Ghost

The Wild Hunt of Gottschee

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Tradition / Region: Slovenia (Gottschee / Kočevje)
Alternative names: Bilde Jochd, Bildai Jogkd
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Wild Hunt of Gottschee is a terrifying phantom procession said to roam the forests and fields during the night. Long before it is seen, people hear its approach: the howling of dogs, the cries of strange animals, and the sound of distant gunfire. Witnesses speak of bears, hares, and foxes fleeing ahead of the hunt, followed by packs of hounds and finally by the ghostly hunters themselves.

The Hunt moves like a whirlwind across the countryside. Those unfortunate enough to stand in its path risk being torn apart or killed. To survive an encounter, people traditionally crossed their hands or lay down inside wagon tracks until the terrible procession had passed.

Stories tell of a man returning home late at night with wine loaded on his horse. His relatives warned him not to travel, but he ignored their advice and set out. Near midnight, villagers later found his horse standing alone, still carrying the wine but missing its tail. Searching the forest, they discovered the man lying dead upon the road, his face blackened and the horse’s severed tail clenched tightly in his hand. It was said that the Wild Hunt had killed him. A cross was later erected at the place where his body was found.

Another tradition explains the nature of the phantom riders. They were once hunters who preferred chasing game to attending Mass and hunted even on Sundays while church services were being held. After death, they were condemned to ride forever through the darkness, accompanied by their hounds and the sounds of the chase.

Crosses were often raised at places where the Wild Hunt was known to pass, and travelers avoided lonely roads at night, fearing the ghostly hunters whose punishment would never end.

Sources

SAGEN.at. (n.d.). Die Wilde Jagd in der Gottschee. In SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen. Retrieved June 16, 2026, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/slowenien/wildejagd.html

Çahık

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Tradition / Region: Turkic mythology
Alternative names: Alban, Chahik, Ozor, Körmös, Körmöz, Körmös Spirit
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Çahık is one of the many forms of the Kormos spirits found in Turkic mythology. These beings are wandering souls and supernatural entities associated with the earth, the heavens, and the underworld. Some are protectors, some are servants of darkness, and others exist in a state of endless misery between the two.

Çahıks are often described as the souls of the damned. They are shape-shifters capable of taking different forms, making them difficult to recognize. Their hands are stained with blood, their eyes are dry and lifeless, and their words themselves are deadly. Merely listening to their speech is considered dangerous.

Kormos spirits are ruled by Körmös Khan and are divided into three kinds. Arug Körmös are benevolent spirits under the command of Ülgen, helping righteous people and maintaining balance in the world. Caman Körmös are demonic servants of Erlik who dwell in Tamag, the underworld, where they torment and abduct humans. Between these two are the Kal Körmös, wandering ghosts neither wholly good nor evil, condemned to roam the earth in sorrow and suffering.

A soul may become a Kormos after death. The spirits of ancestors are known as Ozor, while the souls of those who died violently or by suicide are called Alban. Because of this connection with the dead, Kormoses are often linked to ancestral spirits and ghosts.

Çahıks and other Kormos spirits are believed to appear most often at sunrise and sunset. These moments are regarded as dangerous, and people are traditionally warned not to remain outside or awake during these hours. The spirits are said to seize human souls and carry them away.

Although demonic Kormoses serve Erlik in the underworld, they are not necessarily damned forever. A soul transformed into one of these spirits may eventually escape torment and ascend to Uçmag, the heavenly realm, if the good within it proves stronger than its evil.

Among the wandering spirits of Turkic belief, the Çahık is one of the most feared—a shape-shifting soul with bloody hands and deadly words, forever caught between damnation, suffering, and the possibility of redemption.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Kormos. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 16, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kormos

Phantom Knight

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Tradition / Region: Malta Mythology
Alternative names: The Black Knight
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Phantom Knights are ghostly warriors said to haunt the ancient fortresses of Malta, lingering centuries after the rule of the Knights of St John. Clad in dark armor and bound to the stone strongholds they once defended, these spirits appear around harbors, bastions, and chapels overlooking the sea.

