In American folklore, Mothman is the name given to a humanoid creature reportedly seen around Point Pleasant, West Virginia, from November 15, 1966, to December 15, 1967. Witnesses described a large, winged, man-like figure with glowing red eyes, and the sightings became closely associated in popular retellings with the collapse of the Silver Bridge in December 1967, in which 46 people died, though investigators have found no established causal connection between the sightings and the disaster.
Facts
Iconography
SymbolSourced to the subject's own accountOne of the original 1966 witnesses described Mothman as a slender, muscular man about seven feet tall with white wings and eyes that glowed red, the standing winged humanoid shape with glowing eyes this atlas's glyph follows. 1 Connections
Attested in Region
First reported near Point Pleasant, West Virginia in 1966-67, the Mothman legend is attested in North America.
Held Differently
Thunderbird, Mythical Creatures Why this is disputed. A contested folkloric theory reading the 1966-67 Point Pleasant, West Virginia Mothman reports as a modern regional variant of Appalachian Thunderbird sightings; recorded as a debated alternative reading, not an attested identity.
Sources
1. Mothman (Wikipedia)
Description sectionQuote, Description section
Linda Scarberry described it as a 'slender, muscular man' about seven feet tall with white wings.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.