Castlevania
Enemy Origins
| Enemy Name: | Gurkha |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia |
| Description: | "Gurkhas are warriors from Nepal descended from the Rajputs of Northern India. Their name is derived from the warrior Hindu saint Guru Gorkhanath of the 8th century. During the Gurkha Wars (1814-1816), the British from the British East India Company army were impressed and began to regularly hire them as mercenaries organized in Gurkha regiments. Gurkhas fought during the First and Second World Wars. Today, they are fully integrated soldiers of the British Army. The bottom-right picture shows a 'Kukri,' the traditional dagger of the Gurkhas that you may have seen in Symphony." |
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| References: | www.mwart.com/images/p/Machaira_Gurkha_Kukri_Carbon_V_Lea_35ATCBB_656.jpg www.nato.inf/sfor/indexinf/124/p04a/b01p041d.jpg |
| Enemy Name: | Harpy |
| Games In: | Haunted Castle, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, Dracula X: Rondo of Blood, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin |
| Description: | "Harpies are feminine creatures with beaks and claws. They are also called 'the hounds of Zeus.' They appear in the legend of Jason & the Argonauts." |
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| References: | www.deliriumsrealm.com/delirium/mythology |
| Enemy Name: | Headhunter |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow |
| Description: | Says guest contributor B. Busta: "The Headhunter is definitely inspired by the head-swapping character Princess Langwidere from the L. Frank Baum book Ozma of Oz. In the 1985 film Return to Oz, the character named Mombi uses this head-switching ability as well (in the book The Marvelous Land of Oz, however, Mombi did not have such an ability)." |
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| References: | en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mombi |
| Enemy Name: | Hellhound |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Bloodlines and Castlevania: Lament of Innocence |
| Description: | "The hellhound's cult can be traced to the Sumerian goddess Bau, who was dog-headed. There have been numerous mythological references of hellhounds in Greek, Indic, Celtic, Germanic, Latin, Armenian and Iranian sources. In some tales, it is suggested that there is a pair of hell-dogs, one being the dog of life and the other the dog of death. Hellhounds are also known as Black Dog, Black Angus, Spectral Dog and Dog of Darkness; they are described as large black dogs with yellow eyes and sharp fangs. They are 'psychopomp'--their function is to guide departed souls on the path to the Otherworld. Also, they often show themselves to those who will die during a fortnight. The picture below shows Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, since it's known as the 'Dog Star' in most mythologies. (See also Cerberus.)" |
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| References: | obswww.unige.ch/~cramer/images.jpg/sirius-l.jpg |
| Enemy Name: | Hitotorisou |
| Games In: | Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight |
| Description: | "The Venus Fly Trap (dionaea muscipula) is probably the most well-known carnivorous plant. It's an endangered species in its natural habitat, a small area of bogland spanning North and South Carolina. Fortunately, it should remain a long time in cultivation because of high demand. On the inside of each lobe are three trigger hairs; the trap will close in around one-third of a second if an insect or an object disturbs those hairs. Once the trap is sprung, the hairs must be moved once more to close it; this is to prevent the trap fom dying by digesting an inert object blown forth by the wind. (See also Killer Plant.)" |
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| References: | www.piantecarnivore.it/dionea/dionea_trap.JPG |
| Enemy Name: | Homunculus |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow |
| Description: | "In alchemy, an homunculus is a little man created by mixing different substances, including sperm. It will then protect and help its creator, much like a golem. The first person said to have created an homunculus was the famous alchemist Paracelsus (1493-1541). Today, this term is used to describe the distorted human figure, drawn to reflect the relative sensory space our body parts occupy on the cerebral cortex (second picture); the left side is called the 'motor homunculus,' and the right side the 'sensory homunculus.' (See also Golem.)" |
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| References: | www.uni-wuerzburg.de/philosophie/vv/detail.htm www.wirescript.net/magazine/lv9901/lvfig5.jpg |
| Enemy Name: | Hyena |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Circle of the Moon |
| Description: | "The hyena is Africa's most common large carnivore. There are three species: The spotted hyena (crocuta crocuta), the striped hyena (hyaena hyaena), and the brown hyena (hyaena brunnea). They are opportunistic feeders, skillful hunters, but also scavengers. Hyenas are organized in territorial clans and can be found in a great diversity of places: Grasslands, woodlands, savannas, sub-deserts, forest edges, and mountains." |
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| References: | www.rit.edu/~andpph/a-africa/hyena-1.jpg |