One of the most famous apparitions is the Black Knight of Manoel Island. Within the old fortress built by Grandmaster Manoel de Vilhena, witnesses have reported seeing a silent armored figure dressed completely in black steel. He appears especially when the chapel or burial crypt of the knights is damaged, opened, or disturbed. Workers restoring the site have claimed the figure stands nearby watching them in silence, never speaking or interfering. The spirit is believed to be de Vilhena himself, returning to guard the resting place of the dead knights buried beneath the fortress. Once the crypt is sealed and the work completed, the apparition disappears.

Another phantom is said to haunt Fort Ricasoli at the entrance of the Grand Harbour. Fishermen and sailors speak of a horrifying scream echoing from the cliffs and ramparts during the night — the cry of a man endlessly falling through darkness. According to legend, the voice belongs to Captain St Clement, a knight condemned for cowardice after fleeing battle. He was strangled and thrown from the bastions onto the rocks below. His spirit still relives the final moments of his execution, screaming through the harbor night after night.

The Phantom Knights are not wandering spirits of ordinary dead men. They remain tied to Malta’s fortresses, chapels, and walls, continuing their eternal watch over the harbors and stone strongholds of the island.

Sources

Mifsud, S. D. (2014). The Maltese bestiary: An illustrated guide to the mythical flora and fauna of the Maltese Islands.

Bicho do Cidrão

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Tradition / Region: Portuguese Mythology
Alternative names: None recorded
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Bicho do Cidrão is a ghostly being from the mountains of Madeira said to wander the highlands with an invisible flock of sheep. People never clearly see the creature itself, but they hear strange cries echoing through the mountains — sounds identical to the bleating of lambs. These cries are believed to foretell rain, storms, or approaching bad weather.

According to legend, the creature was once a human shepherd who lived in Montado do Cidrão in the region of Curral das Freiras. One day his beloved sheepdog disappeared into the mountains. Desperate and overwhelmed with grief, the shepherd silently promised his soul to the devil if the dog would return.

Soon afterward, the missing dog came back.

After the shepherd eventually died, he did not rest peacefully. Instead, he became the Bicho do Cidrão, a strange supernatural being condemned to roam the mountains forever with his unseen flock. Travelers sometimes claimed to hear phantom sheep moving through foggy valleys or across rocky slopes even when no animals could be seen.

The creature’s mournful cries were feared because they announced storms and rain approaching the island. In older times people in Madeira said the sound could be heard clearly through the mountains during dark or misty weather, though many later claimed the cries had not been heard for many years.

Sources

Bestiary.us. (n.d.). Bishu du Sidran. Retrieved May 16, 2026, from https://www.bestiary.us/bishu-du-sidran/

Kituta

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Tradition / Region: Angolan Mythology
Also Known As: Kituta Spirit
Category: Ghost

The Myth

In Angolan folklore, Kituta is a supernatural spirit associated with transformation and the spirit world. One story tells of Ngunza Kilundu kia Ngunza, who was pursued by another man named Kalunga-ngombe.

As Ngunza fled eastward, Kalunga-ngombe chased after him carrying a hatchet. Ngunza denied having committed any crime and asked why he was being hunted. Kalunga-ngombe replied that he was simply pursuing him toward the east.

During the chase, Kalunga-ngombe threw his hatchet at Ngunza Kilundu kia Ngunza. According to the legend, this event caused Ngunza Kilundu kia Ngunza to become a Kituta spirit.

Sources

Chatelain, H. (1894). Folk-tales of Angola; fifty tales with Kimbundu text, liberal English translation, introduction, and notes. Boston: American Folk-lore Society.

Taejagwi

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Tradition / Region: Korean Mythology
Alternative Name: –
Category: Ghost, Spirit

The Myth

Taejagwi is a spirit from ancient Korean shamanic tradition believed to be the ghost of a young girl who died from smallpox during an epidemic. In some rarer stories, the spirit may also be that of a deceased boy, though it is most commonly associated with girls.

