| Harpy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Naming | |||
| Original | ἅρπυια | ||
| Romanization | harpyia | ||
| Morphology | |||
| Body type | Avian | ||
| Intelligence | |||
| Sentience | Sentient | ||
| Sapience | Sapient | ||
| Ecology | |||
| Place of origin | Greece | ||
| Diet | Carnivorous or omnivorous | ||
| Locomotion | Flight | ||
| Related species | Siren | ||
| Behind the Scenes | |||
| Universe | Real | ||
Harpies are mythical female creatures from ancient Greece. Their appearance is that of a human-sized predatory bird with a woman's head. Different authors seem to disagree on whether their human faces are beautiful or hideous. Sometimes, they're depicted with a human head and torso, but always with wings. They're widely regarded as hostile creatures who will swoop down from above to steal food from people and sometimes abduct them or violently attack them. They appear in the story of Jason and the Argonauts and also make an appearance in Virgil's The Aeneid.
Gallery[]
17th century illustration of a Harpy
Harpies from Dragon's Dogma
Harpy from Monster Girl Quest
Harpy varieties from Monster Musume
Harpies from The Witcher games
Harpies from Xena: Warrior Princess
Newborn baby Harpies from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Narnia
Statue of the Harpy from Astapor from Game of Thrones
Harpy Queen
Weird n' Wild Creatures
Notes[]
- Harpies in modern fiction often look nothing like their mythical counterparts. For instance, in Xena: Warrior Princess, they're portrayed as strange humanoids with membranous bat-like wings. The baby Harpies who later show up in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys are even more peculiar, having huge ears and a vaguely Mogwai-like appearance.