| Enemy Name: | Imp (also known as "Tiny Devil") |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin and Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia |
| Description: | "Imps are the least evil of all demons in mythology and superstition. They are mischievous and somewhat destructive but not as much as other demons. There are accounts of imps being desperately lonely; for this reason, they sometimes begin converting to 'good,' because they would do almost anything to have a committed friend." |
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| References: | www.io.com/unigames/warchest/gallery/imp.gif |
| Enemy Name: | Invisible Man |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin and Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia |
| Description: | "The Invisible Man is an 1897 science-fiction novel written by H.G. Wells. In this story, a scientist finds a way to become invisible; however, he can't become visible again and becomes mentally unstable as a result. A lot of movies and television series have been released, but many of them greatly differ from the original story." |
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| References: | imagesource.art.com/images/-/The-Invisible-Man-Print-C10097552.jpeg mc.clintock.com/second_floor/bookcase_1/ICON-images/the_invisible_man.jpg |
| Enemy Name: | Jersey Devil |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia |
| Description: | "The Jersey Devil is a cryptid creature inhabiting the Pine Barrens in Southern New Jersey. It is described as having a long neck, wings and a horse-like head and tail. Its scream is a high-pitched squeal. Some people believe that the Jersey Devil is a living pterosaur; another theory is that it could be Sandhill Crane. For some skeptics, it is believed to be a creative manifestation of the English settlers: The Pine Barrens were seen as a desolate and threatening place offering refuge for people wanting to remain hidden." |
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| References: | theshadowlands.net/jd.htm |
| Enemy Name: | Jin |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Curse of Darkness |
| Description: | "Jinn, or Djinn, are spirits created by God out of fire; they inhabit caves, graveyards, darkness and the underground. In Islamic traditions, Jinn tempt and seduce mankind to stray from Allah, but they have been given permission to do so by Allah. (See also Flame Elemental.)" |
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| References: | www.wizards.com/global/images/mtgcom_selecting9e_wrapup_pic1_en.jpg |
| Enemy Name: | Killer Bee |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Circle of the Moon and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin |
| Description: | "Killer bees (or Africanized honey) bees are hybrids of the African honey bee and some European honey bees. They were created by researchers in order to develop bees more productive than those European. They are feared because they are more aggressive than the European honey bees--this is because African honey bees have had to defend themselves against other aggressive insects and predators." |
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| References: | www.lawestvector.org/images/beesonsomb.gif |
| Enemy Name: | Killer Clown |
| Games In: | Akumajou Dracula X68000, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin |
| Description: | "This could be a reference to Stephen King's novel It. Before inhabiting Celia's castle in 2036, killer clowns were first encountered by Simon in the Tower of Dolls (below, right picture). In both games, they make the same cry when killed." |
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| References: | images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00004CLHE.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg |
| Enemy Name: | Killer Doll |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin |
| Description: | "This is probably a reference to the horror movies Child's Play. It tells the story of a doll named Chucky that is possessed bodily by a serial killer named Charles Lee Ray. As guest contributor Silversaff tells us: The idea of a soul occupying a doll's body is prevalent in 1989's Vampire Princess Miyu, an horror anime series based on a manga; it's here where an antagonist known as Ranka, a Shinma (a 'god-demon' who like a vampire can change forms and drain away life energies), uses her powers to transfer victims' very souls into life-size dolls." |
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| References: | www.sfondideldesktop.com/Images-Movies/Chucky/Chucky-0001/Chucky-0001.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_Princess_Miyu |
| Enemy Name: | Killer Fish |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow and Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia |
| Description: | "Also called 'caribe,' piranhas are freshwater fish from South America belonging to the characidae family of the order of characiformes. About four species are considered dangerous--even though they can quickly reduce a large mammal to a skeleton, such incidents are rare. Although the carnivorous species are the best known, most species are herbivorous. Generas are pygopristis, pygocentris, pristobrycon and serrasalmus. The pictures below show a Serrasalmus Nattereri, one of those dangerous, and this type is often seen in zoos and aquariums." |
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| References: | www.cogsci.indiana.edu/farg/harry/bio/zoo/natterer.htm |
