Cow

Mnevis

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Tradition: Egyptian mythology
Alternative names: Mer-wer, Nem-wer
Category: Deity, Cow

The Myth

Mnevis was a sacred bull god whose main centre of worship was at Heliopolis. Originally regarded as a separate deity, he was later associated with Atum-Ra and considered the physical manifestation of the god, as well as the ba of Ra.

Mnevis was usually represented as a black bull wearing a solar disk and uraeus. Like the Apis bull, his movements were believed to be guided by divine will, allowing him to function as an oracle. His priesthood even claimed that Mnevis was the father of the more famous Apis bull.

The Mnevis bull was associated with two sacred cows representing Hathor and Iusaaset. When a Mnevis bull died, it was embalmed and buried with great honours in a dedicated necropolis near the temple at Heliopolis. Another burial ground was reserved for the Mothers of Mnevis, who were considered manifestations of the cow-goddess Hesat.

Only one Mnevis bull was believed to exist at a time. After his death, a replacement was sought, usually a completely black bull.

The cult of Mnevis was one of the few religious cults tolerated during the reign of Akhenaten and the Amarna period, likely because of its strong connection with solar worship. Akhenaten even ordered a necropolis for Mnevis bulls to be constructed at Akhetaten, although the site has not been discovered.

Sources

“Mnevis.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed August 29, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnevis

Mōnen

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Tradition: Japanese mythology
Alternative names: —
Category: Cow

The Myth

Mōnen is a yokai depicted in Kikuya Kinji’s Shinshin Obake Nobanashi (New Ghost Tales), published in 1886.

It appears as a cow that has transformed into a ghost. The creature wears a kimono decorated with a wheel pattern and holds its hooves out in front of its body in the manner of a traditional Japanese ghost.

The name Mōnen is a wordplay on mōnen, meaning “delusion,” and mō, the sound associated with a cow’s moo.

Sources

Takahashi, Toshihiro. “もうねん (Mōnen).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). April 5, 2021. Accessed August 29, 2026. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1078437875.html

Momerota

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Tradition: Catalan Mythology, Spanish Mythology
Alternative names: Momeroteta (her daughter)
Category: Cow

The Myth

The Momerota is a female beast from the Catalan popular bestiary of Mataró. She has the head of an ox or bull and the body of a mule.

During festive celebrations in Mataró, the Momerota may chase people through the town. She can also be slain, at which point blood appears to drip from her body, although this “blood” is actually wine.

The Momerota is particularly associated with fire and spectacle. She launches sparks of “fire” from her horns, using pyrotechnic devices, often directing them toward the authorities watching the festivities from a balcony.

The Momerota may sometimes be accompanied by her young daughter, Momeroteta. The daughter is smaller than her mother and is distinguished by her protruding tongue. Like the Momerota, she can also launch sparks from her horns during the celebrations.

Sources

“Momerota.” Creatures of Myth Wiki. Fandom. Accessed August 29, 2026. https://creatures-of-myth.fandom.com/wiki/Momerota

Min

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Tradition: Chinese mythology
Alternative names: Min
Category: Cow

The Myth

One hundred and eighty li west of the previous region stands Yellow Mountain. The mountain has no plants or trees, although common bamboo and arrow-bamboo grow there. The Gazing River originates from the mountain and flows westward into the Red River, and the river contains much jade.

A strange beast lives on Yellow Mountain called the Min. Its form resembles an ox, but its body is blue-black and it has large eyes.

That is all that is recorded about the Min in the passage: its unusual appearance and its location on Yellow Mountain. No further powers, behavior, or role in mythology are given.

Sources

Strassberg, Richard E., ed. and trans. A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures from the Guideways Through Mountains and Seas. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002.

Mi-ni-wa-tu

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Tradition: Teton Mythology, American Mythology
Alternative names: Mi-ni-wa-tu (“sea monster”)
Category: Cow

The Myth

The Mi-ni-wa-tu, meaning “sea monster,” is a creature from the folklore of the Tetons. It is said to inhabit the Missouri River.

The Mi-ni-wa-tu is an amphibious creature with the body of a buffalo, covered in red hair. It has a single horn projecting from its forehead and a single eye. Its back is notched like a saw or gear.

At night, the creature can be safely seen swimming powerfully upstream. As it moves through the river, it churns the water and glows like fire. In spring, the Mi-ni-wa-tu is said to break up the ice covering the river.

