Dullahan

We are finally back with another episode of Creatures from HELLas and therefore time for you to guess whether or not the creature has its roots in Greek mythology.

Today’s creature is a headless rider, who goes by the name of Dullahan. Even though stories suggest the figure, clad in black robes, to be male, versions of female riders exist.

The rider carries their head, which is said to be quite smooth and its flash the color and consistency of moldy cheese, either on their saddle or upraised in their right hand. The creature may use it as a lantern to guide their way, as the entire head glows with the phosphorescence of decaying matter. A hideous grin splits the Dullahan’s face from ear to ear. It is common believe, that the eyes, small, black and constantly moving, have the ability to see across the countryside even during the darkest of nights.

Legends suggest that a mortal dies, whenever the Dullahan stops. The creature is provided only with a limited power of speech and its disembodied head only permitted to speak once each journey it undertakes. But also then, it only has the ability to call the person’s name whose death it heralds. Unlike other creatures, which are known to warn of an imminent death, today's creature doesn't come to warn. Once the rider calls out someone’s name they immediately drop dead. If you should ever watch the Dullahan passing by you might be punished by either having a bucket of blood thrown in your face or one of your eyes turning blind.

It is common believe that the Dullahan uses a human spine as a whip and the wagon he is accompanied by is adorned with funeral objects. While skulls decorated with candles light the way, the wheel’s spokes are made from thigh bones and the wagon’s covering is made from dried human skin.

It is advisable to be particularly cautious after sunset, as that is the time when the Dullahan can be seen riding his magnificent black horse across the country side. Given the fact that you can’t outrun the angel of death, keep in mind that if you should ever come across today’s creature, that for unknown reasons, it has an irrational fear of gold and even the smallest amount might be enough to scare it away.

What do you think? Is today’s creature part of Greek mythology or does the Dullahan has its roots somewhere else. If you want to find out, all you have to do is click the button below.