| Enemy Name: | Killer Plant (also known as "Man-Eater" and "Stone Rose") | |||
| Games In: | Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, Dracula X: Rondo of Blood, Castlevania Bloodlines, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, Castlevania: Lament of Innocence and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin | |||
| Description: | "Carnivorous plants are vegetal, feeding mostly on insects. Their very first fossils come from the Tertiary era, though it is theorized that some families date from the Cretaceous era. This type of plant grows essentially within ground poor in nutritive matters--mostly humid grounds, like swamps, for example. The plants are brightly colored and they can secrete fragrant smells to lure insects Though the trap is sometimes active, as it is for the Venus Fly Trap, it's sometimes passive. For example: Some leaves secrete a type of 'glue.' (See also Hitotorisou.)" | |||
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| References: | -ici.cegep-ste-foy.qc.ca/profs/gbourbonnais/pascal/nya/botanique/notesnutrition/notesnutrition7.htm naturephoto.akuter.com/site/Miscellaneous-Floral/0037- 091_Plant_pante_round_leaved_sundew_drosera_rotundifolia_drosera_a_feuille_ronde.jpg www.forumnature.org/~sepod/activites/2003/sources/ www2.ac-lyon.fr/enseigne/biologie/photossq1/photos.php?RollID=images&FramelID=nepenthes |
| Enemy Name: | King Moth |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Circle of the Moon |
| Description: | "A moth is an insect of the order 'lepidoptera.' Most species are nocturnal, but some are crepuscular or 'day-flying.' Moths are distinguished from butterflies in several ways: Most species have feathered antennae, and all lack the club-end that butterflies showcase; their wings usually don't have bright, colorful patterns; and they instead spread out to their sides when in rest. Additionally, a moth's body is very fat or furry in appearance." |
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| References: | www.agsci.kvl.dk/sluse/Pics/ilunrm/sa/2001a/800x600/TheFauna/MothinPietermaritzburg.jpg |
| Enemy Name: | Laura |
| Games In: | Dracula X: Rondo of Blood, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow |
| Description: | "Laura is the narrator and one of the two main protagonists in the novel Carmilla. She is a young girl who is loved by Carmilla. (See also Carmilla.)" |
| Enemy Name: | Legion |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin |
| Description: | "A legion is often a military unit, like the Roman legion or the French Foreign Legion, for example. The Roman legion was the basic military unit of ancient Rome; it consisted of about 5,000 to 6,000 (and later 8000) infantry soldiers. In the Star Wars universe, imperial Stormtroopers are organized in legions made up of about 10,000 soldiers. In French, the word 'legion' is a synonym for 'numerous.' There's a man in the Bible known as 'Legion,' this because many devils had somehow entered into him; these demons were exorcised by Jesus." |
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| References: | www.brims.co.uk/romans/images/legion.jpg |
| Enemy Name: | Leviathan |
| Games In: | Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse |
| Description: | "Leviathan is a legendary sea monster whose name appears in the Bible. More typically, it's often an invocation in the Final Fantasy games (as seen in the bottom-right picture). Today the term 'leviathan' is sometimes used to describe something increasingly large. (See also Flame Elemental, Frost Elemental and Thunder Elemental.)" |
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| References: | guides.ign.com/guides/3847/page_24.html www.vanheesstoneworks.com/portalespiritual/imagen/galeria/biblia/biblia1.htm |
| Enemy Name: | Lilim |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Circle of the Moon |
| Description: | "The demons born after Lilith had left Paradise and mated with fallen angels, producing the offspring Lilim. Lilims seduce and weaken men during the nighttime hours. (See also Fallen Angel and Lilith.)" |
| Enemy Name: | Lilith |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow and Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow |
| Description: | "Lilith is a demon of waste places who lived in the garden of the Sumerian goddess Innana. In Jewish tradition, Lilith was the first wife of Adam; she was banished from Paradise because she refused to be subservient to her husband. (See also Fallen Angel, Lilim and Succubus.)" |
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| References: | www.deliriumsrealm.com/delirium/mythology |
| Enemy Name: | Lion |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night |
| Description: | "This is a reference to the lion in The Wizard of Oz. Additionally, I may have found another explanation: In the Walt Disney movie Robin Hood, Prince Jean, who is a coward, was portrayed as a lion. (See also Fox Archer.)" |
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| References: | www.e-profession.com/records/Walt20Disneyrecords/walt_disney_robin_hood2.JPG http://www.chasingthewind.net/ |
| Enemy Name: | Lorelai |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia |
