A closer look

Before aggressive seagulls ruined your beach trips, ancient Greeks had to worry about flying women swiping their snacks. Harpies are famously described as winged terrors with the faces of hags, but their main mythological crime was extreme petty theft. They specialized in swooping down and stealing entire meals right off the dinner plates of rulers and heroes. They did not want political power or gold; they literally just wanted free buffets forever.