The Dybbuk Box

Legend has it that this box is haunted by a dybbuk, an evil spirit from Jewish mythology. In 2004 a man named Kevin Mannis sold it on eBay. Mannis himself had bought it from the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor who had recently died. He found strange items such as two locks of hair, an octopus-shaped candle and two pennies. Shortly after the purchase he … Continue reading The Dybbuk Box

Bakhtak

You know that dream where you’re naked in front of all of you classmates or at work? What about the one where all of your teeth are falling out of your head? In Persian mythology, these and dreams like them are blamed on a creature called Bakhtak. This invisible creature sits on the chest of its victims, turning sweet dreams into nightmares and, in some … Continue reading Bakhtak

Chiang-Shih Vampire Creatures of Chinese Mythology

The Chiang-shih are undead creatures of Chinese mythology, with similarities to the European vampire. Instead of feeding on the blood of their victims, the risen Chiang-shih were said to suck the breath out of the living. Like many European vampires, they were said to have long hair, eyebrows, and fingernails, as well as the ability to fly. A person was thought to have two different souls: … Continue reading Chiang-Shih Vampire Creatures of Chinese Mythology