When you think of ancient Greece, towering temples and marble statues usually spring to mind, but the continent’s buried secrets often tell a wilder story. In this roundup of the top 10 rare Greek finds, we dive into massive cities, unexpected engineering feats, and even a prehistoric shopping mall that prove the classical world was far more diverse than textbooks suggest.

Why These Top 10 Rare Discoveries Matter

Each of these sites pushes the boundaries of what scholars believed they knew about Greek life, commerce, warfare, and technology. From bustling marketplaces to hidden fault‑line sanctuaries, the evidence forces us to rewrite the narrative of antiquity and appreciate the ingenuity of peoples who lived thousands of years ago.

10 An Ancient Mall

Back in the day, a cluster of shops was called a portico. In 2013, archaeologists were dusting off the edges of the ancient coastal city of Argilos when they found its portico. Located in Greece near the Aegean Sea, the ancient strip mall supported a throng of shoppers around 2,500 years ago. This makes it the oldest one ever found in northern Greece.

However, it is unique from other porticoes. When archaeologists cleared seven of the rooms, it became obvious that each was different. Instead of a single state-backed architect, it would appear that each shop owner constructed his own place of business. This left the 40‑meter (130 ft) shopping center with several architectural styles.

It is likely that the portico originated from private owners rather than the city itself. Artifacts such as coins and vases helped to date the ruins. They also revealed more about the daily lives of the citizens, who were forcibly relocated in 357 BC. Philip II of Macedon decided to populate the nearby Athenian outpost of Amphipolis and nabbed the residents of Argilos.

9 City On A Hill

For around two centuries, archaeologists gave a small Greek village the uninterested eye. Found in western Thessaly on a hill called Strongilovouni, the settlement once bustled in what was considered an ancient “backwater.”

In 2016, the ruins were scanned with ground‑penetrating radar. What it found changed everything the experts thought they knew about the area. The village turned out to be an important metropolis.

Images revealed structures resembling a street grid and town square. City walls enclosed a space measuring 99 acres. Some of the ruins that were aboveground were identified as part of the city’s walls, towers, and gates. Named Vlochos, it appeared to have thrived from the fourth to the third century BC. It joins the club of large cities abandoned for unknown reasons, though the exodus could have had something to do with the Romans invading the region. The discovery of Vlochos returned a piece of the area’s true history and also proved that large finds are still possible in Greece.

8 Revision Of Mycenaean Civilization

In Mycenaean Greece, advanced plumbing, art, and architecture was believed to be restricted to the palaces. But recently, a newly discovered site forced the story line in another direction.

The Mycenaean kingdom of Pylos (1600–1100 BC) had regional capitals, and the new arrival was one of them. Excavations at Iklaina revealed the unexpected—that the “elite” trademarks were also featured elsewhere in settlements. This included well‑developed urban structures, Cyclopean architecture, Linear B script, and remarkable murals.

This sharply changed conventional beliefs about the Mycenaean states. Interestingly, the remains also hinted at a violent conflict between Iklaina and the kingdom of Pylos, to the point where the latter absorbed Iklaina. The reach of Pylos, including its semi‑independent regional cities, was around 2,000 square kilometers (772 mi²). It was also among the first in the West to form states as the ruling political institution.

7 Earthquakes Held Special Status

Fault lines may have made for popular real estate in ancient Greece. It sounds counterintuitive or downright stupid, but in 2017, the University of Plymouth found fault lines running beneath several major Greek sites.

The Aegean region is fraught with these shakers, but their proximity to sacred structures may not be accidental. Some of the sites include the famous ancient cities of Mycenae, Hierapolis, and Ephesus. Another location is the Temple of Apollo, where the renowned Oracle of Delphi resided. The temple’s subterranean chamber, used for divination, sits on a fault line.

Researchers believe that the ancient Greeks may have viewed earthquake‑affected land as being special. It could have something to do with natural springs. Most settlements and rituals needed a water source, but it is also known that the Greeks revered those with unusual qualities. When springs leak from faults, they sometimes produce dangerous or hallucinogenic gases. Indeed, many of the springs in the Aegean are connected to earthquake lines. In that regard, it is likely that earthquakes played a bigger role in the placement of Greek buildings and cities than previously believed.

