In Greek mythology, the Empusa are vampiric monsters of the underworld. They are described as looking like beautiful women with flaming hair, one leg made of silver or brass, and one leg of a donkey. They would try and lure men to their beds where they would then feed on their flesh and blood. Empusa and similar monsters called Lamia are companions of the goddess Hekate and follow her on her visits to Earth from the Underworld.

In Persian mythology, the Bakhtak, whose name means 'small fortune' is a sleep paralysis demon that has skin made of bitumen that sits on your chest at night making it hard for you to breathe or move. If you can grab it by the nose it will release you because he made his nose himself out of a flower and the water of life.

In Greek mythology, Kampe is a Drakaina (she-dragon) who was placed in Tartaros by Kronos to make sure the Hekatonkheires and Cyclopes wouldn't escape. She is described as having the upper body of a woman, snakes for hair, and serpent tails as legs. Around her waist, there are fifty beastly heads of animals like lions and boars. Her feet are made of thousands of vipers, dark wings on her back, and a scorpion stinger above her head.

During the Titanomachy, the war between the Olympians and Titans, Zeus went down to Tartaros and slew Kampe with his thunderbolt to get assistance from the Hakatonkheires and Cyclops.