10 More Representations of Death from Myth, Legend, and Folktale

Death is a part of life, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a terrifying concept. Nearly every culture has sought to ease fears about this scary but necessary part of existence by creating myths and legends that help explain what happens in the afterlife. You’ve already heard about paranormal psychopomps like the Grim Reaper and Baron Samedi, supernatural specters like the Banshee and the Cú Sìth, and angels and gods of death. But there are still so many more. Some of them soothe, while others horrify—and just about everything in between. Keep reading for 10 more representations of death from myth and legend.

Related: 10 Stories from Gnostic Mythology

10 Ankou – The Grave Watcher

The eternal, accursed Ankou roams western France, especially Brittany, collecting souls and guiding them to the afterlife. His skeletal figure unsettles unlucky passersby as he carries departed souls in a creaking cart pulled by black horses. Dressed in a black hooded cloak or dusty boots and a hat with a brim wide enough to shade an entire funeral party, Ankou’s hollow eyes and razor-sharp scythe complete a look that screams death incarnate.

Despite his haunting appearance, Ankou is not malevolent. Each village is said to have its own Ankou, who serves only as a guide between worlds. In some Breton traditions, the first person to die in a village becomes the Ankou for the coming year; in others, it is the last. Either way, he keeps the cycle of life and death turning.

One popular tale tells of a young man who mocked Ankou as he passed by. Moments later, the youth found himself sitting in the death cart among the souls. Ankou told him, “I collect the old to make room for the young.” The warning delivered, the young man was restored to life—now humbled, and forever changed.^[1]

9 The Dullahan – Harbinger of Death

One of the most haunting figures in Celtic mythology is the Dullahan, a headless horseman and harbinger of death. He rides a massive black stallion, carrying his own severed head beneath one arm, its hideous grin stretching from ear to ear and its eyes glowing like coals in the night.

The Dullahan appears only in darkness. His arrival is said to be preceded by a sudden chill, pounding hooves, and an unnatural shadow that seems to swallow the moonlight. Though sometimes described as a neutral messenger of fate, many fear him as a relentless, vengeful spirit.

According to legend, if the Dullahan calls out someone’s name, that person’s death is certain. People traditionally protected themselves by keeping gold near their doors and windows—one of the few things the Dullahan is said to avoid. His whip, made from a human spine in some tales, strikes fear in anyone who dares cross his path.

Modern culture has kept his legend alive through films like Sleepy Hollow, anime, fantasy novels, and video games, where he appears as a terrifying antagonist or a sorrowful, cursed wanderer.^[2]

8 Mictecacihuatl – Goddess of Death

Aztec legend links the birth of Mictecacihuatl—known as the Lady of the Dead—to the creation of the world itself. Alongside her husband, Mictlantecuhtli, she rules Mictlan, the Aztec realm of the dead. While he enforces the laws of the underworld, Mictecacihuatl embodies compassion and protection for the recently departed.

She helps guide souls through the nine treacherous levels of Mictlan, where the journey can take years to complete. Her skull-like face and dark attire symbolize her dominion over death, yet she also carries motifs associated with the moon and rebirth, such as the coyolxauhqui adornments seen in some depictions.

Mictecacihuatl’s influence extends into modern culture—particularly Día de los Muertos. She is often considered a spiritual ancestor to symbolic figures like La Catrina, representing both remembrance and the acceptance of death as an essential part of life.^[3]

7 Thanatos – God of Death

Thanatos, whose name literally means “death” in Greek, is the ancient god of peaceful, natural death. He appears at the moment of passing to gently guide a person’s spirit to the afterlife. He cannot be bribed or delayed and resists attempts to cheat mortality, though a few myths, like the story of Sisyphus, describe rare exceptions.

In classical art, Thanatos is depicted not as a skeleton but as a winged, beautiful young man holding an inverted torch (symbolizing a life extinguished) or poppies, associated with sleep and eternal rest. Later depictions, especially in modern media, sometimes treat him like a Grim Reaper figure, but the Greeks viewed him as dignified and serene.

Thanatos is the twin brother of Hypnos (Sleep), and their siblings include gods representing human emotions and moral forces. His influence appears throughout pop culture today, inspiring characters in Marvel comics, video games like Persona and Hades, and countless works of art and literature.^[4]

6 Owuo – Spirit of Death

Owuo is the spirit of death in Akan tradition, found in regions of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. According to myth, humans were originally immortal—until Nyame, the supreme creator, decided that life needed an end and brought Owuo into being. Unlike many death deities, Owuo does not judge souls; he simply escorts them to Saman, the world of the ancestors.

Owuo’s appearance varies widely. Some say he is a dark, formless presence felt only through his actions. Others describe him as a shifting shadow associated with red and black, skulls, vultures, and the natural decay that accompanies death. He is the force guiding the living to their families in the afterlife.

