| “ | Who can strip off its outer coat? Who can penetrate its double coat of armor? Who dares open the doors of its mouth, ringed about with fearsome teeth? Its back has rows of shields tightly sealed together; each is so close to the next that no air can pass between. They are joined fast to one another they cling together and cannot be parted. Its snorting throws out flashes of light; its eyes are like the rays of dawn. Flames stream from its mouth; sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke pours from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds. Its breath sets coals ablaze and flames dart from its mouth. Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it. The folds of its flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable. Its chest is hard as rock, hard as a lower millstone. When it rises up, the mighty are terrified; they retreat before its thrashing. | „ |
| ~ Job 41:13-25 (about the Leviathan). |
The Leviathan is a gigantic sea monster from Biblical lore. It is one of the three beasts of the earth; it is specifically the beast of the ocean, with Behemoth being the beast of the land and Ziz being the beast of the air.
The Leviathan has become associated with many large and frightening sea creatures in legend, such as the sea serpent or fictional whales (as mentioned in Moby Dick).
History
Traits
Through various interpretations, the Leviathan is shown to be an incredibly violent creature that cannot be tamed nor reasoned with. It looks down upon all that is weaker than it, and the mere thought of those who try to challenge it just makes it laugh.
Its portrayal also varies from culture to culture, but it is often portrayed as either a serpentine dragon-like monstrosity or a giant fish/whale. It is said to have a hide of impenetrable armor, along with graceful limbs, blade-like teeth, glowing white eyes, and even multiple heads (despite being portrayed with only one head).
Abilities
The Leviathan is said to possess a variety of different abilities that make it impossible for humans to defeat it. Not only does it have sharp teeth and tough scales, but it is also said to possess the ability to shoot fire from its mouth that is capable of boiling the entire ocean.
It is also said to have control over the earth's oceans; mere thrashing from it is enough to form entire tsunamis.
Symbolism
The Leviathan symbolizes the wild and unpredictable side of the world's oceans, which were revered and feared in equal parts by the ancient world. In many religions and folklore, the ocean was also the traditional prison for evil spirits, primordial gods, and Lovecraftian horrors. The Leviathan can be seen as a merging of these primal fears and wonder.
Its draconic appearance and fierce nature are likely a symbolism for Satan himself, and its continual struggle against God is seen as the primordial chaos of the past (the darkness prior to the light) fighting with the inevitable order of the future (the "World to Come").
Demonology
In demonology, Leviathan is one of the seven princes of Hell as well as the realm's gatekeeper, taking the form of the "Hellmouth."
Gallery
Trivia
- Most people believe that the Leviathan is either a whale, giant squid, shark, hippo, or crocodile. Some Creationists believe it is either a Plesiosaurus, Mosasaurus, prehistoric whale (such as Basilosaurus), Hadrosaurus, Megalodon, T. rex, or Spinosaurus. Some Creationists believed the crocodile theory (which was mentioned in the Book of Job), but most likely say that it is a Sarchosuchus, a giant prehistoric crocodile. It is even notable that the fossil of Sarchosuchus has an unknown part on its jaw, which some believed that it breathes fire since the Book of Job mentions that the Leviathan can breathe fire.
- Livyatan, an extinct genus of sperm whales, is named after the monster.
