Legends and myths. What is “Leviathan” – and what you need to know before watching the film Sea Monster from the Old Testament

The monster Leviathan is described in the Old Testament and other Jewish and Christian sources. Some believe that he is a demon and even a prince of hell. And in modern chaotic religions he is the supreme deity.

In the article:

Leviathan - a beast from the biblical story

The parables mention that the Lord created a pair for each creature. However, there were beings created in a single gender. Perhaps this is a reflection of ancient myths about sea and land creatures, real monsters. Such legends are found all over the world, and the Semitic peoples who became the founders of the Bible are no exception.

Leviathan is a sea beast of unprecedented strength and size. It is described in detail in the book of Job, where the Lord explains his plan for its creation. Its appearance is also partially indicated there: it has two jaws, a huge body covered with the strongest scales, fire-breathing and capable of evaporating the seas. At the same time, contrary to later sources, it is separately noted that the monster itself does not belong to demons or hellish forces, but is only a manifestation and symbol of the limitless power of the Lord.

Behemoth and Leviathan in the Book of Job

Old Testament books and parables report that there were two such animals. The second is Behemoth, whose name was later given to the demon. They are described as creations of God, which no weapon, neither mortal nor angel, can handle. It is believed that it is impossible to catch, subdue and kill these creatures. They will die only during the Last Judgment, killing each other, and the saved righteous will feast on their meat.

The history of Leviathan and parallels with other nations

The first mentions of Leviathan come to us from ancient Semitic texts and Egyptian myths. It was believed that it was protected from the east by crocodiles living in the Nile - legends about these creatures reached Mesopotamia and the ancestors of the Jewish peoples, where they could transform into the appearance of Leviathan. A similar beast is also mentioned in ancient Babylonian legends. In them, he became the only one who was able to defeat the strongest servant, the personal monster of the sea god named Pit.

Jormungandr

In the image of Leviathan, there is an interesting parallel with Scandinavian mythology - it is also believed that a huge boar lives in Asgard, the meat of which is eaten every evening by warriors who died in battle. This coincides with the parable of Leviathan and the righteous who will eat it after the Judgment. Another reference to the myths of Scandinavia is the snake Jormungandr- the same sea monster. And the scene of the Last Judgment itself, in which mythical beasts will fight, is very similar to Ragnarok - the end of the world.

They draw parallels between Leviathan and ancient Greek creatures Scylla And Charybdis or Lernaean Hydra. And in ancient Russian mythology, this image was borrowed from what is known from many fairy tales Miracle Yudo. There are analogues of powerful sea creatures with similar features in almost all world religions and traditions.

According to scientists, in the Middle Ages and antiquity, sea animals - whales, sperm whales, killer whales, giant squids and even walruses - were often confused with Leviathan. This left its mark on some animal names in Latin. And in modern culture, it is often identified with something soulless and invincible - a ruthless machine of bureaucracy and mutual guarantee, as was demonstrated in the film of the same name.

Demon Leviathan - who is he?

Demon Leviathan from the TV series Supernatural

Due to the fact that in mythology this entity was considered strong and capable of destruction, many medieval researchers classified it as a demon. In the 16th century, the scientist Binsfeld identified Leviathan with one of the deadly sins - envy, and ranked it among. He believed that he was the prince of hell, standing on an equal level of power with.

Other interpreters of the Old Testament believed that Leviathan was one of the names of Satan. His bestial, destructive aspect. Known grimoires, for example, do not indicate in any way the existence of such a demon. And this is an important factor in the study of the figure.

Now it is believed that Leviathan is another force. It does not refer to the conflict between Heaven and Hell. Seems to be a neutral ruler of the seas. The same can be said about the ancient Greek Poseidon or the Roman Neptune. These gods occupied an intermediate place between Zeus-Jupiter and Hades-Hades. However, the neutral position has attracted the interest of researchers in recent centuries. Separate cults were even formed on their basis.

Leviathan is the personification of a huge monster that hides in the depths of the sea and has incredible power. Cults of his worship are present in small form. But modern, as well as ancient demonology, does not pay due attention to it. All this clearly shows his lack of connection with real demons.

Leviathan is a mythical creature that lives in the sea. Mentions of it can be found in the Old Testament or Tanakh. The word has become synonymous with any large sea monster or creature. His appearance has features of a crocodile, dragon, snake and whale.

What does leviathan look like?

Over the entire existence of mankind, many legends have appeared about various mythical characters.

People say they saw:

Angelov.
Gnomes.
Dragons.
Spirits.
Unicorns.
Mermaids.