6 The Delos Discoveries

The island of Delos is important to Greek history and mythology. Said to be the birthplace of the god Apollo and the goddess Artemis, it is already one of the most valuable archaeological sites in Greece.

The usual year‑round excavations recently added an important angle to the mythical island. Not a lot is known about its earlier history, especially how locals related to the outside world. But the new discoveries proved that ships arrived to dock at a major trading harbor.

Off the coast, deep under the sea, were ancient port and coastal ruins. One remarkable structure was the main breakwater. It was designed to safeguard the harbor against damaging winds and measured 160 meters (525 ft) long and 40 meters (131 ft) wide. The most exciting discovery was a sunken fleet of ships from different eras and countries. Some were as old as 2,000 years. Most hailed from the Mediterranean and carried amphorae from Italy, Africa, and Spain. One Hellenistic vessel brought oil and wine jugs before it sank. Thanks to the ships and their cargo, it is clear that Delos traded throughout the Mediterranean during the Hellenistic period.

5 Legendary Battle’s Naval Base

Fought at sea in 480 BC, the Battle of Salamis was the turning point in the Persian Wars, when Persia attempted to take over Greece. Although the Persians significantly outnumbered the Greeks, the Persians lost.

In 2016, researchers found the location where Greece gathered her fleet in preparation to clip the Persians’ wings. The Greek island of Salamis yielded the telltale ruins. Found underwater at Ampelakia Bay were walls, partial buildings, port structures, and fortifications such as towers and breakwaters.

The large ruins dated to the Classical and Hellenistic periods when the Persian Wars raged. The location is also perfect because the famous battle occurred in the nearby straits. The case was clinched when researchers decided the port matched ancient descriptions about where the Greeks gathered and launched their ships. The rediscovery of one of history’s most renowned naval bases is a stark reminder of how much was at stake, even if the ancient Greeks were unaware of it at the time. Some scholars believe a Persian victory would have prevented the remarkable influences that the modern world inherited from Greek culture.

4 A Unique Silver Mine

Near the Aegean shore, in Thorikos, archaeologists found what could have been the seat of Athenian power. In 2016, investigations uncovered an underground complex. The silver mine had an infrastructure never before seen in the area’s Classical period (fourth century BC).

Untouched for 5,000 years, the layout and scope spoke of remarkable mining skills. It ranged from large open galleries to cramped tunnels requiring a physical dexterity the archaeologists struggled to match. The miners were mostly slaves laboring under harsh and hot conditions.

During the earlier stages in the Classical period, they carved a network of quadrangular shafts. These are a testament to exceptional mining organization and extraction. However, near the end of the century, tunnels were precision built to connect two levels of extraction. This architecture was managed down to the millimeter, a feat still not fully understood. But the vast technology and resources needed to extract the silver would have been unmatched in the ancient world. The fact that silver ore was richly exploited over several millennia likely made the district a factor behind Athen’s power in the Aegean.

3 The Harbor Of Corinth

Around a century after the Romans razed the Greek city of Corinth (146 BC), Julius Caesar rebuilt it. In 2017, some of the most impressive, large‑scale engineering came to light when the ancient port was excavated.

Called Lechaion, the forgotten harbor once thrived in the Gulf of Corinth. It had two main sections. The inner port spanned 24,500 square meters (264,000 ft²) while the outer port was 40,000 square meters (431,000 ft²). It had mammoth quays and monuments, such as the now‑missing lighthouse. The mysterious ruins of another large building stand on an inner basin island.

As impressive as the stone structures are, Lechaion’s sediment preserved something even rarer—the wooden infrastructure used by the ancient builders. Usually, wood rots away. But the harbor sediment perfectly preserved the pilings and caissons that served as foundations. Wooden elements in ancient engineering are considered extremely valuable. Lechaion’s will undoubtedly add more insight into the building techniques of the Roman Empire.

2 A Greek Gymnasium In Egypt

The Greeks took their culture wherever they went. Egypt was no different. When Alexander the Great swept through Egypt, a Greek flavor touched its traditions and architecture.

In 2017, archaeologists unearthed Egypt’s first gymnasium in the ancient village of Philoteris. In Greece, these structures welcomed young upper‑class athletes who spoke Greek and wanted to engage in sports and philosophy debates.

