THE MANTIS MAN OF TEYMAREH: How Can This Ancient Iranian Carving Depict a Mantis-Human Hybrid?

Carved into Iranian stone thousands of years ago, a 14-centimeter figure depicts something that shouldn't exist: a creature with the anatomically precise head and grasping arms of a praying mantis merged with the squatting legs of a human. The ancient petroglyph's disturbing accuracy—matching specific details of local Empusa mantids that modern entomologists needed careful study to identify—raises unsettling questions about what prehistoric artists witnessed in the remote Teymareh region.Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE for the ad-free version: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateTake the WEIRD DARKNESS LISTENER SURVEY and help mold the future of the podcast: https://weirddarkness.com/surveyIN THIS EPISODE: A 17-foot Boston Whaler disappeared with five Hawaiian fishermen in 1979. Ten years later, the boat turned up 2,200 miles away with one crew member buried in a mysterious grave — and no trace of the other four men. (Mystery of the Sarah Joe) *** From Puerto Rican farm animals found completely drained of blood to hairless creatures stalking Texas ranches, the chupacabra has terrorized livestock owners across the Americas for decades — but the truth behind these vampiric attacks reveals something far stranger than fiction. (The Goat Sucker) *** Religious scholars are finding medieval manuscripts filled with encounters that mirror modern UFO reports — and the U.S. government seems very interested in the Vatican’s research. (When Angels Become Aliens) *** An ancient Iranian petroglyph depicts an impossible hybrid: a creature with the anatomically precise head and raptorial arms of an Empusa mantis fused with human legs in a squatting position, carved by someone who somehow knew entomological details that modern scientists needed careful study to identify. (Mantis man of Teymareh) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Lead-In00:02:26.070 = Show Open00:04:36.920 = Mantis Man of Teymareh00:25:24.153 = Mystery of the Sarah Joe00:40:20.547 = The Goat Sucker00:56:24.951 = When Angels Become Aliens01:05:39.892 = Show Close SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…Mantis Man of Teymareh: https://weirddarkness.com/ancient-mantis-man-petroglyph-iran-teymareh-rock-art-mystery/Mystery of the Sarah Joe: https://weirddarkness.com/sarah-joe-missing-fishermen-mystery/The Goat Sucker: https://weirddarkness.com/chupacabra-blood-drained-history-goat-sucker-cryptid/When Angels Become Aliens: https://weirddarkness.com/vatican-angels-aliens-ufo-files/=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: September 17, 2025EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/TeymarehMantisManABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#MantisMystery #AncientAliens #UnexplainedArchaeology #Cryptids #AncientMysteries