All  

Ancient Origins Tour IRAQ

Ancient Origins Tour IRAQ Mobile

Mythological Sea Serpents And Lake Monsters Versus Scientific Sharks And Surviving Dinosaurs

Mythological Sea Serpents And Lake Monsters Versus Scientific Sharks And Surviving Dinosaurs

Print

Dinosaurs roaming the Amazon, plesiosaurs hunting in glacial lakes, half-octopus, half-shark creatures that drag ships down to the seabed and a giant anaconda, are but a few of the monsters recorded in the mythologies and written histories of North, South and Central America. Though most of these creatures can be explained away as ‘archetypes of mythology,’ there are researchers who suggest that some of the oldest accounts may be based on creatures that were witnessed before they became extinct in the remote past, or in some cases, ancient creatures that failed to become extinct. But in most instances, ancient sea-serpent reports were of creatures known well today, but who were unrecognized in history.

Sea serpent reported by Hans Egede, Bishop of Greenland, in 1734 (Public Domain)

Sea serpent reported by Hans Egede, Bishop of Greenland, in 1734 (Public Domain)

In his 2016 book, People are Seeing Something: A Survey of Lake Monsters in the United States and Canada, author Denver Michaels examines the myths, legends, folklore, and eyewitness reports of the lake monster phenomenon south of the Mexican border, in Central and South America.  This writer asks what parallels could be drawn between the creatures found to the south and their Canadian and American counterparts? One of the phenomena presented in this work is the ‘Monster of Lake Tota’ , a giant creature that is as deeply associated with Colombia's largest lagoon, Lake Tota, at over 200 feet (61 meters) deep with a surface area of 21 square miles, (54 square kilometers) as the Loch Ness Monster is entrenched with Scotland’s longest lake at 36 kilometres (22.5 miles) in length with an average depth of 132 meters (433 feet).

Early Indigenous Reports Of Lake Monsters

The earliest report of the Loch Ness monster appears in the Life of St. Columba by the monk, Adomnán, written in the sixth century AD.  Writing about a century after the events he described, Adomnán said the legendary Irish monk, Saint Columba, was pilgrimaging in the wild and dangerous pagan Scotland, spreading the word of Christ, when indigenous people told him of an aquatic monster, said to be a demon, which haunted the waters of Loch Ness. Columba witnessed the dead body of a Pictish man whom locals said had been attacked and killed by the water beast and had rendered the waters of the lake impassible. Columba instructed one of his followers, Luigne moccu Min, to swimming across the River Ness to lure the diabolical creature to the surface.

READ MORE… 

Like this Preview and want to read on? You can! JOIN US THERE with easy, instant access ) and see what you’re missing!! All Premium articles are available in full, with immediate access.

For the price of a cup of coffee, you get this and all the other great benefits at Ancient Origins Premium. And - each time you support AO Premium, you support independent thought and writing.

Ashley Cowie is a Scottish historian, author and documentary filmmaker presenting original perspectives on historical problems, in accessible and exciting ways. His books, articles and television shows explore lost cultures and kingdoms, ancient crafts and artifacts, symbols and architecture, myths and legends telling thought-provoking stories which together offer insights into our shared social history.  www.ashleycowie.com.

Top Image: Plate ca. 1544 depicting various sea monsters; compiled from the Carta marina. (Public Domain)

By Ashley Cowie

 

Comments

Hi All,

I'm hoping these Subjects that I attempt to discuss goes on through to all of the audience.

I think the Greeks-Romans reported seeing species of that Super Shark Megalodon swimming in The Mediterranean In The Ancient Past.

Part's if this title with the article reminds me of the line in The Wizard of Oz Lion's, & Tiger's, & Bear's Oh My...

I would have to say at this point in time I don't believe these stories are Myth's. I agree with what was stated in this article that people back in the day were still seeing these animals before they went fully extinct but word of mouth isn't enough of proof about these creature's.

I may have mentioned in previous discussions my pique interest in Unsolved Mysteries; it's been a hoot to come across article's within Ancient Origins that touch on a few Topics addressed in Unsolved Mystery episode's.

There's this one Unsolved Mystery that dealt with the disappearance of an British Surveyor in down in Brazil. His name is Colonel Percy Fawcett.

According to the Mystery series Percy was dispatched to the Amazon to perform his task of Surveying apparently, He Surveyed both from The Boat along the Amazon River and in The Amazon Rainforest itself.

Percy was an due diligence type of Man an He was known doing meticulous notes while on his Surveyor Job's that he did on behalf of The British Government. It was from Percy that reported on seeing a 60 foot long Anaconda deep within the Amazonian Rainforest but, most intriguing he brought back reports of seeing other animals believed to all be extinct as well.

It's no surprise that nobody believed Him they simply put it down to the Brazilian Jungle got to him and he simply hallucinated.

