Air is in constant presence everywhere on our planet, infusing every living thing and moving constantly around, between, over and through objects. It is an element that is invisible and undetectable to human senses, and almost impossible to capture or control.

Many of the greatest hunters and predators of world mythology choose the air as their medium, and the Otherworldly Beings associated with air are elusive, awe inspiring and dominate the Earth below them.

Aether

Aether personifies the pure upper air inhabited by the gods, in contrast to the lower air deemed fit for mortals. Derived from Greek mythology, Aether is the son of Erebus and Nyx and the brother of Hemera. At night, his mother draws the curtains and the gloom of his father descends the world, but as morning arrives his sister sweeps aside the mists.

Aide

An Aide is also known as an Aideko, and this female spirit of Basque mythology can be either good or evil. She can deliver either a gentle breeze or a violent gale, according to whether a village has gained her favour. If angered, she will happily bring ruin. Aide is said to be responsible for causing illnesses for which there are no natural causes.

Harpy

Harpies are half women, half bird creatures in Greek mythology. They were known for constantly stealing food from Phileas before he could eat it, which was a punishment dished out by Zeus.  In early myths they were beautiful, but later versions described them as filthy and ugly hags.

Hippogriff

Hippogriffs are winged horses with the head and claws of an eagle. They are the offspring of a Gryphon and a horse and symbolise impossible dreams because the two creatures are enemies.  In medieval times there was a saying, ‘to mate Gryphons with horses’, which had the same meaning as the modern phrase, ‘when pigs fly’.

Pegasus

Pegasus is the majestic Greek winged horse, sired by Poseidon and which sprang forth from Medusa’s body when Perseus cut off her head. Bellerophon was able to capture Pegasus as it drank from a well, by using a golden bridle given to him by Athena. Later on Pegasus threw Bellerophon from his back, whereby Zeus transformed him into the constellation Pegasus, and placed him in the sky.

Safat

The Safat are unusual birds which spend their entire lives in flight, never once coming to rest. They fly very high, and once per year the females lay eggs while still in the sky. The eggs hatch as they fall to Earth. The shells are the only part that reaches the ground, and if an animal eats even a part of it legend has it that it will go mad.

Sylph

The Sylphs are sometimes said to be the souls of virgins, offering protection to humans against evil spirits. They are invisible angels whose voices can be heard on the winds. Described in the Kabbalist and Rosicrucian lore, Sylphs are tall and slender human-like creatures, who can live to be hundreds of years old, although they never seem to age.

The Roc

The Roc was a huge bird of prey with a wing span large enough to block out the Sun. It features in the fictional book titled, the’ Voyages of Sinbad’. Sinbad, a sailor who travelled throughout the seas, east of Africa and south of Asia, visited magical places, met monsters, and encountered supernatural phenomena.

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