The one in Philoteris was impressive. About 2,300 years old, it had a dining hall and another large space that might have been a meeting room. The latter was once stacked with statues. There were many gardens, a courtyard, and a racetrack 200 meters (656 ft) long. It is likely that the elite of Philoteris, which is about 145 kilometers (90 mi) southwest of Cairo, built the gymnasium to make their village appear more Greek. The unique discovery is not entirely unexpected. When Philoteris was founded, about a third of the 1,200 villagers were Greek‑speaking settlers. Ancient Egyptian records also mentioned countryside gymnasiums during the Ptolemaic period, which matched the place and age of the Philoteris building.

1 Pyramid Plumbing

The Greek island of Keros is a mountainous protrusion from the Aegean Sea. Around 4,000 years ago, humans carved the cone‑shaped land into terraces to resemble a stepped pyramid.

To make it gleam in the sunlight, it was clad with a thousand tons of imported white stone. The pyramid itself is nothing new. But in 2018, researchers found a surprise when they looked inside—a sophisticated system of drainage tunnels. It dated a full millennium before the advent of the remarkable plumbing of Crete’s Minoan palace of Knossos.

Discovered while excavating a large outer staircase, the system’s exact purpose still needs to be determined. The pyramid’s plumbing could have funneled fresh water or removed sewage. Keros became a major ritual center in the third millennium BC. The community that built and maintained the sanctuary populated the nearby island of Dhaskalio. The settlement was exceptional in several ways. Even though Dhaskalio was the region’s most densely settled island and everything from food to material had to be imported, they aced the considerable effort needed to keep the site going. Newly discovered workshops also proved the excellent metalworking craftsmanship during a time when such skills were basic and rare.

Despite what some mainstream media may suggest, the United States isn’t spiraling into chaos. Communities of peace‑loving citizens outweigh the occasional flashpoint of protest or vandalism, and many large metros prove just how safe American city life can be.

Why These Cities Make the Top 10 Safest List

10 Laredo, Texas

Mayor: Pete Saenz (Democrat)
Population: 261,639

The mostly Latino city of Laredo is not only among the nation’s least racially diverse places, it also ranks as one of the safest. With a violent‑crime count of 377 incidents per 100,000 residents, the city sits 11% below the national average and 18% under Texas’s state figure. Nestled right on the Rio Grande opposite Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, Laredo shatters the stereotype that big border towns are crime magnets, logging just ten homicides in 2018.

While the median household income lags at $39,400—about $14,000 shy of the U.S. mean—Laredo boasts a bustling culinary scene teeming with authentic Mexican fare. Texas A&M International University calls the city home, and despite being only the tenth‑largest Texan city, Laredo fields its own philharmonic orchestra and a semi‑professional soccer squad.

With more than two dozen Catholic churches offering Mass in Spanish, and a winter calendar packed with a nationally‑renowned bird‑watching festival plus a Mardi Gras‑style celebration for George Washington’s birthday—complete with colonial garb, pageants, balls, and parades—the city blends culture and safety in a truly Mexican‑American package. Muy bueno… y muy segura.

9 Anaheim, California

Mayor: Harry Sidhu (Republican)
Population: 352,005

Even if you’ve ever felt the urge to eliminate Mickey Mouse, Anaheim—home to the original Disneyland—still earns a spot at #9. In 2018 the city recorded just seven murders, well under half the national rate of five per 100,000 people.

With a median household income nudging $60,000, Anaheim outpaces many major cities where wealth tends to drift to the suburbs. California’s massive population of 39.5 million (about 12% of the nation) means Anaheim essentially functions as a super‑suburb of Los Angeles, dense enough to support two pro‑sports franchises: baseball’s Angels and hockey’s Mighty Ducks.

The magnetic pull of Disneyland draws tourists, conventions, and hospitality dollars that buoy the local economy. The park directly employs roughly 28,000 people and spawns thousands of surrounding jobs, contributing an estimated $5.7 billion annually to Southern California’s coffers.

Tourism, however, does bring a spike in robbery—defined as theft with violence or threat thereof. Anaheim’s robbery rate sits at 114 per 100,000, a full 28% above the national average, making it the lone violent‑crime metric on the list that exceeds the countrywide norm.

8 Lexington, Kentucky

Mayor: Linda Gorton (Republican)
Population: 323,780

Set in the heart of bourbon‑rich Kentucky, Lexington garners praise for its public schools and safety, frequently landing on “best metro areas to live” rankings.

