LEVIATHAN
Jewish fabulous creature
Monstrously scary Sea Serpent of Biblical proportions
If the name seems familiar, that’s because Leviathan has bounded and blundered across the mythological landscape since the year dot.
He first appeared in ancient Canaanite legends under the name Lotan, where he seems to have been a great primeval water dragon with fire-breathing tendencies. Or vice versa.
He was eventually chained up for all eternity by Anath, but perhaps he escaped by sea as he turned up in the ancient Hebrew world as a dreaded sea monster and pet serpent of Yam the Sea God.
He was mentioned several times in the Old Testament, becoming a byword for sea-bound terror and a danger to shipping ever after. Many medieval maps featured his image alongside the terrible warning: ‘Here Be Dragons’.
Scholars and cryptozoologists have long debated Leviathan’s true nature. Perhaps he was a man-eating whale or an unknown species of Biblical dinosaur. In modern times his legend appears to have petered out and he may now be extinct. But given his longevity we suspect he’s still lurking out there somewhere...
Leviathan Facts and Figures
Name: Leviathan
Pronunciation: Coming soon
Alternative names:
Gender: Male
Type: fabulous creature
Area or people: Old Testament – Jewish
Celebration or Feast Day: Unknown at present
Role: Unknown at present
Good/Evil Rating: Unknown at present
Popularity index: 3686
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Article last revised on May 14, 2019 by Rowan Allen.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders
References: Coming soon.