Mythic Animals: Reptile: Kappa of Japan

In Japan, signs can be found posted at various ponds to inform people to “Beware of the Kappa.” These turtle-like amphibians often lurk at the bottom of rivers and lakes waiting for an unwary person. Since their favorite food is the entrails of children, a Kappa would reach up inside the child’s body and pull the organs out. Besides killing people, Kappas would pass gas, look up women’s kimonos, and rape women. People had to be on guard for a sneak attack by a Kappa.

 

Besides entrails, Kappas also feast on cucumbers. A prepared person can prevent an attack by offering cucumbers to the beast. Another way to stave off an attack is to be very polite to the Kappa. Because Kappas prize decorum and politeness, the beast would bow when the person bowed. (In order to walk on land, a Kappa has a bowl of water on its head.) When the beast bowed, the life-giving water would flow out.

 

Once the Kappa is incapacitated, a person could have the beast sign a legal contract. In return for water, a Kappa would agree to help the family, such as doing farm work, setting broken bones, or teaching medicine. Because the Japanese considered Kappas to be trustworthy, they used legal documents to keep the beasts in line whenever possible. Although Kappas are dangerous, the Japanese exploited their weaknesses to their benefit.

 

Works Used:

Chamberlain, Basil, “Japanese Things,” Charles Tuttle, Tokyo 1905 (reprint 1971).

Schumacher, Mark, “KAPPA = River Imp, Water Sprite,” Japanese Buddhist Corner, Onmarkproductions.com, 2010, http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/kappa.shtml, .

Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon and Ash DeKirk, “A Wizard’s Bestiary,” New Page Press, Franklin Lakes, NJ, 2007.

Dinos: Sauropod Family: Stateliness

Often featured as children’s toys or logos for oil companies, the Members of the Sauropod Family are iconic Dinosaurs. These quintessential Dinosaurs had long bodies, long necks, and long tails. When giant leg bones of various Sauropods were first found, people could not imagine anything so huge that lived on land. These days, people take the enormous size of these plant-eaters for granted.

            In the 1840s, people originally thought that Sauropod bones were those of Whales. Since these bones were hollow, people then thought they could be those of Pterosaurs (Flying Reptiles). Then in the 1870s, complete skeletons of various Sauropods were discovered in the United States. Diplodocus and Apatosaurus astonished people with their great size. In the following years, larger and larger Sauropods were found. Argentinosaurus of Argentina is now the largest of the known Dinosaurs (117 feet (35 meters) long).

            The Members of the Sauropod Family can be roughly divided into three groups. Appearing in the Late Triassic (205 million years ago), Primitive Sauropods established the basic body plan for the entire Family. One difference between these early Sauropods and the later Members of the Family is their super-long neck. A Primitive Sauropod, Mamenchisaurus of China had one of the longest necks of any animal. (His neck was about 82 feet (25 meters) long.)

            The later Members are split into the Whip-tailed (Diplodocoids) Sauropods and Big-nosed (Macronaria) Sauropods. Diplodocus, with her agile whip-tail, gave the name for her group. Meanwhile the Big-nosed Sauropods possessed a large nose-opening on their foreheads. However, their nostrils were further down on their faces. Brachiosaurus, the tallest of all the Dinosaurs, was a member of this group. Meanwhile, Argentinosaurus was the largest of the Titanosaurs, who were the biggest of the Macronarians.

            Sauropods demonstrate stateliness and grace. Despite their immense size, They roamed serenely across the land. Moving majestically, these excellent walkers left their foot prints everywhere. With their flexible whiptails, Diplodocoids snapped at hungry predators, without breaking their stride. Unafraid of anyone, Sauropods lived their lives undisturbed. The stately bearing of the Sauropods is something that we can emulate in our lives.

Mythic Animals: Horses: Karkadan of Persia

Many modern depictions of Unicorns are of peaceful, shy, gentle horse creatures. For that reason, I think of them as steeds for fairy princesses. This refined image of the Unicorn is something that I do not relate to. However, learning about the Karkadan, the Unicorn of Ethiopia, India, and Persia, changed my point of view about Unicorns in general. Unlike the seemingly passive European Unicorn, the Karkadan protects its territory. Well-known for its fierceness, the Karkadan preys on elephants and lions. Moreover, this solidly built beast shakes the ground as it runs. It tickles me that only the ringdove is unafraid of the Karkadan. Sitting on the Karkadan’s back, this bird sings to it. In return, the beast protects the ringdoves from harm. I think of this as gratitude for beauty and grace that the ringdove brings to the Karkadan.

“Wikipedia” reports that that the Iraqis have a tradition called the “tears of the Karkadann.” According to this myth, the Karkadan wanders in the desert looking for water. When “he” does find it, “he weeps out of fatigue and thirst-pain.” “His” tears, as they fall into the water, become beads, which are then used for prayer beads. After learning about this tradition of the Karkadan, I have come to regard this beast as ancient, fierce, and wise.

