Studies of ancient disability, and especially of the Roman world, have often focused on 'monstrous' or extremely deformed bodies in both the mortal and divine communities. This case study highlights the concept of strange or miraculous creatures and monsters in the natural history of Gaius Plinius Secundus, better known as Pliny the Elder. From the beginning people have considered monsters to be tremendum et fascinans , fascinating mankind but also frightening. A Roman aristocrat, army officer and encyclopaedist had marked interest in the wonders of nature. In his encyclopaedia, he encounters a variety of mirabilia , ranging from the special powers of precious stones, trees and plants to all sorts of strange creatures and exotic human beings. He fully acknowledges the possibility of the existence of monsters. There is just one single passage in which Pliny suggests that the idea of 'monster' has developed over time. Keywords:bodily disability; Gaius Plinius Secundus; monster; Pliny the Elder; tremendum et fascinans