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Writer's pictureS. N. Linn

Antu Banyu (Indonesia)


A pencil-drawn illustration of an antu banyu with long, black hair lurking in the water

Antu banyu are malevolent water ghosts that drown swimmers. When an unsuspecting swimmer gets close to the lurking antu banyu, it swiftly seizes them, dragging them down the water’s depths. On occasions, it is said to tear out the victim’s spinal cord to devour.


Those who believe in the existence of antu banyu are wary of these ghosts even if they are not actively swimming because antu banyu also prey on individuals living in traditional wooden pile houses built in the rivers. Antu banyu are said to coat the wooden stairs of these stilt houses with a slimy, ghostly liquid and lie in wait nearby. When an unfortunate individual slips on these stairs and falls into the water below, a lurking antu banyu immediately attacks them.

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