While the iconic Kentucky Derby takes place 80 miles west in Louisville, Lexington’s marquee attractions include the Kentucky Horse Park—a working farm, international equestrian venue, and living museum—plus the University of Kentucky, a well‑regarded public university.

Lexington made the cut thanks to a surprisingly low assault count in 2018: just 295 incidents, translating to 91 assaults per 100,000 residents—well below the national average of 247. Given that assaults dominate U.S. violent crime, the city’s figures raise eyebrows. Its robbery tally (422) actually outpaced assaults, and rapes (243) approached the assault total, making the statistics look almost too good to be true.

7 Boise, Idaho

Mayor: Lauren McLean (Democrat)
Population: 228,790

Boise, Idaho’s capital and largest city, breaks the 200‑per‑100,000‑resident threshold, registering a violent‑crime rate of 277—27% below the national average. The city logged just a single murder in 2018.

Beyond safety, Boise’s affordable housing and strong public‑school ratings helped it land at #17 on U.S. News & World Report’s best‑metro list. Early settlers christened it the “City of Trees” after being struck by the surrounding forested Treasure Valley, a moniker that still fits thanks to its stunning botanical garden.

Paradoxically, Boise’s allure is now a double‑edged sword. Its high quality of life has sparked an influx of newcomers—a wave dubbed “Californiacation”—driving up home prices, traffic, and classroom crowding. Projections suggest the metro will swell from about 700,000 today to nearly 800,000 by 2025, a 15% jump in just five years.

Adding a political twist, Mayor McLean faces an ongoing recall effort after leaked proposals to defund law enforcement and adopt sanctuary‑city policies surfaced.

6 Irving, Texas

Mayor: Rick Stopfer (Republican)
Population: 242,242

Just outside Dallas, Irving enjoys a similar edge to Anaheim: it’s essentially a sprawling, well‑planned suburb of a larger metropolis. With Dallas’s violent‑crime rate double the national figure, Irving’s own rate—209 incidents per 100,000—drops 45% below the country average and sits at roughly half the Texas statewide number.

Irving’s strong regional economy also shines. The greater Dallas‑Fort Worth area posted a pre‑pandemic unemployment rate under 3%, making the city a magnet for career‑oriented relocators.

Beyond numbers, Irving boasts the world’s largest horse sculpture—a quirky claim that earns a spot in any city profile. It also houses the Ruth Paine House, where Lee Harvey Oswald stayed the night before assassinating President Kennedy.

10 Post‑Apocalyptic Places Transformed Into Stunning Landmarks

5 Henderson, Nevada

Mayor: Debra March (Democrat)
Population: 310,390

Henderson serves as the calmer sibling to its glittering neighbor, Las Vegas. As a massive, planned super‑suburb, it ranks as Nevada’s second‑largest city while offering easy access to the Strip and outdoor gems like Lake Mead and Clark County Wetlands Park.

Henderson reaps the benefits of Vegas’s vibrant job market, dining, and entertainment without inheriting the city’s crime spikes. While Las Vegas doubles the national average for robbery and rape, Henderson’s violent‑crime rate lands at 188 per 100,000—less than half the country’s norm. Its assault rate of 92 per 100,000 is 63% lower than the national figure.

Economic prosperity follows suit. With a median household income of $72,884—$13,000 above the U.S. average—and an average property value near $340,000, Henderson continues to attract newcomers, cementing its status as a fast‑growing metro.

4 Scottsdale, Arizona

Mayor: Jim Lane (Republican)
Population: 255,310

Like Henderson, Scottsdale is an enclave within a larger metro—Phoenix—and also a destination in its own right. Renowned for upscale spas and immaculate golf courses, this desert oasis sits just 12 miles east of Phoenix, a boomtown of 1.6 million residents experiencing the nation’s fastest population growth.

Scottsdale’s safety record matches its beauty. With a violent‑crime rate of 166 per 100,000—57% below the national average—the city logged only seven murders in 2018. Despite drawing nine million tourists annually—over 36 times its resident base—its robbery rate sits at a modest 34 per 100,000, well under the national average.

Wealth follows safety. Scottsdale’s median household income exceeds $72,000, and an impressive 81% of residents own their homes, reflecting a lofty median home value of $483,000.

