Cave-dwelling cryptids: 9 mythical creatures that live in caves

Caves have served as inspiration for some wonderfully weird mythical creatures. Meet a few of our favourites.

Dragons crop up in folklore all around the world.

We're probably all familiar with the fire-breathing Western dragons. But then there are the colourful, serpentine Chinese dragons. And the elephant-sized Grootslang of South Africa. And the shapeshifting Polynesian Kihawahine. You get the picture.

The popular image of western dragons looks a bit like this: a scaly, winged creature snoozing in a cavern atop a gleaming mound of gold.

But not all dragons live in caves. The Italian Tarantasio, for instance, dwelled in the now-drained Lake Gerundo. And Chinese dragons have similar tastes, preferring rivers and oceans to caves and caverns.

2. Trolls

You probably know trolls from fantasy fiction like Lord of the Rings. In that book, they're depicted as slow, strong and stupid – big, burly humanoids with thick hides and shoe-size IQs.

The same goes for trolls in Nordic folklore – or at least some of them. Occasionally, trolls are described as looking quite human and living together in small family groups.

In any case, trolls were considered dangerous. But if you could lure one out of its cave, you might stand a chance. They're said to turn to stone as soon as they're exposed to sunlight.

3. Gnomes

Despite what your local garden centre might tell you, gnomes don't belong in flowerbeds. These diminutive spirits made their home in underground mines, where they spent their days guarding the riches within.

Gnomes took their job very seriously – but they weren't as grumpy as their small-statured cousins, the dwarves. One 17th-century source describes them as "ingenious", "handsome" and "marvellously curious".

4. Bluecaps

Like gnomes, bluecaps were mine-dwellers – and they were just as helpful to us human beings.

In British folklore, bluecaps were said to assist miners by leading them to mineral deposits or warning them of dangerous cave-ins.

But they weren't pushovers. These subterranean spirits demanded respect – and payment. In return for their services, miners would often leave a cache of money in a quiet corner of the mine.

5. Morlocks

Most mythical creatures develop through centuries of storytelling and word of mouth. But the Morlock is the brainchild of one man: pioneering science fiction author H. G. Wells.

The creatures first appear in his 1895 novel The Time Machine. Set in a future England, the story depicts Morlocks as grotesque, tunnel-dwelling creatures that dominate the Eloi: a peaceful race of childlike humanoids.

Might Wells have imagined a Morlock living in our very own Stump Cross Caverns? We certainly hope not…

6. Landvættir

Landvættir (or "landwights") come from Icelandic folklore. They're seen as spirits and embodiments of the land – and they don't so much live in caves as inhabit the very rocks themselves.

It's said that belief in landvættir was widespread well into the 19th century. Back then, if a rock was believed to contain a landvættir, it would be treated with the utmost respect. People would be careful not to disturb the rock – and children would not be allowed to play around it.

Today, landvættir live on in Iceland's modern heathen religion – and they even appear on the country's coat of arms.

7. Cyclopes

Here's one you've probably heard of. The Cyclopes (singular "Cyclops") are humungous one-eyed creatures that appear in several ancient Greek legends.

In Virgil's Theogony, three Cyclopes live and work in caves beneath Mount Etna. And in Homer's Odyssey, the hero Odysseus famously encounters (and attacks) a cave-dwelling Cyclops named Polythemus.

Fun fact: the myth of the Cyclopes might stem from elephant skulls found in Greece's many coastal caves. To the ancients, these gigantic skulls may have looked like the remains of fearsome one-eyed beasts.

8. The Thriae

Picture a mermaid. Now, instead of the fishy tail, imagine the wings and hindquarters of a bee.

Congratulations, you've just imagined one of the Thriae: a trio of beautiful, half-bee sisters that lived on Mount Parnassus in Greece. Today, the mountain is home to Corycian Cave, named for one of the sisters and said to have been their dwelling in ancient times.

The Thriae had many talents and many adventures. They were fortune tellers, girlfriends of the gods and voracious consumers of honey. Quite the CV…

9. The samodivi

Finally, we head to Southeast Europe to meet the samodivi of Bulgarian and Macedonian folklore.

The samodivi are pale, slender, feminine spirits that embody the natural world. Some can fly. Others have hypnotic voices that can charm unsuspecting menfolk. All love to sing, dance and have a good time.

Samovidi are said to hang out near lakes and rivers. Often, they live under large trees or, indeed, in caves. As long as they're near a water source, they're quite happy.

Feeling inspired?

If we've piqued your imagination, why not stop off at a real-life cave and see what all the fuss is about?

When you visit Stump Cross Caverns today, you won't see any trolls, gnomes or Morlocks. But you will have an unforgettable adventure as you explore our secret passageways and discover a fantastical underground world.

You'll find our caves in Yorkshire, buried deep under the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. Get all the information you need for your trip – or go ahead and book your tickets online.