bunch is gonna be scorpion-themed, and i have a feeling (based off no real evidence cjdnfnks) that you might be fond of that one in particular 😭 call it my spidey sense cjcjdn

i got major inspo from the hottentola tamulus or indian red scorpions that are found in sri lanka, pakistan, nepal, and india!

they are considered one of the world’s deadliest scorpions with venom very dangerous and sometimes fatal ☺️ i wanted him (and the other three boys) to be antagonist-types to kalim and jamil in terms of dorm-specific yandere infighting lmfaooo;; i think the inclusion of my oc’s will give abstruse’s spin of twst a unique and intriguing flair in comparison to og yan!twst~

my goal with these characters is to give the main cast a run for their money! i’m of the opinion that a lot of the boys will team up with each other, so i think my making of an original third party will create more layered conflict and lore in-verse that the main story writing just lacks imo 😓

— there’s no pressure to agree, though! i just love how you engage with my writing and i figured you’d like to be included in my creative process 😞;; my sincerest apologies if im off the mark,, im very fond of ur enthusiasm and i think ur cool ;///;

hi skellie!! im cool wid being tagged for the ocs post 🥰🥰 yippee!! having actual characters instead of eyeless mobs to shake up the main story (idk what to expect from this scorpion oc but alright imma keep my eyes peeled for em👁👁)

(also dw abt scorpions i think i can handle looking at em. its worms and centipedes and maggots that make my soul leave my body🤧)

[vyva-melinkolya]

do u have a favorite arachnid?

 OK so, this might be disappointing but, all of my favorite arachnids are spiders. True scorpions I don’t know enough about, and everything else (whip, scorpions, camel spiders, harvestmen etc) freak me out. When I was a little kid, I loved all sorts of bugs, I don’t know what’s happened to me, but, spiders are kind of the only one I can do now.

As far as spiders go, I love the following

Dolomedes fishing spiders

Wolf spiders

“New World” tarantulas (brachypelma, aphonopelma, grammastola, avicularia etc)

Garden Orbweavers (honestly any Orbweaver, shocker)

Grass Spiders (if you live in America and you’ve seen a sheet type web with a funnel, it’s one of these)

Recluse spiders (idc they’re so very pretty)

Latrodectus species (widows/ red back spiders)

Bolas Spider (they swing a ball of web like a lasso to catch prey)

Huntsmen spiders

Indian Ornamental Tarantulas

Velvet spiders (much cuter than jumping spiders in my opinion)

Southern House Spider (so very pretty in a understated way, I’ve only ever seen one and it was a dead one at Hayden ‘s old house)

[sparklingandtwinkling]

Yes! Pretty Cure 5 Characters as Mobians

🦋🌹🩷❤️💛💚💙💜🦋🌹🩷❤️💛💚💙💜🦋🌹

Cures:

Nozomi Yumehara/Cure Dream - Dark Magenta Rabbit/Bright Pink Rabbit

Rin Natsuki/Cure Rouge - Yellow Cheetah (has brown hair)/Red Cheetah (has bright red hair, like flames)

Urara Kasugano/Cure Lemonade - Golden Blonde Mouse/Bright Yellow Mouse

Komachi Akimoto/Cure Mint - Dark Green Echidna

Karen Minazuki/Cure Aqua - Dark Blue Whale/Bright Blue Whale

Milk/Kurumi Mimino/Milky Rose - Pale Pink Rabbit Cure Flicky/Purple Rabbit

Faires:

Coco - Fox Cure Flicky/Brown Fox Mobian

He can transform into a human and later becomes a teacher at Nozomi's school to keep watch over her under the alias Kokoda Kouji.

Nuts - Squirrel Cure Flicky/Dirty Blonde Squirrel Mobian

He can transform into a human, acting as the clerk of a jewelry shop called Natts House, by the name Mr. Natsu.

Milk - Rabbit Cure Flicky

She can transform into a human and attends the Cures’ school as a second-year transfer student under the alias Kurumi Mimino and is in the same class as Nozomi and Rin.

Syrup - Bird Cure Flicky/Orange Bird Mobian

He has two forms he can turn into: a human and a giant bird, used as an aerial transport when necessary.

Magical Allies:

Pinkies - Spirits

Flora - Rose Deer

Is the youngest sister of Vanessa and the guardian the Cure Rose Garden, which holds the Red and Blue Cure Rose.

The boss of Eternal is interested in her.

