Giants, Ancients & Strange Beings

Genesis 4-6, 1 Enoch 7-8

The pre-Flood civilization that received forbidden knowledge from the Watchers — metalworking, weaponry, cosmetics, astrology, and enchantments.

Multiple traditions recall an advanced antediluvian civilization destroyed by flood: Sumerian (Eridu), Hindu (Manu's flood), Greek (Deucalion). The Watchers' teachings mirror Prometheus giving fire to humanity.

Deuteronomy 2:10-11

An ancient race considered as tall as the Anakim. The Moabites called them 'Emim' — meaning 'the dreaded ones' or 'the terrors.'

Like the Rephaim and Anakim, they were a pre-Israelite giant race of Canaan. Their very name suggests they inspired supernatural fear.

Quran 7:65-72, 89:6-8

An ancient Arabian people of enormous stature who built 'Iram of the Pillars' — a city with lofty columns the like of which had never been created in the land.

The prophet Hud was sent to them. They rejected him, and Allah destroyed them with a furious wind that raged for seven nights and eight days.

Moses 7:13-21

Enoch built a city so righteous that 'the Lord came and dwelt with his people.' Eventually the entire city of Zion was 'taken up into heaven' — translated from the earth.

Moses 7 describes enemies fleeing as mountains moved and rivers changed course. The city of Enoch will return at the Second Coming to meet the New Jerusalem.

Quran 7:73-79, 91:11-15

An ancient people who carved homes into mountains and rocks. The prophet Salih was sent to them with a miraculous she-camel as a sign.

They hamstrung the she-camel despite warnings. Allah destroyed them with a mighty blast (earthquake/thunderbolt). Their ruins are identified with Mada'in Salih in Saudi Arabia.

Book of Ether

An ancient civilization that sailed to the Americas after the Tower of Babel. Over millennia they grew into a vast nation, then destroyed themselves in apocalyptic civil war.

Their final battle at the Hill Ramah/Cumorah killed millions. Only Coriantumr survived, fulfilling Ether's prophecy. The brother of Jared, their founder, had the greatest recorded faith in LDS scripture.

Book of Mormon

A civilization descended from Lehi who left Jerusalem around 600 BC. After a thousand years and a visit from the resurrected Christ, they were annihilated by the Lamanites at Cumorah.

Mormon, their final prophet-general, abridged their entire history onto gold plates. His son Moroni buried them and later appeared as an angel to Joseph Smith.

Deuteronomy 2:20-21

A people 'great and many, and tall as the Anakim' who dwelt in what later became Ammonite territory. God destroyed them before the Ammonites.

The name may mean 'plotters' or 'murmurers.' They are identified with the Rephaim.

Ezekiel 10:1-22, Genesis 3:24

Four-faced beings with four wings — the faces of a man, lion, ox, and eagle. Under their wings were human hands. They guarded Eden with a flaming sword.

Nothing like modern 'cherubs.' Ezekiel describes them as terrifying creatures whose wings were full of eyes, accompanied by wheels within wheels (the Ophanim).

Garuda Purana, Mahabharata

A divine eagle with a human body — the king of birds and mount of Lord Vishnu. Large enough to block out the sun.

Garuda is an eternal enemy of the Nagas (serpents). He stole amrita (nectar of immortality) from the gods to free his mother from slavery.

Quran 15:27, 55:15, 72:1-15

Beings created from 'smokeless fire' before humans. They live in a parallel world, have free will, and can be Muslim or disbelieving.

An entire surah (Al-Jinn, 72) is dedicated to them. Solomon commanded jinn to build for him (Quran 34:12-13). They can hear the Quran and be moved to faith.

1 Enoch 8:1, 10:4-6

Leader among the Watchers who taught men to make swords, knives, shields, and breastplates, and taught women cosmetics and adornment.

God commands Raphael to bind Azazel hand and foot, cast him into darkness in the desert of Dudael, and cover him with rocks until the Day of Judgment.

Quran 2:102

Two angels sent to Babylon as a test for humanity. They taught people sorcery but warned: 'We are only a trial, so do not disbelieve.'

The Quran mentions them in the context of Solomon's kingdom and the magic practiced there. Their story parallels the Watchers teaching forbidden arts.

Quran 2:34, 7:11-18

A jinn (not an angel) who refused to bow to Adam when commanded by Allah. He was cast out and became the adversary of humanity.

Unlike the Christian Satan, Iblis was never an angel — the Quran specifies he was made of 'smokeless fire' (a jinn). He asked for respite until Judgment Day to lead humans astray.

Irish legends

A female spirit whose wailing warns of death in a family. Often appears combing her hair or weeping.

Her cry is a harbinger of doom. Associated with old Irish families. Beautiful but terrifying.

Jewish folklore, Kabbalah texts

The malevolent spirit of a dead person that possesses the living. Caused by unfinished business or spiritual turmoil.

Orthodox exorcism rituals exist to expel a dybbuk. The spirit is trapped between worlds, causing suffering until released.

Quran 55:15; Arabian Nights

Beings made from smokeless fire (not physical matter). Can be good or evil. Have free will and intelligence.