3 Plano, Texas

Mayor: Harry LaRosiliere (Republican)
Population: 288,061

Plano is a rarity afforded by Texas’s massive populations: it functions both as a medium‑sized city and an exurb of Dallas, located 20 miles north of the larger hub. Home to Fortune 500 giants like Dr. Pepper‑Snapple and Alliance Data, Plano sustains a self‑sufficient economy while keeping commuters within reach of Dallas’s skyscraper‑filled skyline.

Reflecting its advantages, Plano’s violent‑crime rate stands at 139 per 100,000—64% below the national average. The city recorded five murders in 2018, and its assault rate of 72 per 100,000 is roughly three‑and‑a‑half times lower than the U.S. figure.

Plano also offers cultural attractions: the Heritage Farmstead Museum showcases a restored 19th‑century farm with period tools, furniture, and a replica 1895 schoolroom; the Interurban Railway Museum provides vintage rail‑car rides along the Texas Electric Railway. Nature lovers can explore Oak Point Park’s winding trails, while fans of television history can tour Southfork Ranch, the iconic setting of the long‑running series “Dallas.”

2 Virginia Beach, Virginia

Mayor: Bob Dyer (Republican)
Population: 442,707

Virginia Beach caps its three‑mile‑long boardwalk with immaculate beaches, drawing nearly 20 million visitors each year and earning a reputation as a premier family vacation spot on the East Coast. The boardwalk itself hosts theme parks, arcades, fishing piers, and even a guided dine‑around tour.

Tourist traffic often fuels opportunistic crime, yet Virginia Beach’s violent‑crime rate sits at 117 per 100,000—about 70% below the national average. Its robbery rate is less than half the country’s norm, assaults are more than four times lower, and the city logged just seven murders in 2018.

One particularly striking statistic is the city’s low theft rate, despite the tourist‑heavy environment that typically lures pickpockets. This underscores Virginia Beach’s overall safety reputation.

Economic indicators align with safety: a median household income of $75,623 far outpaces the national average, and an average home sale price of $315,000—rising steadily—reflects a market buoyed by both primary residences and vacation condos.

1 Irvine, California

Mayor: Christina Shea (Republican)
Population: 282,572

Irvine epitomizes master‑planned urban design. Founded by the Irvine Company in the 1960s, this Orange County city occupies the southeastern corner of the Los Angeles metro area, neighboring Anaheim.

The meticulous planning paid off: Irvine boasts the nation’s lowest violent‑crime rate at 56 incidents per 100,000—well under half the runner‑up’s figure and 85% below the national average. In 2018, none of the four violent‑crime categories (murder, rape, robbery, assault) reached triple digits, and the city reported zero murders.

Part of Irvine’s appeal lies in its balanced mix of commerce, culture, and outdoor amenities. The Irvine Spectrum Center stands as a premier shopping, dining, and entertainment hub, while the Pretend City Children’s Museum frequently earns spots on top‑of‑list parenting guides. Meanwhile, the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary ranks among Southern California’s most celebrated natural areas.

Tech giants and food‑service powerhouses call Irvine home, including the headquarters of Taco Bell (yuck) and In‑N‑Out Burger (yum). With a median household income of $95,573—over 50% above the national average—the city combines affluence with safety.

Top 10 Places Famous For Bizarre Reasons

People fork over huge sums of money to live in a place with a view over the water, whether it be the ocean, a bay, a lake, a lagoon, or a fjord. There is something inherently magical about waking up to the sun glittering over the sea or watching as thick mist rolls in over a lake.

But what if you’re gazing out at the water, feeling all kinds of peace, just to see a shadowy figure staring back at you? Or you hear someone humming a long-forgotten tune while you’re strolling along the shore, and you find yourself face to face with a red-eyed mermaid ready to stick sharp claws into your flesh.

Water mythology has been around for a very long time and centers around a slew of scary characters and fabled objects. On this list are just a few of these.

Related: Top 10 Cryptids You’ve Never Heard Of

10 Burning Ship of the Northumberland Strait

If you’re not familiar with Canadian topography, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia aren’t places you would likely recognize. Unless you’ve read L. M. Montgomery’s acclaimed Anne of Green Gables, that is.

However, the Northumberland Strait, located between PEI, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, has put Canada on the paranormal map, as opposed to the literary one.