Encountering one during the day is dangerous. Those who see the creature in daylight suffer confusion and loss of sight. Madness then sets in, followed by a day of convulsions, after which the unfortunate victim dies.

Sources

Countess Sica. “Mi-ni-wa-tu.” A Book of Creatures. July 29, 2015. Accessed August 29, 2026. https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/07/29/mi-ni-wa-tu/

Māra

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Tradition: Latvian Mythology
Alternative names: Māre, Mārīte, Mārša, Māršava
Category: Deity, Cow

The Myth

Māra is described as the highest-ranking goddess in Latvian mythology and an ancient Dawn-goddess, previously called Austra.

She is the patroness of feminine duties, including children and cattle, as well as economic activities such as bread-making, money, and markets. She is associated with the land itself, which is called Māras zeme, or “Māra’s land.”

Māra is also called the Mother of Cows (Govu māte). In this role, she is associated with the protection and care of cattle.

Māra is described as the alternate side of Dievs. At death, Māra takes a person’s body, while Dievs takes their soul.

A festival called Māras was held in her honor on August 15.

Sources

“Māra.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed August 29, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81ra

Mahishasura

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Tradition: Indian Mythology
Alternative names: Mahiṣāsura (महिषासुर)
Category: Cow

The Myth

Mahishasura is a powerful asura associated with the form of a buffalo. He possesses the ability to change his physical form, using his shapeshifting nature to deceive and pursue his ambitions.

Mahishasura wages war against the devas and defeats them, driving them from their position of power. Unable to overcome him, the gods combine their divine energies, from which the goddess Durga emerges.

Durga confronts Mahishasura in battle while riding a lion. The demon repeatedly changes his form during the fight, but ultimately he is overcome by the goddess. Durga kills him with her trident, earning the name Mahishasuramardini, meaning “Slayer of Mahishasura.”

The defeat of Mahishasura becomes a central myth of Navaratri, culminating in Vijayadashami, which celebrates the destruction of the buffalo demon.

Mahishasura’s story is particularly important in Shaktism, where his defeat represents the triumph of the goddess’s divine power over the forces opposing the gods and cosmic order.

Sources

“Mahishasura.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed August 29, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahishasura?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Long Bug

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Tradition: American Mythology
Alternative names: Long Bug
Category: Cow, Snake

The Myth

The Long Bug is described as the chief of the underwater animals, an enormous serpent-like creature with a body like a gigantic snake.

It possesses two heads, each radically different from the other. One is the head of a cow, complete with two long horns and enormous eyes as large as sunflowers. The second resembles a human head, with a long nose and a single enormous eye set in the center of its forehead. Above this eye rises one great horn.

As ruler of the underwater creatures, the Long Bug combines the forms of serpent, cow, and man into a single monstrous being.

Sources

“Long Bug.” Pantheon: Facts, Information, and Mythology. Accessed August 22, 2026. https://pantheon.org/articles/l/long_bug.html

Liu-Fish

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Tradition: Chinese mythology
Alternative names: Liu (鯥)
Category: Cow, Fish

The Myth

Three hundred li east of the previous region lies Root Mountain, a strange place filled with rivers but lacking plants and trees.

A peculiar creature lives there called the Liu. Although it is a fish, its body resembles an ox. It lives among the hills and possesses a snake’s tail, while wings and feathers grow along its ribs.

The Liu makes a sound resembling that of the Lingering-Ox and has a remarkable seasonal existence. It appears during summer and dies during winter, leading the ancient commentator Guo Pu to suggest that this description might refer to a form of hibernation.

The Liu also possesses medicinal properties. Eating it is said to prevent swellings.

Sources

Strassberg, Richard E., ed. and trans. A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures from the Guideways Through Mountains and Seas. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002.

Linghu

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Tradition: Chinese mythology
Alternative names: Humped-Neck, Linghu (陵胡)
Category: Cow

The Myth

Three hundred li east of the previous region stands Bright Mountain, a place rich in jade, metal, and copper.

There lives a strange beast called the Linghu. Its body resembles an ox, but it has a red tail and a remarkable hump rising from its neck, shaped like an overturned dipper. Its cry sounds like its own name.

The Linghu possesses an unusual medicinal property: eating its flesh is said to cure insanity.

The text also compares it with the Bo-Ox, another ox-like creature recorded in an ancient glossary, which was reputed to be capable of traveling three hundred li in a single day.

Sources

Strassberg, Richard E., ed. and trans. A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures from the Guideways Through Mountains and Seas. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002.