9 Animals and Mythological Creatures Associated With the Moon

The moon has sometimes been associated with dark, evil, and scary presences. Also, in many cultures, there have been goddesses representing the moon and darkness with a correlation tied to rebirth, fertility, deep thought, or femininity.

Over the last few centuries, various cultures have associated animals and mythological creatures with the moon. These animals can sometimes be portrayed historically as dark, mysterious creatures. The mythological creatures that have been invented by these cultures represent a sinister side to life and death, but they can also represent rebirth or good luck. They may also represent the ominous vibes that usually come out at night when the moon shines in its grandiosity.

Let’s take a look at the nine animals and mythological creatures associated with the moon. These are creatures that have taken a more sinister and ominous role throughout the centuries. Go on, if you dare.

The Rabbit

Have you ever looked up at the moon and seen a rabbit? The rabbit is famously associated with the moon in many cultures. The Aztecs believed that Tecciztécatl, who was the moon god, was an anthropomorphic rabbit. The Maya moon goddess also had a rabbit on her lap.

In Chinese mythology, the moon rabbit is an accompanying figure to Chang’e (the goddess of the moon). This has also been the case in Korean and Japanese mythology, too. Other Asian cultures have also long associated the rabbit or the white hare to signify rebirth or immortality. Furthermore, mid-autumn festivals in Asia also feature stories about the moon goddess and the moon rabbit.

The Werewolf

A werewolf is a man who can shapeshift into a wolf-like creature. Wolves have long been associated with the moon (more on that later), but werewolves are completely different creatures. The transformation from a human to a wolf-like creature only occurs during a full moon. Werewolves hunt during the night and ravage and eat humans. This folklore was widespread among Europeans and it developed during the Middle Ages, even spreading with colonists in America.

Interestingly enough, during the 1500s and 1600s, there were werewolf hunters because of the widespread hysteria about werewolf attacks in France, Austria, and Germany. There were even werewolf trials (much like witch trials) occurring in Switzerland during the 1600s and 1700s.

The Marine Shell (Snail)

The snail, or the marine shell, is associated with the moon in Aztec culture. In Spanish, the marine shell is called “caracol.” Legend has it that Tecciztécatl, who was a supposed anthropomorphic rabbit, also carried a marine shell as a badge. And that’s because he was the son of the rain god and the water goddess. He jumped into a fire at Teotihuacan and became the moon. “Tecciztli” means caracol, or marine shell, in the indigenous language of Nahuatl.

The Owl

Hoot! Hoot! That’s the sound an owl makes during the day or night, but it’s long been associated with owls being nocturnal animals. Greeks believed owls signified wisdom and wealth. However, in Egyptian, Celtic, and Hindu cultures, it was believed that owls represented the underworld and were the guardians of such a place. The owl was seen as a creature of the night.

Owls are associated with being the creatures that uncover the truth, which can be seen as a correlation with wisdom and knowledge. In this symbolic sense, we can see the owl being able to see at night and providing insight to someone who was previously in the dark about something or someone.

The Bat

Bats have long been associated with the moon and darkness in many cultures. The bat, as an animal, emerges at dusk and roams around during the night. Native American tribes believed because the bat had a sense of sight that heightened during the night, bats symbolized intuition. Bats are seen as animals with a heightened sense of their surroundings, which was considered powerful by medicine people and shamans in Native American cultures.

The Wolf

Wolves are animals associated with victory and power. But in Celtic mythology, the wolf is associated with the moon. According to Celtic folklore, the wolf has this intuition that others cannot see. This made the wolf powerful in hunting, especially at night. Celtic legend stated that the wolf would hunt the sun and eat it to create the moon’s power. And as it is, the wolf is a relentless hunter with keen senses and awareness. They are protectors and guardians, as well.

Apep the Moon Serpent

In Ancient Egypt, there was the myth of Apep the Moon Serpent. This story has to do with solar eclipses, which can have a deep meaning of a fight between good versus evil. Apep was a serpent that personified death and chaos. Apep is the antagonist to the sun god Ra and always chases Ra. Every once in a while, Apep is almost successful in eating the sundisc that Ra had on him, which creates a solar eclipse. The story would always end the same — Ra and his allies are successful and manage to kick Apep the Moon Serpent out from eating the entire sun.

Vampires

It is said that vampires only come out at night because they may disintegrate with sunlight. That’s why vampires are mythological creatures that have been long associated with the moon. The concept of the vampire stems from European folklore, and more specifically Southeastern and Eastern Europe. The vampire that we know today spread to Western Europe and then to the New World after news of these pale creatures came out of Southeastern Europe, particularly Romania, and created a mass hysteria. Numerous movies, books, and games have come out featuring the vampire and the darkness these creatures stand for.

Witches

A witch is someone who has supernatural powers or can use magic, whether it is for good or bad. Historically, witches were accused of witchcraft, which usually meant that these witches used magic to harm people. The famed witch trials in Salem, MA in the 1600s were one of the first glimpses of witch hunting.

Of course, witches and witchcraft beliefs can be traced back to medieval times. They always had an association with evil and darkness. As the moon emerged, witches became more powerful. The witch hunting and witch trials ended up with thousands killed. Most of the accused were women who did not conform to the Puritan traditions of how they were “supposed to behave.” Contemporary movies and books have portrayed evil witches coming out at night to cast spells.

Conclusion

And there you have it, these are nine animals and mythological creatures that are associated with the moon. The animals on the list have long been associated with the moon in different cultures. The mythological creatures on this list were created to tell some kind of story. In today’s world, many of these creatures have become part of songs, books, movies, and television series. From the Twilight series to An American Werewolf in London, these creatures have become famous and synonymous with the moon and darkness.

But as you watch some of these great movies, there’s always a story of how and why. There is a deeper meaning to these mythological creatures and animals.