In 1900, a group of sailors from Charlottetown spotted a ship sailing toward the shore. As the ship drew near, the sailors saw her masts crawling with crew members trying to escape an inferno on the deck. The sailors sprang into action, jumping into a rowboat and oaring toward the burning ship. Just before they reached it, the ship disappeared before their eyes.

This wasn’t the first sighting of the ship. Reports have been trickling in since 1786, and the legend of the burning schooner has served as inspiration for novels, articles, and songs. It even has its own dedicated Canadian postage stamp.

A couple in Glengarry also saw the ship one evening in 1950, fully rigged and engulfed in flames, sailing down the Northumberland Strait. Unlike most urban legends, there is no backstory to this phenomenon. No sinking or tragedy that could have given rise to this eerie story. Instead, those who live in the area just try to keep an eye out for the burning ship and cross their fingers against bad luck.^[1]

9 Flathead Lake Monster

Scotland is not the only place that boasts a water-dwelling monster. Flathead Lake in Montana falls within the boundary of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Flathead Reservation and is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the lower forty-eight states.

In 1889, the skipper of the U.S. Grant steamboat and several passengers spotted what seemed to be a huge log in the waters of Flathead Lake. As they approached the object, they realized it was a living creature. It was coming toward them and moving fast. One passenger fired at it with a rifle but missed. And so was born the legend of the Flathead Lake Monster.

Those who have encountered the monster describe it as a massive eel-shaped creature of up to forty feet (12.2 meters). Some say it looks like a giant sturgeon with a head like a bowling ball. There have been many more sightings over the years, and the monster has earned the nickname “Flessie.”

In a strange turn of events, a three-year-old boy who couldn’t swim was found soaking wet at the end of a dock at the lake in 2017. When he was asked what had happened to him, he said that he’d fallen into the lake and a monster had lifted him up and out to safety.^[2]

8 Miniwashitu

In 1921, curator Melvin Randolph Gilmore wrote about a creature named Miniwashitu. This mysterious being was allegedly seen in the Missouri River, glowing like fire and producing an unearthly sound. Soon people began believing that those who saw the beast in the daytime would become inflicted with insanity and unexplained physical pain.

The monster is said to have red hair and one eye in the middle of its forehead, with a horn protruding above it. Its backbone looks like a giant saw.

Even in modern times, Missouri locals still tell the story of the Miniwashitu. It is believed that the monster still lurks in the river and moves upstream during springtime. Sometimes it moves around in winter, breaking ice that has formed over the water.^[3]

7 Ashrays

There is more to Scotland than just unicorns and the Loch Ness Monster. Here you might just bump into what looks like an underwater ghost known as an Ashray. Ashrays cannot live on land and are only found beneath the water’s surface. They resemble the ghosts of humans, as they are entirely translucent, and the best time to look for them is, of course, in the dark of night as they are nocturnal creatures.

In English folklore exists the Asrai, which is supposed to be an aquatic fairy. Legend has it that a fisherman once captured an Asrai and put it in his boat. The Asrai pleaded with the fisherman in a language he could not understand, but the fisherman proceeded to tie wet weeds around the fairy, burning his hands in the process when he touched its skin. Eventually, the Asrai melted into a puddle of water. It is believed that these creatures perish if exposed to the sun for too long.

They are said to have green hair and a mermaid-like fishtail. They only come up to the surface once every hundred years to bathe in the moonlight.^[4]

6 Spiteful Mermaid

Most people have heard of the so-called “water babies” found in lakes and rivers in America. Urban legend says that ancient members of the Paiute Tribe would drown disabled babies in bodies of water, only for the babies to return in spirit form and cry out over the water when night falls.

Pyramid Lake in Nevada is not only one of the locations where the wail of water babies has been heard, but it is also where a brokenhearted mermaid is believed to have spoken a curse after her marriage to a Paiute Tribe member was frowned upon. She was banished from the land and, in turn, vowed revenge should any tribe members go anywhere near the lake. To this day, many Paiute members still believe that any bad luck suffered by the tribe can be attributed to the mermaid’s curse.

Perhaps the scariest part of Pyramid Lake is that it is the last remnant of the ancient Lake Lahontan, and it was also the deepest part. This means that no one really knows what lies in the sediments far below.^[5]

5 Ship of Death

In 1862, Leon Webber watched as a veil of mist enveloped the Platte River in Wyoming. He moved closer to the river’s edge and, out of curiosity, tossed a small stone at the mist. It instantly transformed into a ship covered in frost.

