Sea monk

From The Book of THoTH (Leaves of Wisdom)

The sea monk was a sea monster found off the coast of Denmark almost certainly in 1546 (Paxton & Holland 2005). It was a fish(?) that looked superficially like a monk. It was described and pictured in the fourth volume of Conrad Gesner's famous Historia Animalium. Some authors (e.g. Japetus Steenstrup, 1855, Ellis 1998) believe it was based on the discovery of a giant squid whereas others believe it was based on the discovery of an errant walrus (Heuvelmans 1974). Paxton & Holland (2005) suggested it was an angelshark Squatina squatina of which, one common name in English is, in fact, "monkfish".

The "sea-monk" is well documented to a particular date and time so it would be inaccurate to refer to it as "mythic" or "legendary" even if ultimately "fantastic".

Curiously a similar creature is known from the Far East, the 'Umi bozu'. Sailors believe that it could cause storms and on occasion would overturn their junks. As a precaution against these creatures, there was at least one deckhand on every junk who was specially trained to ward off the creature by waving a stick covered with red streamers and leading the crew in a ritual dance.

A monster called a "sea monk" also appears in some fantasy-based computer and card games.

References

• Ellis, R. (1998) The Search for the Giant Squid. Lyons Press. London.
• Heuvelmans, B. (1974) Dans le Sillage des Monstres Marins. Famot. Geneva.
• Paxton, C.G.M. & Holland R. (2005) Was Steenstrup Right? A new interpretation of the 16th century sea monk of the Øresund. Steenstrupia 29, 39-47.
• Steenstrup J.J.S. (1855) Om den i Kong Christian IIIs tid i Øresundet fanget Havmund (Sømunken kaldet) Dansk Maanedsskrift 1, 63-96.

See also

bishop-fish