SEA MYTHS, TALES AND LEGENDS

From the kraken to Jaws, what may or may not lurk in the depths has sparked myriad tales of heroism, doom and terror

THE SELKIE- FOLK

Stories about these shapeshifting creatures, found in Orkney and Shetland, are generally doomed romances. Selkies live in the ocean as seals but transform into humans by shedding their skin. They can only return to the sea by putting their skin back on: if it is lost or stolen they are doomed to live as humans. Once on land, male selkies – notoriously handsome and seductive – often get involved with women. When they go back into the ocean, the women contact them by shedding seven tears into the sea. Female selkies are similarly attractive, and men have been known to steal their seal skin to stop them returning to the water.

THE KRAKEN

The kraken is a fearsome mythical sea creature first mentioned in a 13th-century Icelandic saga and featuring in Norse mythology. This huge, tentacled monster surges up from the sea and wraps itself around sailing ships, dragging the vessel and all its occupants into the water. Its origin is probably the giant squid, which can grow up to 13 metres, and has the largest eyes of any living creature.

MOBY DICK

This classic story of obsession and revenge by Herman Melville is based on a true story of The Essex, a whaler that sank after being attacked by a sperm whale in 1820. It tells of Captain Ahab’s steadfast hunt for Moby Dick after the whale bites off his leg, narrated by crew member Ishmael. Melville was also a crew member on a whaler, so much is based on his own experiences.

MERMAIDS & SIRENS

Many of the fabulous creatures that recur in sea myths are females with destruction on their minds. In Greek mythology, sirens – often portrayed as having women’s heads but bird’s feathers and scaly feet – lured sailors to the death with their enchanting music and singing. A German version, Lorelei, a nymph, sits on a rock singing tempting songs that distract fishermen who crash their vessels and drown.

Like sirens, mermaids – part-human, part-fish – call to sailors from the sea. The sailors, smitten by their song, fall in love with them and are dragged underwater, where they drown.

NEPTUNE

The Roman god of the sea and freshwater (Poseidon in Greece) is often portrayed as an older man with a beard (although in fine physical form), carrying a trident and borne in a chariot by sea creatures. His unpredictable, sometimes violent nature is like the sea and like earthquakes, which he also represents. He appears in much classical sculpture, mosaics and on ship’s figureheads.

LEVIATHAN

Like the kraken (see left), this scaly creature is intent on bringing destruction upon seafaring vessels. Resembling a serpent with glowing eyes, it is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, particularly in the Book of Job (42: 15–32), which has a long and detailed description of it and its power (‘He makes the depths boil like a pot’). He is often depicted as having seven heads and as representing Satan, and is vanquished by God.