Webber could only stare as several sailors onboard, who were also covered in frost, closed ranks around an object lying on the deck. When they scattered, Webber saw that the object was the body of a young woman. Then with a shock, he realized he was looking at his own fiancé.

Trying to push the experience from his mind, Webber returned home a month later only to find that his fiancé had died on the very same day he’d seen the vision of her corpse.

Since then, the aptly nicknamed Ship of Death has been sighted every 25 years. Creepily, all the sightings are reported to have taken place in the middle of the day, when temperatures usually soar, which makes it somewhat more difficult to explain away the thick, rolling mist and the shadows some witnesses have seen form over the water.^[6]

4 Hafgufa

An Icelandic legend has it that a ginormous sea monster named Hafgufa once existed in the Greenland sea. The monster was said to be a massive fish whose top part resembled an island. Sightings of Hafgufa were rare, but a sailor once witnessed her belch and expel a huge amount of food which attracted thousands of fish. The fish crowded into Hafgufa’s mouth, and she swallowed them all in one go.

It is believed that Hafgufa was the mother of all sea monsters and ate anything she could catch, including ships, humans, and whales. Because she resembled an island, many sailors would mistake her nose and head, which she raised above the surface at low tide, for rocks.^[7]

3 The Octavius

In 1761, the Octavius docked in the port of London and took on cargo destined for China. The ship left London with a full crew on board, as well as the family of the captain. They made the trip safely to China, and once they took on cargo meant to be offloaded in Britain, the captain decided to sail the Northwest Passage. After entering the passage, the ship vanished without a trace.

Fast forward to 1775. The whaling ship, Herald, was sailing the waters of Greenland when her crew saw another ship a distance away. As they sailed closer to the ship, they saw that she was in bad shape. Some of the crew boarded the vessel to investigate and made a horrific discovery below deck. In the crew’s quarters, all 28 crew members of the Octavius were found in a frozen state. The captain was seated at his desk, frozen to his seat. Behind him were his wife and son, both frozen.

The Herald crew members were shocked and terrified. They grabbed the ship’s log and fled. In their haste, the book’s middle pages loosened and were lost. What remained of the writing in the logbook told the story of the ship becoming stuck in the Arctic ice near Barrow, Alaska. Fearing that the Octavius was cursed, the crew of the Herald simply let it drift off. It was never seen again and might still be floating in the open water somewhere, its unlucky passengers still onboard.^[8]

2 Lorelei

On the echoing rock, Lurlei, on the southern bank of the River Rhine, you might just spot Lorelei. German lore tells the story of a woman who had been betrayed by her lover. Her heart shattered, she drowned herself in the river and was reincarnated into a siren. The murmuring echo that emanates from Lurlei is said to be Lorelei’s song, calling men onto the rocks and their subsequent doom.

Heinrich Heine wrote a poem called “Die Lorelei” in 1824, which has since been set to music by several composers.

“The comb she holds is golden,
She sings a song as well
Whose melody binds an enthralling
And overpowering spell.
In his little boat, the boatman
Is seized with a savage woe,
He’d rather look up at the mountain
Than down at the rocks below…”^[9]

1 The Celtic Merrow

Ireland is steeped in folklore. Here you will hear tales of wailing banshees, mischievous leprechauns, and creepy fairies. It is also the place you’ll find the Celtic merrow who used to live in the Celtic seas according to legend.

A merrow is a mermaid with a magical cap that enables her to travel between the sea and the shore. When the merrow combed her soft hair, sailors and fishermen were entranced. The comb used was of the magical variety and a symbol of feminine power.

The merrow is said to be either male or female, with the difference being that the women were exceptionally beautiful, but the men were hideously ugly. The merrow men became bitter when the women looked toward human men for mates. They resorted to capturing sailors and keeping them imprisoned underwater in revenge.

Should a male human wish to keep one of the merrow women with him on land, he would need to take away her magical cap before she could enchant him by singing. Possessing her cap meant the man would eventually be able to persuade her to marry him as well. However, the couple’s wedded bliss would be short-lived, as the merrow woman would search until she found her cap and then drag her husband underneath the waves with her.^[10]