What Karkadan looked like

Works Used:

Allan, Tony, “The Mythic Bestiary,” Duncan Baird: London, 2008.

---, “Karkadann,”, Wikipedia, 13 May, 2013, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karkadann.

Nigg, Joseph, “The Book of Dragons and Other Mythical Beasts,” Quarto: London, 2002.

---, “Persian Unicorns,” Unicorn Dreams, http://lair2000.net/Unicorn_Dreams/Types_of_Unicorns/Persian/karkadann.html.

Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon and Ash DeKirk, “A Wizard’s Bestiary,” New Page Press: Franklin Lakes, NJ, 2007.

PLATEOSAURUS: Being Misunderstood

(Please note the claws are too big.)

Named in 1837 by Hermann von Myer, an early naturalist, Plateosaurus was one of the most misunderstood of the Dinosaurs for many years. The first Prosauropod (“basal sauropodmorph”) ever found, She confused many paleontologists.  Because of her shape and size, they thought that Plateosaurus was the ancestor of the giant Sauropods (Apatosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus and others). However, it turns out that She is only a cousin who lived alongside their Ancestor.

            Plateosaurus was so abundant, that her fossils can be found throughout Europe. Since She was so common, her bones sometimes got mixed in with those of other animals. Because of this, many incorrect species of Plateosaurus were named. One of them was Teratosaurus, who was a combination of Plateosaurus and an Ancestor of Crocodile. This supposed “Plateosaurus” was a meat-eater, and thus further confused paleontologists. Now they had to link a carnivore to the Sauropods, who ate only plants.

Finally in the 1980s, the scientists reviewed everything they knew about Plateosaurus. And realized that they had made many mistakes about Her. What was Plateosaurus like, once things were sorted out? Living in the late Triassic (220 million years ago), Plateosaurus was one of the largest dinosaurs of that time. According to studies based on her plentiful fossils, She had a small head, a long body, and a long tail. Because She could either walk on her four or two legs, Plateosaurus ate the tops of trees and the ferns on the ground. To grasp and shred leaves, She used her partially-opposable thumbs on her front “hands.” (Some scientists also believe the thumb claws were used in mutual combat like Roosters do with their spurs.)

            Known as the “All-Purpose Dinosaur,” Plateosaurus did a lot of things moderately well. Growing big as a bus, she could stand taller than many of the other Dinosaurs of the Triassic. At that time, She was one of the most advanced Dinosaurs. However by the early Jurassic, Plateosaurus became prey to the more advanced meat eaters such as the Ceratosaurs.

            Plateosaurus is the poster child for being misunderstood. Confused paleontologists thought that She was many things until they finally decided to figure out who She actually was. However, they are still arguing over her thumbspike and what She used it for. “Be patient,” counsels Plateosaurus, “things will get sorted out eventually.” Until then, just continue to do what you have already been doing. Eventually, people will come to understand you.

Mythic Animals: Sea : Hippocampus and Kraken

Comparing Hippocampus with Kraken is a study in opposites. For example, Hippocampus has recognizable body parts such as the upper body of a horse, the lower boy of a fish, and the fluked tail of a dolphin. Kraken is more of an amorphous blob with multiple arms. Rising from the depths of the ocean, fierce Kraken would grab ships with its arms, drag them down, and eat the people inside. In contrast, friendly Hippocampus would tow disabled ships to shore and aid drowning sailors. Found throughout the seas of the world, Hippocampus is often seen near the shore in the white foam of the waves. Meanwhile, Kraken prefers the deeper oceans. This beast often signals its presence by creating a giant whirlpool.

However, Kraken and Hippocampus do have one thing in common – Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea. To pull his golden chariot, Poseidon created Hippocampus from sea foam. Called by a Norse name, Kraken is better known to the Greeks as Scylla and Charybdis. Poseidon’s wife, Amphitrite, jealous of his infatuation with Scylla, changed her into a Kraken. Meanwhile, Charybdis, Poseidon’s daughter, was punished by Zeus for stealing cows. Unlike Scylla, sailors know only of Charybdis by her gigantic whirlpool. Scylla and Charybdis now live in the Strait of Messina, between Italy and Sicily.

Works Used:

Allan, Tony, “The Mythic Bestiary,” Duncan Baird: London, 2008.

Krystek, Lee, “The Kraken,” The UnMuseum, 2006, http://www.unmuseum.org/kraken.htm.

Nigg, Joseph, “The Book of Dragons and Other Mythical Beasts,” Quarto: London, 2002.

Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon and Ash DeKirk, “A Wizard’s Bestiary,” New Page Press: Franklin Lakes, NJ, 2007.