One of these is Leviathan:

Its huge mouth is surrounded by menacing teeth, and its back has a series of shields that are so close to each other that air cannot pass between them.
When he snores, flashes of light can be seen, and his eyes look like rays of light. Smoke pours from his nostrils like from a boiling pot.
Leviathan is a monster whose appearance disturbs the entire sea. When it swims away, it leaves behind shiny streaks, as if someone is swimming with long white hair.
Leviathans are creatures without fear, they look down on everyone, even arrogantly.

According to one version, the mythical creature leviathan is a red dragon, has seven heads and ten horns. Leviathan is often called Satan in one of his guises.

Leviathan and religion

Even when mentioning such a monster as leviathan, religion is of great importance. The sea serpent Leviathan featured prominently in the mythology of the ancient Near East. In Sumerian iconography you can find images of him made in the 3rd millennium BC.

However, the monster leviathan is not described as a demon or any harmful creature, it was considered simply part of the ocean, part of God's creation.

So:

Later Jewish sources describe leviathan as a dragon living in water. It was believed that one day two monsters separated - the leviathan and the hippopotamus.
A female monster named leviathan to live in the chaos of the ocean and a male monster named hippopotamus to live on the land.
Behemoth and Leviathan are creatures that do not have a mate, because in order to prevent the reproduction and further spread of monsters on earth, God killed the female.

In Christianity, leviathan is interpreted differently. The biblical leviathan was used as Satan, endangering the lives of all of God's creatures by attempting to eat them. According to the description of Thomas Aquinas, leviathan is a demon of envy that exists to punish sinners. The leviathan demon corresponds to the seven deadly sins, as one of the seven princes of hell.

In Satanism, leviathan represents the element of water, which is associated with life and creativity, and can be used during ritual. In The Satanic Bible, Leviathan is considered one of the four crown princes of Hell. And the Hebrew letters of the word leviathan are used by the Church of Satan at each of the points of the Seal of Baphomet.

How to kill leviathan?

Many people wondered how to destroy the leviathan. There are reflections on this topic in the Tanakh and the book of Job. These writings suggested that there were several options.

For example, you can pull out a leviathan on a fishhook and then tie it up:

Thread a cord through his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook. Maybe we need to stick a lot of harpoons and spears into his skin.
However, given the size of the monster, many understand that this is impossible in reality.
After all, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to approach his mouth completely safely, who will be able to pierce his back, which is protected by a dense shell.
The folds of his body are tightly connected, they are hard and unshakable. And the breath and flames from the mouth terrify anyone. There is an absolute defense of the leviathan, which is beyond the control of an ordinary person.

Being an ancient supernatural creature, leviathan is very powerful:

Superhuman strength. Due to its weight and size, the leviathan is physically strong and can easily defeat an entire army of men.
Change of appearance. Leviathan can take the form of any person.
Powerful jaws. Leviathans have very large jaws with sharp rows of fangs that can bite through any creature.
Adaptability. They can survive on land and underwater.
Consumption. When they eat people or other creatures, they also take on their knowledge and problems.
Clairvoyance. Leviathans can see angels, demons and other otherworldly creatures that humans cannot see.

Healing. Leviathans have a strong immunity to disease. They can also survive gunshots, stab wounds, and acid rain.

Does leviathan exist?

It is unrealistic to answer this question unequivocally, because documentary photos and videos of the leviathan have not yet been made. There are several points of view about whether leviathan exists in real life.

Yet most believers believe that leviathan was a real creature, unlike other mythological sea creatures that fought God.

Leviathan is not a myth, but rather a creature from the sea, be it a fish, a sea dragon, or a mammal such as a whale or reptile. It is also possible that leviathans such as they were are now extinct. It is recommended to watch a video on the topic.

Origin

The Egyptians in ancient times said that their country was guarded from the south and east by impassable deserts, from the north by powerful fortresses, and the western border (Nile) was guarded by crocodiles. According to Boris Sharov, the ancient Jews could have had them in mind when describing Leviathan. And later, in order to explain to the simple peasant that there are things worse than drought or flood, they exaggerated the size, power and strength of the beast tens and hundreds of times and equated it to fiery Gehenna.

In the Bible

Can you pull out Leviathan with a fish and grab his tongue with a rope? will you put a ring in his nostrils? Will you pierce his jaw with a needle? will he beg you a lot and speak to you meekly? Will he make an agreement with you, and will you take him as your slave forever? Will you play with him like a bird, and will you tie him for your girls? will his fishing companions sell it, will it be divided among the Canaanite merchants? Can you pierce his skin with a spear and his head with a fisherman's point? Place your hand on it, and remember the struggle: you will not advance.