The spirit was feared and respected because it was believed to possess knowledge of both the past and the future. Taejagwi would sometimes appear to humans in order to reveal hidden truths, predict future events, or expose secrets long forgotten.

Unlike many ghosts in Korean folklore, Taejagwi was usually not seen directly. Witnesses claimed its presence was recognized through strange cries or the sound of a child’s voice seemingly emerging from empty air. These eerie voices were believed to carry prophecies or supernatural knowledge.

Belief in Taejagwi became especially widespread in Korea after outbreaks of smallpox, and stories of the spirit often came from grieving mothers who had lost children during epidemics. Some accounts claimed the spirit appeared before groups of people, astonishing witnesses with accurate revelations about past events or warnings of things yet to come.

In Korean folk belief, Taejagwi became associated with sorrow, disease, death, and supernatural foresight.

Sources

Bestiary.us. (n.d.). Thjedzhagvi. Retrieved May 10, 2026, from https://www.bestiary.us/thjedzhagvi/

Hantu Bongkok

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Tradition / Region: Indonesian Mythology
Alternate Name: Nenek Bongkok
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Hantu Bongkok, meaning “Humpback Ghost,” is a supernatural spirit from the folklore of Palembang in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The figure is usually described as a frightening old man with a hunched back who wanders near old colonial-era buildings at night. A female version of the spirit is known as Nenek Bongkok, or “Humpback Grandmother.”

The legend is most strongly associated with the old colonial water tower building in Palembang, commonly known as the Kantor Ledeng. The building was originally constructed during the Dutch colonial period in the 1920s as part of the city’s water distribution system. Its tall European-style structure later became linked to ghost stories and urban legends.

According to the legend, a Dutch water-system expert named Edwin Van Brower worked inside the building during the colonial era. During a violent conflict connected either to local uprisings or the Japanese occupation period, several Dutch workers inside the building were reportedly tortured and killed. Edwin Van Brower was said to have suffered a particularly brutal death after being beaten and left to die from his injuries.

After his death, stories began spreading that his spirit still haunted the building. Witnesses claimed to see the apparition of a bent old man carrying a wooden cane and wearing an old blue colonial uniform. His body was covered in wounds, and he was often seen silently standing near the front of the building or on top of the tower itself.

People described the ghost as appearing sorrowful and restless, staring into the distance as though searching for answers about his violent death. The spirit became known as Hantu Bongkok because of its hunched posture and elderly appearance.

Over time, the story became one of the most famous ghost legends in Palembang, especially surrounding the old Ledeng building, which remains closely tied to tales of hauntings and supernatural sightings.

Sources

Hantupedia contributors. (n.d.). Legenda Hantu Bongkok Edwin van Brower di Jantung Kota Palembang. In Hantupedia, from https://web.archive.org/web/20190724065224/https://hantupedia.com/legenda-hantu-bongkok-edwin-van-brower-di-jantung-kota-palembang/

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Hantu Bongkok. In Wikipedia, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hantu_Bongkok

Pocong

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Tradition / Region: Indonesian Mythology and Malaysian Mythology
Alternate Names: Hantu Bungkus
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Pocong is a ghost from Indonesian and Malaysian folklore said to resemble a dead body wrapped tightly in a burial shroud. The spirit is connected to Islamic funeral traditions, where the deceased is wrapped in a white cloth known as a kain kafan before burial. According to the legend, if the ties of the burial shroud are not properly released after burial, the dead may return as a Pocong.

The creature is usually described as pale and corpse-like, wrapped completely in white cloth with knots around the head, neck, and feet. Because its legs are bound together, the Pocong is unable to walk normally and is often said to move by hopping. Other stories describe it floating silently above the ground. Its appearance varies depending on the condition of the corpse. Some Pocongs resemble freshly buried bodies with pale skin and wide staring eyes, while older ones appear skeletal or badly decayed.