| Description: | "The Lorelai is a rock on the eastern bank of the Rhine river in Germany. Many accidents happened at this place due to strong currents and underwater rocks. The name comes from the old German 'lureln' (murmuring) and the Celtic 'ley' (rock), this due to the special echo produced by the rock. In German folklore, a beautiful young maiden named Lorelai committed suicide by jumping from this place and was turned into a siren. (See also Rusalka)." |
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| References: | www.alt-deutschland.com/Postkarten3.htm |
| Enemy Name: | Lossoth |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin |
| Description: | "The Lossoth were people living along the northern shores of the Icebay of Forochel in the Middle-earth. Their culture was well adapted to their icy existence. They gave aid to the last King of Arthedain after his kingdom was destroyed by the King of Angbang, one of the nine Ring's Wraith. (See also Wraith.)" |
| Enemy Name: | Lubicant |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow |
| Description: | "Rubicant is another demon in Dante's Divine Comedy and also an elemental boss in Final Fantasy IV (Final Fantasy II in the U.S.). (See also Cagnazzo and Skull Millione.)" |
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| References: | www.ffcompendium.com/chara/ |
| Enemy Name: | Mad Snatcher |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Lords of Shadow |
| Description: | "While the description for the Mad Butcher is also true for this enemy, the reference to a parasite reminds me of the game Resident Evil 4. Here, there are moments when the player fights villagers who are controlled by parasites--some of these villagers armed with chainsaws. The picture shows one such parasite (Las Plagas). (See also Mad Butcher.)" |
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| References: | residentevil.neoseeker.com/wiki/Las_Plagas |
| Enemy Name: | Malacoda |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow |
| Description: | "Malacoda is yet another demon in The Divine Comedy. He is the leader of the 8th Circle of Hell, 5th Chasm of Fraud. His name means 'evil tail.' The picture below is by Gustave Doré, who made illustrations for The Divine Comedy between 1861 and 1868. (See also Barbariccia, Cagnazzo, Draghinazzo, Lubicant and Skull Millione.)" |
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| References: | en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Gustave Dore Inferno Canto 21.jpg |
| Enemy Name: | Malphas (also known as "Karasuman") |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin |
| Description: | "Malphas is one of the seventy-two spirits of Salomon who commands forty legions. He builds houses and high towers and can knock down enemies' buildings. He first appears as a crow but can take human shape if requested, but, in either form, he retains a raucous voice." |
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| References: | www.deliriumsrealm.com/delirium/mythology/malphas.asp |
| Enemy Name: | Mandragora |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow |
| Description: | "Mandragora is a medicinal plant whose roots have a human shape. They are said to grow around trees where people have been hanged." |
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| References: | www.antoranz.net/CURIOSA/ZBIOR2/C0305/12-QZC05088_mandragora.HTM |
| Enemy Name: | Manticore |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow and Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow |
| Description: | "A manticore has the body of a lion, the face of a man, and a tail with a scorpion-like stinger. Manticores are reputed to roam in the jungles of India, where they hunt humans. Their name comes from the Old Persian 'martikhoras,' which means 'man-eater.' " |
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| References: | www.msjoplin.no/harrypotter/skapninger/manticore/ |
| Enemy Name: | Medusa |
| Games In: | Vampire Killer, Haunted Castle, Castlevania, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, Super Castlevania IV, Castlevania: Bloodlines, Akumajou Dracula X68000, Dracula X: Rondo of Blood, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Castlevania Legends, Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness, Castlevania: Lament of Innocence and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin |
| Description: | "Medusa is the only one of the Gorgons Sisters to be mortal. She was killed by the Greek hero Perseus, who decapitated her. (This would explain why she appears as a 'head' in Lament of Innocence.) Her half-woman, half-snake form, as seen in most games, is probably derived from depictions of Lamia (in the right-most picture below). Lamia was one of Zeus' beloved, but her children were killed by Hera. In turn, Lamia would turn into a monster at night and drink the blood of babies. (See also Gorgon.)" |
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| References: | www.deliriumsrealm.com/delirium/mythology www.simugraph.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=5&t_id=16 |
| Enemy Name: | Mimic |
| Games In: | Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin and Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia |
| Description: | "Often encountered in RPGs, Mimics are monsters that disguise themselves as treasures in order to ambush fortune-seekers. The picture seen below is a Mimic as seen in Final Fantasy IX." |
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| References: | www.ffcompendium.com/~Skylark/ff9/ |
Page 5: More Enemies | Back to Page 3
