Mythical Creatures: Manticore

Since the second book in my Award-Winning Fantasy Romance series released last week, I thought I'd center this week's magical creatures post around the race of the hero:

the Manticore

Origins: Persia, originally called Martichorus

Appearance: Head of an old man with a long beard, body of a lion, scorpion tail, dragon wings, and sharp claws.

Legend: This beast is said to be a man-eater that lays in tall grasses so it's beastly body is hidden and only the non-threatening image of it's human head is visible. When humans near, it pounces on them, devouring them in one bite, or shoots stingers from it's tail, rendering them helpless while feasts on them. Despite having the head of a human, the beast couldn't talk, but rather had a trumpet sound for a voice. Disappearances were often blamed on this fierce creature.

The Gate Keeper Chronicles: In my series, the Manticore people look a bit more human. They  have lion eyes and thick, lion-mane-like hair with three horns growing from their forehead like a crown, but their faces and bodies are human. They are tall with dragon wings, scorpion tails, and talons for feet. My inspiration for this race came from DeviantArt artist, kikicianjur, and his amazing depiction of a more humanoid Manticore. Here is that art: (Please click on the image to go visit the artist's page on DeviantArt)!! Of course, my manticore race's face is more human.

In Diomere's Healer, we meet Treves when Arri saves his life. We eventually learn that his people are actually Manticore shifters who have been unable to shift due to a curse caused by one of their ancestors. It was fun to write such an unusual hero and hope you'll consider giving the book a try if you haven't yet. I don't think you'll be sorry.

Source: Mythology.net

Sabrina A. Fish is an Award-Winning Fantasy & Romance author from Oklahoma. When she isn't reading or writing, she helps her hubbie run a trophy and awards company or hangs out with her kiddo.

To learn more about Sabrina and her books, visit www.SabrinaAFish.com