Can assume different forms. Some are Muslim, others pagan. They inhabit fire, air, and underground spaces. Can be summoned or commanded.

Japanese folklore, noh theater

Deuteronomy 2:10-11, Numbers 13:33

A race of giants descended from Anak. The Israelite spies said: 'We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.'

Three named Anakim — Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai — dwelt in Hebron. Caleb later drove them out (Joshua 15:14).

Rig Veda, Puranas

Powerful, giant anti-gods who wage war against the Devas. Originally divine beings, they fell through pride and desire for power.

In early Vedas, 'asura' simply meant 'powerful being.' Over time it came to mean the opponents of cosmic order (similar to the Titan/Olympian divide).

Vishnu Purana

A race of giant Asura demons, sons of Diti and the sage Kashyapa. Hiranyakashipu, a Daitya king, became virtually indestructible through penance.

Vishnu incarnated as Narasimha (half-man, half-lion) specifically to slay Hiranyakashipu, who could not be killed by man or beast, by day or night.

Homer's Odyssey; Hesiod's Theogony

One-eyed giants. Some are monsters (like Polyphemus), others are divine craftspeople.

Polyphemus imprisoned Odysseus. The divine Cyclopes forged Zeus' thunderbolt and Poseidon's trident.

Poetic Edda, Prose Edda

Intelligent but often hostile giant beings from Jotunheim. Elemental forces of chaos and ice.

Loki is a Jotunn. They are adversaries of the gods but also contain sacred knowledge. At Ragnarok, they will fight against the Aesir.

Genesis 6:4; Numbers 13:33; 1 Samuel 17:4

Giant beings born from the union of human women and divine beings (angels). Mighty men of renown.

Often described as 9-10 feet tall. Goliath was of Nephilim lineage. Associated with ancient power and superhuman abilities.

Hesiod's Theogony

Job 40:15-24

A colossal land creature — 'Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you. It eats grass like an ox. Its tail sways like a cedar. Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like bars of iron.'

Behemoth is the land counterpart to Leviathan. In Jewish eschatology, both will be served as food at the messianic banquet.

Zhuangzi, Chinese Mythology

Four dragon kings ruling the four seas, each controlling rain, storms, and water. They can take human form and dwell in crystal palaces beneath the ocean.

The Dragon King of the East Sea is the most prominent. Dragons in Taoist tradition are benevolent symbols of power and wisdom, unlike Western dragons. They are intermediaries between heaven and earth.

Job 41, Psalm 74:14, Isaiah 27:1

A massive sea serpent or dragon that no human can tame. 'Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook? His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames pour from his mouth.'

Some scholars connect Leviathan to Lotan from Ugaritic mythology. God will slay Leviathan at the end of days (Isaiah 27:1).

Iliad, Odyssey

Half-human, half-horse creatures. Usually depicted as wild and unruly, though some (like Chiron) were wise.

Represent the struggle between civilization (human) and nature (animal). Often associated with wine, revelry, and unchecked passion.

Ezekiel 1:5-14; Genesis 3:24

Beings with multiple wings, sometimes four faces (human, lion, ox, eagle), wheels within wheels filled with eyes.

Guard sacred spaces and divine mysteries. Represent knowledge (the eyes) and power (the wheels). Less anthropomorphic than Seraphim.

Vedas, temple carvings

A sea creature that is part crocodile, part fish, or part elephant. Symbol of the waters and the boundary between worlds.

Associated with Ganga (the river goddess). Represents abundance, protection, and the mysteries of water.

Pyramid Texts, Book of the Dead

A giant serpent representing chaos, disorder, and the void. Attacks the sun god Ra during his nightly journey.

Must be defeated each night for the sun to rise. Represents primordial chaos that threatens cosmic order.

Chinese mythology, Feng Shui texts

Benevolent cosmic dragon associated with imperial power, water, and good fortune. Very different from Western dragons.

Represents yang energy, strength, and transformation. Often depicted without wings but flying through clouds. Symbol of the emperor.

Job 41; Psalm 74:14; Isaiah 27:1

A massive sea serpent or dragon of the deep. Primordial chaos monster created by God.

Described with impenetrable scales, terror-inspiring. In apocalyptic tradition, will be destroyed at the end times.

Petavatthu, Tibetan Book of the Dead

Beings with enormous stomachs and pinhole mouths, tormented by insatiable hunger and thirst — reborn into this realm through greed and attachment.

The Hungry Ghost Realm is one of the six realms of samsara. The Ghost Festival (Ullambana) honors these beings with offerings of food and prayers.

Atharvaveda, Garuda Purana

Flesh-eating demons that haunt cremation grounds and dark places. They can possess the living and drive them to madness.

Pishachas are said to be the spirits of those who committed crimes, were liars, or went insane. They are feared as carriers of disease and insanity.

Isaiah 14:9, 26:14; Proverbs 9:18

The spirits of the dead dwelling in Sheol — 'The dead do not live; the Rephaim do not rise.' The same word used for the ancient giants.

This double meaning (giants and ghosts) suggests the ancients believed the spirits of the fallen Nephilim/giants became the shades that haunt the underworld.