Leviathan - what is it? Fear of the sea ...

In the history of mankind, you can meet many legends, telling of incredible monsters, amazing with their huge size, awesome appearance and other unique features. At all times people have been fascinated by horror stories about mystical monsters with supernatural powers, and one such is Leviathan.

Who is a leviathan?

It is known that this was the name of the sea monster mentioned in the Old Testament. The meaning of the word leviathan is very blurry, but from Hebrew it is translated as "twisted" or "entwined".

For the first time these monsters started talking in the Ancient East. In those distant times, many sailors who returned from swimming, with enthusiasm, told stories about the huge monster inhabiting the sea, the size of neither more nor less from the island. Sometimes their stories acquired a more frightening character. It was rumored that this monster could smash even the largest ship with just one movement, and that no one else could survive after meeting him. However, in this case, a fair question arises: how did it become known about such a monster?

Leviathan - what is and what it looks like

The origin of the Leviathan is due primarily to the biblical treatises, in which the dual description of this mythical monster is traced. Thus, in some sources (Isaiah, Psalms), the leviathan is a powerful being who leads enmity with God. Eventually, God still triumphs (comparable to the victory of the ancient Egyptian god Ra on top of Apoph or the victory of Zeus over the Titans) and gives his remains as food starving in the desert. In other sources, the leviathan appears as an incomprehensible creature created by God, inaccessible to the understanding of mere mortals.

To say who the leviathan is, is unequivocally impossible. In some ancient texts it is described as an incredibly huge snake with tremendous horrifying eyes. In others, it is a fierce fire-breathing dragon with a thin long neck and an extended head. Also in some sources, the image of a huge crocodile is used.

Scientific and biblical evidence of existence

You can see that the leviathan is often mentioned in the biblical writings, and therefore answers to such questions as: "Leviathan - what is it? Where does this creature live? Where did it come from? "- it is necessary to search there. So, one of the first mentions of a monster can be found in the book of Job, where the leviathan is represented in the image of the king of everything, including the human race. Further references to it are found in the Book of Genesis and in the Epistle to the Corinthians, where it is noted that the leviathan can not be killed by "carnal weapons," which indicates the supernatural nature of the being. In later writings, for example, in the bible of King James, born in 1611, it is said that a mere mortal at the sight of a leviathan will certainly lose consciousness. There you can find information about the approximate place of the monster's habitat. Judging by the text, the probability of its dwelling in the seas, even the largest ones, is rejected. Obviously, for a monster of this size, living at great depth, only the boundless waters of the oceans will do.

The only scientific evidence of the existence of an animal, at least a little reminiscent of leviathan, is the remains of a sperm whale, excavated in the Peruvian desert of Ica. The length of the ancient mammal, inhabited 12-13 million years ago, was about 17 meters, and the size of huge teeth reached 36 centimeters in length and 12 centimeters in width. There you have the leviathan! What a monster excites the minds of ancestors - not surprising!

Leviathan in the cinema

From the essence of the biblical writings Leviathan eventually became part of world culture, becoming a highly sought-after hero in many arts, including cinematography, music, literature, Japanese anime and video games.

In honor of the monster, many warships were called, which, of course, was done to intimidate the enemy. However, it is important to note that, in comparison with Cthulhu - a creature of similar origin and description, leviathan is most often mentioned in world culture as a common noun. Instead of a traditional sea monster, leviathan is called the prototype of a powerful weapon, various heroes, magicians, etc. The Leviathan is described most closely to its biblical image in the TV series Supernatural, where, although it has lost its monstrous dimensions, it retains its reigning power. Also, the "believable" image of the monster can be found in the animated series "Pirates of Dark Waters". In the cult series of films "Rebellion from Hell" Leviathan is the lord of Hell, thus, in fact, compared with the devil himself. The source of inspiration is what leviafan is for art.

Leviathan in the world of video games

An article on this topic would not be complete without mentioning the participation of this creature in a huge number of video games. Perhaps, it is gamers who are wondering what the leviathan is, least of all others. Horror, action, strategy, slasher, MMORPG-games - that's just part of the game genres in which you can meet creatures called leviathans.

In the 2002 strategy of Age of Mythology, leviathan is represented as a sea monster, subordinate to the player and performing the functions of sea transport. As "game bosses" he is present in the following games - Dead Space, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich, God of War, Devil May Cry 3, Resistance 2, and so on.

In the name of the monster are also named many gaming vehicles and races. For example, the leviathan refers to a spaceship from the game Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic. A similar name carries a colossal fleet-hive from the series of games Warhammer 40,000. A huge vehicle from the universe of Unreal Tournament is also called leviathan.

So, as we see, there can be many answers to the question "Leviathan - what is it?" Obviously only that this is a truly powerful being, which to this day excites the minds of many people.