Goddess of the Red and Blue Cure Rose.

Four Rulers:

King Doughnut - Dragon Flicky

Queen Bavarois - Phoenix Flicky

Princess Crepe - Tiger Flicky

King Montblanc - Turtle Flicky

Mailpo - Walking Pink Mailbox

Is a walking pink mailbox that works with Syrup.

She helps with sending and receiving letters.

Palmins - Flicky Spirits

A Pink Mouse with a butterfly mark on it’s head

A Blue Wolf with a six-point star mark on it’s head

A Yellow Goat with a flower mark on it’s head

A Red Bird with a sun mark on it’s head

A Green Dog with a apple mark on it’s head

Villians:

Desperaia - Crane

The leader of the Nightmares who intends to gain eternal life and to bring despair to the world.

Kawarino - Chameleon

Desparaia's secretary.

Girinma - Mantis

The first Nightmare to appear.

Gamao - Toad

The second Nightmare to appear.

Arachnea - Spider

The third Nightmare to appear.

Bunbee - Bee

The boss of Girinma, Arachnea, and Gamao.

Bunbee also worked for Eternal as a low-ranking member, often acting as comic relief.

Hadenya - Bird

She appears after Arachnea's death. She likes to take what she wants and often forces Bunbee to serve her in some way.

Bloody - Vampire Bat

Bloody is the last Nightmare to show up. He usually tries to win by persuasion and talking, only using Kowaina to help him rather than to do all of the work.

Boss - Crow

The leader of Eternal, intending to gain eternal life by finding the keys to Cure Rose Garden.

Anacondy - Purple Gorgon (Eternal)/Purple Snake (Mobius)

Anacondy acts as an administrator among Eternal

Scorp - Brown Emperor Scorpion (Eternal)/Indian Red Scorpion (Mobius)

Scorp is the first Eternal member to be shown.

Nebatakos - Octopus (Eternal)/Squid (Mobius)

Nebatakos is the third original member of Eternal to be shown.

Isohgin - Sea Anemone (Eternal)/Jellyfish (Mobius)

Isohgin is one of a duo from Eternal that are said to be the best hunters.

Yadokhan - Hermit Crab (Eternal)/Lobster (Mobius)

Yadokhan is the partner of Isohgin and the small, fat one of the two.

Shibiretta - Mice with a large Mushroom on their head

Shibiretta manipulates fairy tales to fight Pretty Cure, trapping them in fairy tale worlds with Hoshinas.

Mucardia - Orchid Mantis (Eternal)/Dragonfly (Mobius)

Mucardia is the most recent member of Eternal.

For Nightmare, In their humans forms they look like normal Mobians but in their monster forms they are still the same as their Mobian form but more like what they look like in the fandom

Family:

Tsutomu Yumehara - Brown Rabbit

Nozomi’s father.

Megumi Yumehara - Dark Purple Rabbit

Nozomi's mother.

She is a beautician and runs a beauty shop called "Espoir".

Kazuyo Natsuki - Yellow Cheetah (has brown hair)

Rin's mother.

She and her husband run a flower shop "Fleuriste Natsuki".

Ai Natsuki - Yellow Leopard (has brown hair)

Her brother Yu and she are twins and Rin's younger siblings.

Yu Natsuki - Yellow Leopard (has brown hair)

Rin's young brother and a twin with Ai.

Heizou Kasugano - Gray Mouse

Urara's grandfather, Maria's father, and Michel's father-in-law.

Maria Kasugano - Brown Mouse

Urara's late mother.

Michel Kasugano - Lion

Urara's father.

Madoka Akimoto - Dark Green Echidna

Komachi's older sister.

Minako Minazuki - Black Cicada

Karen's father.

Karen's parents are famous musicians and do a lot of concert tours.

Taro Minazuki - Dark Teal Whale

Karen's mother.

Karen's parents are famous musicians and do a lot of concert tours.

Supporting People:

Sakamoto - Harp Seal

Minazuki's butler and takes care of Karen when her parents are overseas as Famous Musicians.

Mika Masuko - Bat

Mika is the chief editor of the Cinq Lumieres News.

Otaka-san - Border Collie

The mistress of the cafeteria in the girls' school where they always eat lunch.

Secretly, she is the school headmistress.

Kouta Washio - Jackal

Urara's manager from Production Eagle.