Tradition holds that souls must cross a great river to reach Saman. Owuo ensures the righteous arrive safely, while those who lived immorally wander as lost spirits. Some stories also depict Owuo carrying symbolic tools—such as a staff or bone rattle—to signal his arrival and guide souls on their final journey.^[5]

5 Izanami – Goddess of Yomi

In Japanese mythology, Izanami and her husband, Izanagi, were among the first gods to emerge when the world was created. Together, they formed the islands of Japan and birthed many gods of nature, fire, and the elements. Their tragic separation began when Izanami died giving birth to Kagutsuchi, the fire god.

Heartbroken, Izanagi descended into Yomi—the land of the dead—to retrieve her. But Izanami had already eaten the food of the underworld, binding her to it forever. When Izanagi saw her corpse, crawling with maggots and surrounded by thunder spirits, he fled in horror, sealing the entrance of Yomi behind him. Izanami then became queen of the underworld and the arbiter of the dead.

Izanami’s story appears throughout Japanese media, including manga, anime, and games. In some traditions, she is also linked to disease and curses, while in others she remains a tragic figure defined by love, loss, and the eerie stillness of Yomi.^[6]

4 Malak al-Mawt – Angel of Death

In Islamic tradition, four archangels play major roles: Michael, Gabriel, Israfil, and the angel of death, known as Malak al-Mawt. He harvests souls according to God’s decree rather than personal judgment. Ancient sources say he receives a list of the year’s destined deaths shortly before Ramadan, carrying out each appointment exactly as written.

Often depicted as solemn and vast, Malak al-Mawt appears at the moment of death to escort souls to the next world. Some traditions say he also witnesses the questioning of souls after death. A well-known saying attributed to him is “There isn’t a single household in the East or the West that I don’t visit five times a day,” underscoring his constant presence.

According to Hadith commentary, even prophets encountered him dramatically. One tradition recounts Moses striking the angel of death so hard that one of his eyes was displaced; Malak al-Mawt calmly restored it and offered Moses a peaceful passing near the Holy Land. Whether literal or symbolic, these tales illustrate the angel’s steadfast nature and cosmic duty.^[7]

3 Ammit – Devourer of the Dead

Ammit is one of the most terrifying beings in ancient Egyptian religion. Known as the Devourer, she has the head of a crocodile, the torso of a lion or leopard, and the hindquarters of a hippopotamus—three of Egypt’s most dangerous animals combined into one fearsome guardian of justice.

In the Hall of Two Truths, the deceased undergoes the “weighing of the heart” ceremony. Anubis places the heart on one side of a scale and the feather of Ma’at—representing truth and justice—on the other. If the heart is lighter, the soul may enter paradise. But if heavier, Ammit lunges forward to consume it.

Some traditions say the consumed soul is destroyed entirely; others claim the person becomes a restless spirit, trapped in eternal unrest. Despite her dreadful role, Ammit is not evil—she is an enforcer of cosmic order, waiting eagerly for Anubis to cast her the hearts of the unworthy.^[8]

2 The Fetch – Messenger of Death

Irish legend tells of the Fetch, a spectral double that appears as a living person’s exact likeness—except for one subtle but unmistakable difference. It moves a fraction too slowly, or its features blur like a reflection in dark water, or its voice sounds borrowed from a fading dream. Once seen, its message is clear: death is near.

The Fetch is not malicious. Its sole role is to warn. After delivering its silent omen, it dissolves into nothing and never appears again. In this way, it differs from many deathly spirits, acting more as a messenger than a tormentor.

Folklore holds that the time of the Fetch’s appearance matters: seeing it at dawn is a sign of long life, but encountering it at dusk foretells imminent death. The Fetch appears throughout Irish ghost stories and mythology, and the concept of a deathly double has influenced Doppelgänger tales across Europe.^[9]

1 Morana – Goddess of Death

Morana—also known as Marzanna or Morena—is the Slavic goddess of winter, death, and nightmares. In myth, she ushers souls from the world of the living to the realm of Nav, the Slavic underworld. But she also torments mortals in their dreams, bringing sickness, madness, and misfortune to those who cross her path.

She appears in many forms: a pale, ghostlike woman with hollow eyes and tangled hair that mirrors her destructive power, or a tall and beautiful figure dressed in red and black. Her duality reflects the nature of winter itself—quiet and beautiful, yet unforgiving.

In Slavic folk tradition, villages burned or drowned straw effigies of Morana at the end of winter to welcome the spring, symbolically banishing death and darkness. But myth warns that the goddess never leaves for long. She commands death’s messengers and reminds mortals of her eternal presence—especially those bold enough to forget her power.^[10]