Pocongs are believed to appear near graveyards, banana trees, abandoned places, rivers, villages, and the homes they once inhabited. Their behavior is unpredictable. Some legends describe them as harmless spirits seeking prayers or attempting to deliver unfinished messages to the living. Others portray them as terrifying supernatural beings that deliberately frighten or attack humans.

Many regional variations of the Pocong exist throughout Indonesia. One famous version is the Red Pocong, a violent vengeful spirit wrapped in a blood-red shroud. According to folklore, these spirits are created from people who died in anger, betrayal, or murder and returned seeking revenge. They are considered far more dangerous than ordinary Pocongs and are sometimes described as leaders of ghostly colonies.

Another legend tells of the Plastic Pocong, the spirit of a murdered pregnant woman whose corpse was wrapped in plastic before burial due to uncontrollable bleeding. Her ghost was believed to wander because her soul could not rest peacefully.

In East Java, stories spread of the Andong Pocong, a ghostly shrouded figure riding a horse-drawn carriage through the night. According to the tale, the spirit belonged to a young groom who died together with his bride and horse during a violent pursuit after their marriage. The sound of bells from the carriage was said to foretell illness and death.

Some traditions claim Pocongs gather in large colonies, especially near rivers, forests, and banana groves, although many sightings involve solitary spirits wandering alone at night. Because Pocongs can reportedly move through solid objects and suddenly appear or vanish, they are regarded as dangerous supernatural beings that should be avoided rather than confronted.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Pocong. In Wikipedia, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocong

Sundel Bolong

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Tradition / Region: Indonesian Mythology
Alternate Names: Prostitute Ghost
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Sundel Bolong is a female ghost from Indonesian folklore, especially associated with Javanese mythology. She is usually described as a beautiful woman with long black hair and a flowing white dress. Hidden beneath her hair is a large hole in her back, which is the creature’s most horrifying feature.

According to the legend, the Sundel Bolong is the spirit of a woman who died while pregnant outside of marriage or who died during childbirth. In some versions of the story, the child is said to have emerged through her back, leaving behind the gaping hole that defines her appearance.

The Sundel Bolong wanders at night searching for revenge or for a replacement for her lost child. Her victims are often men and children. Some stories claim that men who reject or insult her are attacked or mutilated, while newborn children may be abducted by the spirit.

Although she appears beautiful from the front, her true form is concealed by her long hair. In many tales, unsuspecting travelers are lured closer before discovering the terrible wound hidden on her back. The myth became one of the most feared ghost stories in Indonesian folklore and is commonly associated with death, grief, vengeance, and the dangers surrounding childbirth and social shame.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Sundel bolong. In Wikipedia, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundel_bolong

Mechho Bhoot

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Tradition / Region:  Bengali Mythology
Alternate Names: Mecho Bhoot
Category: Spirit, Ghost

The Myth

The Mechho Bhoot is a spirit from Bengali folklore associated with fish, rivers, ponds, and lakes. Its name comes from the Bengali word machh, meaning “fish,” reflecting the ghost’s well-known obsession with them. According to folklore, people who drown while fishing or die in the water may return as Mechho Bhoots, unable to leave behind their attachment to fish and the waterways where they died.

These spirits are believed to haunt village ponds, riverbanks, marshes, and fishing areas, especially after dark. They are known for stealing fish from fishermen, kitchens, or marketplaces, and many old stories describe fish mysteriously disappearing during the night as the work of a Mechho Bhoot. Because fishing has always been central to life in Bengal and Bangladesh, stories about these spirits became common in riverside villages.

The Mechho Bhoot is usually described as a ghostly human figure connected to water and darkness. Though sometimes portrayed as mischievous rather than openly violent, it is still feared because of its association with drowning and isolated waters at night. Villagers often warned children and fishermen to stay cautious around ponds and rivers after sunset, when spirits like the Mechho Bhoot were believed to wander.

Unlike many malevolent ghosts in Bengali folklore, the Mechho Bhoot is remembered mainly for its endless craving for fish and its lingering attachment to the waters where it died.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Ghosts in Bengali culture. In Wikipedia, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosts_in_Bengali_culture