——————————————————————————————————

Previously: 🌸🕊️🎐🌕 | Next: 🍎🪩♠️

[artistrichardhfay]

Article: "Manticore: Man-Eating Hybrid Beast of Legend and Art"

A legendary monster that bore many names (Manticore, Manticora, Mantichora, Manticory, Manticoras, Martikhora, Mantiserra, Memecoleous, Mancomorion, and the Satyral), the fearsome Manticore featured in the lore, bestiaries, and creative works of various lands and cultures, from ancient Asia to medieval Europe, and beyond. However, the Manticore legend first took root in ancient Greece and Persia. A garbled account of man-eating Bengal tigers of India may have been the seed that sprouted all subsequent tales of this strange and ferocious hybrid creature. Despite its dubious origins, the legend of the Manticore persisted and developed over the centuries.

Ctesias, Greek physician to the Persian King Artaxerxes II Mnemon (reigned 404 to 358 BCE), penned what seems to be the first written account of the Manticore. Even though Ctesias never visited India, he wrote that a lion-sized man-faced monstrosity prowled the sub-continent. As preserved in later works by the Roman writer Aelian (c. 170 – c. 235 CE) and the Byzantine scholar Photius (c. 815-897 CE), Ctesias described what he called the Martikhora (derived from the Persian mardkhor, meaning “man-slayer” or “man-eater”) as possessing pale blue eyes, three rows of sharp teeth, savage claws, a cinnabar-coloured pelt, a scorpion’s tail, additional stings on the crown of its head and each side of its tail, and a voice that sounded like a trumpet. Ctesias also claimed that the creature could, to defend itself, shoot regenerating foot-long stingers both forward and backward a considerable distance. One animal alone could withstand those poisoned quills; the thick-skinned elephant had little to fear from the Manticore’s otherwise deadly sting. To hunt such a formidable beast, Indian natives rode upon elephants and attacked their prey with spears or arrows.

It seems likely that the man-eating Martikhora of Ctesias was based upon tales of the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). The Romanised Greek Pausanias (c. 110 – c. 180 CE) believed this to be the case, and wrote about his thoughts on the matter in the ninth book of his ten-volume travelogue entitled Description of Greece. In his section on fabulous animals, he suggested that the red-hued pelt described by Ctesias could be explained by a tiger appearing to be a homogeneous red in colour when observed running in full sunlight. Pausanias also put forward the opinion that the more fanciful traits recorded by Ctesias, such as the lethal stingers and three rows of teeth, arose from natives exaggerating the deadly characteristics of a man-eating beast they dreaded. According to what Irish naturalist Valentine Ball wrote in his 1883 paper “Identification of the Pygmies, the Martikhora, the Griffin, and the Dikarion of Ktesias”, these two traits dismissed by Pausanias as false may have had a basis in fact. Ball argued that the Manticore’s three rows of teeth might have been derived from the tiger’s trilobate molars, while the tail-borne stingers might have been a distorted account of a horny dermal structure he asserted exists at the extremity of a tiger’s tail.

Regardless of the reality behind Ctesias’ account, other ancient writers helped propagate the legend of the Manticore. With the sceptical qualifier of “if we are to believe Ctesias”, Aristotle described the Martichora of India in his History of Animals of 350 BCE. He included most of the characteristics already mentioned and also said that the beast’s call sounded like a combination of pan-pipes and a trumpet. The Roman author and naturalist Pliny the Elder, in his Naturalis Historia of c. 77 CE, displayed little scepticism over the creature’s actual existence when he echoed Ctesias and Aristotle, although he placed the creature in Ethiopia. He added that the triple-rowed teeth fit into each other like a comb. He also claimed to have been informed that the man-faced monster could mimic human speech.

Inspired by the writings of ancient Greek and Roman naturalists, the compilers of medieval bestiaries included the Manticore among their compendia of beasts, both ordinary and fantastic.

The exact appearance of the creature varied from work-to-work, although all variations displayed a feline-body with a human face. One 12th century bestiary featured a Manticore wearing a Phyrgian cap. An English bestiary of the early 13th century portrayed its Manticore as possessing a particularly savage countenance and prominent stingers all along its tail. Another mid-late 13th century English bestiary depicted the Manticore with a visage that was merely a rough approximation of a human face. Yet another 13th century bestiary, this one from northern France, portrayed the beast as having a distinctively human head, but no stinging tail. This particular depiction also deviated from the standard reddish coat colour, in this instance (assuming the colour hadn’t faded or altered drastically over time) the illuminator had instead opted for a greyish hue.

