Golems are most often depicted as beings created from inanimate matter such as clay or mud, which have been brought to life to serve some purpose.
In Japanese myth, oni are people who were so truly wicked in their lives that they transformed into demons in hell, they are always seen as dangerous and powerful villains.
Most often depicted as a giant with one eye, the cyclops (which means ‘circle-eyed’) first appeared in ancient Greek mythology, lesser known than the classic Greek gods, the cyclopes lived in isolation and tended sheep or goats without any government, or society, or community.
Ogres are featured in folktales from all around the world, and though the word is of French origin, the creature itself is derived from the man-eating ancient Etruscan god Orcus.
Leprechauns are widely known and easily recognizable, especially if you’ve ever had a certain breakfast cereal, while leprechauns originated in medieval Irish folklore, they did not become prominent until much later.
In European folklore, dwarf-like earth spirits called gnomes guarded underground treasures. Medieval myths depicted gnomes as creatures resembling little old men, often with hunched over backs.
First appearing in Germanic and British folk tales, goblins vary in abilities, physical appearances, and purposes depending on the story and purpose.