From the cannibalistic Wendigo to the dragonlike Hydra, these mythical animals and creatures have terrified people across the world for centuries.Every culture has its own monster and each one tells its own story about what haunts or scares us. Mythological creatures are in essence the manifestations of our biggest fears. The stories our ancestors left behind about the heroes who conquered mythological creatures weren’t just stories, they were insights into how we wished to take some control over an ancient world that was often overwhelming or overpowering.

Colombian Tattoo Artist Had His Nose And Ears Cut Off To Resemble A Living Skull Rio NoticiasLeft: Two photos of Eric Ramirez before he underwent extreme body modification procedures; Right: Ramirez after surgery, now known as Kalaca Skull. The weird news of a man in Colombia taking another step in his journey to becoming a living skull broke this past year. Tattoo artist “Kalaca Skull” became the first person to ever have his nose and ears voluntarily removed — and its all a part of his dream to become a skull, according to the Irish Post.

Pope Francis meets with the crowd this week in Saint Peters Square. Source: Filippo Monteforte/Agence France-Presse This Thursday Pope Francis released his much-anticipated (or dreaded, pending your politics) papal encyclical, which took on the topics of climate change, consumerism and environmental degradation through a moral lens. In the 184-page document, he calls for what the New York Times describes as “a radical transformation of politics, economics and individual lifestyles,” and one that pays particular attention to advancing the needs of the poor.

From Butch Cassidy to an 11-year-old car thief to a Jesse James crony still bloody from a posse's beating, these mugshots evoke the true outlaw spirit of the Wild West. J.P. Robinson was arrested in Nebraska in 1901 for running a scam in which he'd buy his beers with Mexican dollars, which looked very similar to American dollars, even though the Mexican currency had less than half the value.History Nebraska An unidentified member of the Omaha police force holds Herbert Cockran in a headlock during his mugshot in November 1899.

The Stone Age dagger is made of flint, which is not naturally found in Norway, leading archaeologists to believe it may have been brought over from ancient Denmark. Vestland County MunicipalityElise, the eight-year-old Norwegian girl who discovered the Stone Age dagger outside of her school. A young girl in Norway made a remarkable discovery while playing outside near her school — a 3,700-year-old flint dagger crafted by humans during the Stone Age.