Besides its frequent presence in bestiaries, the Manticore also made appearances in medieval sculpture and even, on rare occasions, medieval and Tudor heraldry. The Manticore carvings found in some medieval churches stood as symbols of the weeping prophet Jeremiah. The late medieval Lord Hastings adopted a tusked Manticore (or mantyger) as his heraldic badge. The Tudor-era Lord Fitzwalter had, for his badge, a purple-hued Manticore. At times, the head of the heraldic Manticore would be adorned with spiral horns.

Over time, the Manticore became associated with other fabulous creatures and served as inspiration for other legendary monsters. In the later Middle Ages and Renaissance, the heraldic Manticore helped shape the imagery of the female-faced chimaeric creature that stood as a symbol of the sin of fraud in “grotteschi” (grotesque decorative elements) and some Mannerist paintings. Edward Topsell, in his 1607 work The Historie of Foure-Footed Beastes, copied the description of a Manticore as given by Ctesias, but then equated the man-faced beast with the badger-headed cloven-hoofed Leucrocota and the hyena. In Spanish lore, the Manticore transformed into a kind of werewolf that kidnapped and preyed upon children. Tales of the Manticore told by sixteenth century missionaries to the New World may have formed the basis for the Cigouave, a human-faced feline-bodied beast, of Haitian Vodou tradition.

As the ages progressed, the Manticore of art and popular culture gained additional attributes. Along with the spiral horns added by heraldic artists, others tacked on scales, udders or dragon’s wings. A scaly Manticore sporting horns, udders, and wings featured in a 17th century bestiary. In modern times, a bat-winged Manticore has numbered among the monsters that adventuring characters may encounter in the fantasy realms of a certain well-known role-playing game. The Manticore in Gustave Flaubert’s 1874 work The Temptation of St. Anthony spoke of possessing screw-like claws and the ability to spew plague.

Interestingly enough, although it seems likely that distorted tales of man-eating tigers served as the basis for the man-faced scorpion-tailed stinger-flinging Manticore of ancient natural histories and medieval bestiaries, the legend lives on. In Indonesia, some villagers today tell tales of a man-eating Manticore that prowls the jungle and kills its human prey with a single bite or scratch. It just goes to show that the Manticore has endured, in human imagination if not necessarily in reality.

Sources

Aelian (1958). On the nature of animals 4.21. (A.F. Scholfield, Trans.). Attalus. (Original work written c. 200 CE) http://www.attalus.org/translate/anim...

Aristotle (1910). The history of animals. 2.1. (D. Thompson, Trans.). The Internet Classics Archive. (Original work written 350 BCE) http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/his...

Badke, D. (ed.). (2011, January 15). Manticore: gallery. The medieval bestiary. http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beastgaller...

Ball, V. (1883). “Identification of the pygmies, the martikhora, the griffin, and the dikarion of Ktesias”. The Academy, XXIII, 277. https://books.google.com/books?id=oEZ...

Curran, B. (2016). The carnival of dark dreams. WyrdHarvest Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=KzN...

Flaubert, G, (2016). The temptation of St. Anthony. (L. Hearn, Trans.). (Original work written 1874). http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52225/...

Gygax, G., & Arneson, D. (1981). Dungeons & Dragons fantasy adventure game expert rulebook. TSR Hobbies.

Heraldic badge of William Lord Hastings [ink drawing]. Wikimedia Commons. (Originally drawn c.1466-70) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

Lehner, E. & Lehner, J. (2004). Big book of dragons, monsters, and other mythical creatures. Dover Publications.

Manticore. (2020, March 2). Wikipedia. Retrieved March 3, 2020 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manticore

Matthews, J., & Matthews, C. (2005). The element encyclopedia of magical creatures. HarperElement.

Pausanias (2018). Description of Greece (English). 9.21.4-9.21.5. Perseus under PhiloLogic. (Original work written c. 150 CE) http://perseus.uchicago.edu/

Photius (2017). Photius’ excerpt of Ctesias’ Indica. (J.H. Freese, Trans.). Livius. (Original work written c.850 CE) https://www.livius.org/sources/conten...

Pliny the Elder (1855). The natural history 8.30 & 45. (J. Bostock & H.T. Riley, Trans.). Perseus Digital Library. (Original work written 77 CE). http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/t...

