Matching 50 mythical creatures with each of the 50 states

Florida: Ammit

Honestly, when it came to the state of Florida, I didn’t even bother to look up what it is known for. I mean I have lived there, so I feel like I have a feel for the state. So when it came to picking the perfect monster to represent Florida, it ended up being easier than I thought it would be.

In the end, it was the Ammit of Egyptian mythology that stuck out as a perfect fit for the Sunshine State. So what exactly is the Ammit? The Ammit is an Egyptian deity known as the Devourer of the Dead. But that’s not what makes this creature stand out.

The Ammit is actually a goddess with the head of a crocodile, the back end of a hippopotamus, and the body of a lion. Considering all three of these creatures were known for eating people in Egyptian mythology, it makes sense that they combined all three creatures into one demonic goddess.

While Ammit was not worshipped, she was considered a “grim reminder of the fate that was waiting for anyone whose life and actions disappointed the gods.” And I’m not saying Florida is a grim reminder of what awaits us in life, but it was an interesting aspect of this creature.

That being said, one of the big reasons that Ammit felt like a great fit for Florida is the combination of three very distinct animals, all of which can potentially be found in the state in some form (even if it isn’t the lion we all know and revere), although that might just be because of zoos and Disney.