A Mild Introduction to Wild MythsWelcome to the strange, fascinating world of Romanian mythology, where the fantastical is just part of everyday thinking. In these pages, you will encounter Ursitoare, Iele, Strigoi, Căpcăuni, Balauri, Solomonari and many others, as active players in a cultural storybook full of life, death, nature, and mystery. Ever wondered how people long ago made sense of the unknown, or how a dragon might fit into a rite of passage? Drawing on folklore, anthropology, psychology, and a dash of comparative mythology, this book invites you to explore these beings, their antics, and the rich symbolic world they helped shape. They remind us that the world is not neutral, that knowledge is dangerous, and that beauty may punish.In short, this is a brief guided tour through a mythology that refuses simplicity and rewards respect.