Rose, C. (2000). Giants, monsters, and dragons: an encyclopedia of folklore, legend, and myth. W. W. Norton & Company.

Rosen, B. (2008). The mythical creatures bible. Octopus Publishing Group.

Rothery, G. (1994). Concise encyclopedia of heraldry. Senate. (Original work published 1915)

Topsell, E. (1607). The historie of foure-footed beastes. Printed by William Iaggard. https://archive.org/details/b3033469x...

Zell-Ravenheart, O., & DeKirk, A. (2007). A wizard’s bestiary. New Page Books.

(Article originally published in Altered Reality Magazine, March 17, 2020.)

[monochromatictoad]

Hi! Hi! Returning from the dead with a funee ask to make you do some mental gymnastics >:3c

So... I've hit your F/Os with my furryfication beam: which animal (real, mythical, mix.. the sky is the limit uwu) are they transformed into? ~ @avid-adoxography

Doing this for my Romantic F/Os!

Gabriel: A rat/dragon hybrid

Marie: English Cocker Spaniel

Drake: American Red Squirrel or a Chipmunk

War: Draft Horse/Hell Hound hybrid

Uriel: Saker Falcon/Pomeranian Goose hybrid

Usiel: Steller's Sea Eagle

Red: Indian Red Scorpion or a Red Salamander

Huge Man: Kangaroo. One of those massive male kangaroos.

Jester: Rat Terrier

Malcolm/Trilby: Tuxedo DSH Cat

Cyrus: Weasel

[amphiptere-art]

Now Antares was easy enough to do.

His colors are primarily based off of the Lord Eclipse model and a Indian red scorpion. I really enjoy how he turned out. Although it was not the intention, He looks like a sultan. Which works with the whole Lord angle. Also I don't care how different the fucking pants are. They fit in well enough and I don't care. It was the only thing I had a vision of and I was going to keep that vision.

Hope you guys enjoy him.

[sasorikigai]

♡ 🥩 ˒˒ 𝟗 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫!

last song i listened to : World on Fire by Daughtry

favorite color : All shades of red tbh. I am a red girlie; especially indian red, maroon, carmine, vermillion, aka claylike rustic red tones that are either warm or cool toned.

currently watching : Nothing in particular. The last series I really got into was Beef (Netflix miniseries that swept the recent awards) and I haven't got the time to watch every damn thing tbh.

last movie / tv show i watched : Napoleon

spicy / savory / sweet : SPICY all the way, and I also like selective sweets (dark chocolate).

relationship status : SINGLE

last thing i googled : Groundhogs Day craft (for work).

current obsession : Working out (I work out at Orangetheory about 5-6 days, I get probably 7-8 hours of workouts done on a given week), running races (current obsession is half-marathon and marathon, and I am hoping to run all 6 Majors - just ran Chicago in 2023, and going to run Berlin in September of this year - although it will be very costly to do so), journaling (mostly workout-related, but I like to decorate my journals and scrapbook as much as I can), writing (obviously as Hanzo/Scorpion).

Tagged by: @hexsreality

Tagging: @sonxflight, @somniaxperdita, @sunsctfcde and YOU

[archive-of-artprompts]

🕷Send in a number + Character, and I'll draw them in an outfit or as a creature based on that arachnid 🕷

Antilles Pinktoe Tarantula

Araniella

Babycurus Jacksoni

Bark Scorpion

Black House Spider

Black Window

Bluefang Tarantula

Brazilian Blue Dwarf Beauty Tarantula

Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula

Brown Recluse

Chaerilus

Cheiridiidae

Crab Spider

Daddy Long Legs

Deathstalker

Diving Bell Spider

Dust Mite

Emperor Scorpion

Fattail Scorpion

Gasteracantha Cancriformis

Goliath Birdeater

Grammostola Pulchra

Grassatores

Harvestmen

Hobo Spider

Hottentotta

House Pseudoscorpion

Indian Ornamental Tarantula

Jumping Spider

Kolotl

Mexican Fireleg Tarantula

Neobisiidae

Neogoveidae

Orange Baboon Tarantula

Spotted Orbweaver Spider

Peacock Tarantula

Pirate Spider

Raft Spider

Red Spider Mite

Rose Hair Tarantula

Spiny Orbweavers

Sun Spider

Syarinidae

Sydney Funnel-Web Spider

Tailles Whip Scorpion

Tick

Velvet Spider

Wasp Spider

Wolf Spider

Yellow Garden Spider