Well Percy handled the disbelief of his fellow countrymen as well would be expected what with the 60 foot long Anaconda and living Sauropods that were possible Dipolodicus?
That's No joke!

Percy decided to go back to the Brazilian Jungle in order to bring back proof of something He saw in The Amazon. Before Percy left there were two brilliant decisions he made First, He said if No one heard from Him after a certain amount of days Nobody was to come looking for Him the only other person that left with him was His Own Son.

The Second thing, Percy did was too leave all of his Notes from exploring and Surveying Brazil, The Amazon and The Amazon River with his Good Friend Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

As predicted Percy and his Son were never heard from again but, Sir Doyle took his best friends' Surveyor Notes' which was all about his expedition within The Amazon and turn it in to an Book The Lost World, the character dubbed The Challenger were based on Percy Fawcett.

Getting back to that 60 foot long Anaconda I'm inclined to believe Percy Fawcetts Account the Expedition took place in Brazil 1905-1907, the other reason why I believe Percy. I think it was five years ago, I watched an Smithsonian Documentary on the incredible Find of the Titanoboa in Columbia, it's skeletal remains.

Finding most of Titanoboa Skeleton remains the scientist realized this thing could grow to 45 feet in length. The scientist searched in similar ecosystems of Brazil and Venezuela in order too see Titanboas World.

Percy Fawcett felt he was looking at a 60 foot long Anaconda but, what if Fawcett actually saw a Living Titanoboa instead?

Here's how I see it Percy was sent too Brazil too do a Job in The Amazon Survey It.

Percy didn't set out too see Living Titanoboa's and perhaps a few living Sauropods believed to have been Dipolodicus He was there when Know one was looking for them so it was all by happenstance.

As for Lake Monster's the only three or rather four I became familiar with was Canada's Oogo-pogo alongside another mysterious creature watched since The First People an there Ancestors settled in Canada witnessing the two animal's on numerous occasions.

Then there was Lake Champlain home of Champy monster, lastly The Loch Ness Monster's or Nessie; but, I've since learned other Lake's containing these Lake animals is a global thing so either the whole world is delusional or there really are Lake Monster's possibly that could be Pleosaurs it still comes down to the rule of not looking for them and seeing them by chance.

Surviving Dinosaurs well I did touch on the possibility of Dipolodicus still existing in 1905-1907; they're probably gone now but, in that era you never know what was or isn't extinct.
There are five probable sprace clusters of surviving dinosaurs in Africa.

They've been spoken of in The Congo, and Cameroon. The first is from the Sauropod Family Living Brontosaurus and Ceratopsians Triceratops/Stryacsaurus however in The Congo and Cameroon Brontosaurus are Mokelembe & The Triceratops/Stryacsaurus No Goubou.

Mokelembe is as describes growing to lengths of 30-45 feet, it's said they are aggressive and very territorial and some of the Natives has witnessed Mokelembe kill Hippopotamus but, not eat them. The Pygmies from the Congo not only have killed Mokelembe but, once ate one but, something was wrong with the meat even cooked it made a lot of people sick so the Pygmies simply kill them the way Mokelembe kills Hippopotamus.

No Goubou like Mokelembe are highly aggressive and very territorial they've killed people but don't eat them and the Natives as well the Pygmies observed No Goubou kill elephants.

Now it's recently reported that No Goubou's aren't seen as much these days so they very well maybe gone now.

Mokelembe tends to turn up like clock work All of the Natives state Mokelembe comes from an underwater Cave.

In the 1920's the rumors of Mokelembe being possible Living Brontosaurus that the Smithsonian launched and expedition to the Congo while at a singular village interviewing the people word came to them that a herd of Mokelembe were going through another Village but, the only way to reach the spot was by train.

Tragically due to a sudden storm there was a massive mudslide that derailed the train many of the Smithsonian Expedition were either killed or Severely Wounded so they never got the chance too see them but, Natives in The Congo and Cameroon still report seeing them from time to time.

Then there are reports of the Pterasaurs spotted flying over Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, South Africa Pterandons the Natives call Kamanto other's Ropens & Silvas all pose a danger to people they do attack but, what's really interesting is that all three of these living bird's that flew with the time of the dinosaurs it is said that they somehow glow in the dark.

There is a ytube video about an soldiers experience during World War II when he encountered the Kamanto in 1944, on second thought all honestly as long Japan was entrenched in Papua New Guinea; I'm surprise they didn't get a chance to kill those Terror Bird's after all, the Japanese Soldier carried Steele Samurai Swords.

I think that is all I have to share for now when I remember something if great significance then I'll stop by with this article and Share It.

So until next time, Everyone, Goodbye!

ashley cowie's picture

Ashley

Ashley is a Scottish historian, author, and documentary filmmaker presenting original perspectives on historical problems in accessible and exciting ways.

He was raised in Wick, a small fishing village in the county of Caithness on the north east coast of... Read More

Next article