Hope is in vain: won’t you fall from one look from him? There is no one so brave who would dare to disturb him; who can stand before My face? Who went before Me that I should repay him? under the whole sky everything is Mine. I will not keep silent about his members, about their strength and beautiful proportionality. Who can open his robe, who can come near his double jaws? Who can open the doors of his face? the circle of his teeth is horror; His strong shields are splendor; they are sealed as if with a firm seal; one touches the other close, so that no air passes between them; one with the other lie tightly, interlocked and do not move apart. His sneezing makes light appear; his eyes are like the eyelashes of dawn; flames come out of its mouth, fiery sparks jump out; smoke comes out of his nostrils, like from a boiling pot or cauldron. His breath heats the coals, and flames come out of his mouth. Power dwells on his neck, and terror runs before him. The fleshy parts of his body are firmly united with each other and do not tremble. His heart is hard as a stone and tough as a lower millstone. When he rises, the strongmen are in fear, completely lost in horror. The sword that touches him will not stand, neither the spear, nor the javelin, nor the armor. He considers iron to be straw, copper to be rotten wood. The bow's daughter will not put him to flight; sling stones turn into chaff for him. His mace is considered a straw; he laughs at the whistling of the dart. There are sharp stones under him, and he lies on the sharp stones in the mud. He boils the abyss like a cauldron, and turns the sea into boiling ointment; leaves behind him a luminous path; the abyss seems gray. There is no one like him on earth; he was created fearless; looks at everything lofty with courage; he is the king over all the sons of pride.

Impact on culture

Literature and visual arts

Cinematography and animation

"Leviathan" is a horror film directed by J. Cosmatos.
Leviathan is the name of giant biomechanical living ships in the science fiction series “At the Edge of the Universe”.
Leviathan is one of the seven Sisters of Purgatory in the anime When Seagulls Cry.
Leviathan is a giant robot created by the king of Atlantis to protect the underwater passage to the latter at the bottom in the cartoon "Atlantis".
Leviathan is the magical name of one of the main characters in “Nine Unknowns,” the black magician Arthur Polyakov.
Leviathan - Lord of Hell in the movie "Hellraiser".
Leviathan is a sea creature from the animated series "Pirates of Dark Water", which looks like a sea dragon. Leviathans move in packs, and only the skin of these creatures can withstand Dark Water.
Leviathans - in the series "Supernatural" are one of the very first creatures (in this case, monsters) that God created long (besides the first four Archangels) before the creation of angels and humans. They were imprisoned in Purgatory. They were absorbed by Castiel to increase his power, along with many souls from Purgatory. The main villains of the 7th season. They cannot die because they have no soul.
Leviathan is a prototype sound-based naval weapon in the Smallville series.
Leviathan is the name of a swindler alchemist in the anime "Gosik".
Leviathan is a huge monster living in the ocean of air, from the episode of the same name in the animated series “Heavenly Knights”.

Computer games

Music

Notes

General characteristics

Leviathan is a mythological monster that lives in the depths of the Mediterranean Sea. According to legends, this creature is capable of controlling all the oceans and seas of the planet.

It is impossible to give an exact answer as to who Leviathan is due to discrepancies in the scriptures. Some sources claim that this creature is a symbol of Divine Power. Others identify the sea serpent with

Historians disagree about the significance of this beast in mythology and religion. There is an opinion that this creature is the ruler of the seas, the personification of Poseidon, and has nothing to do with Christianity.

This is indicated by the small number of cults of this, both in the modern world and in the ancient one. In most cases, the name of a monster is used to describe something huge, beyond human influence.

Origin of the name

There are several answers to the question of what Leviathan means. In more ancient languages, this word means “twisted”, “coiled”. Such adjectives indicate the body shape of a creature.

In later writings Leviathan is translated as "whale". In this form, the word passed into modern Hebrew.

Appearance

The book of Job gives one of the most accurate descriptions of the appearance of the monster. According to her, Leviathan has the following features:

The serpent's body filled.
The monster's skin was so strong that even angelic weapons could not cut it.
The creature's eyes were red.
The creature had a double jaw, with three rows of sharp teeth.

It is impossible to determine exactly what Leviathan looks like. In various writings, Leviathan combines the features of a whale, a crab and a predatory fish.

Leviathan Abilities

The sea monster had incredible power. The main skills of the snake are:

Poisonous breath. Where this creature breathes, all living things die.
Flame. Leviathan could breathe fire, and his skin was covered in flames. In some sources, the snake could also cause lightning.
Death stare. No one could look into the eyes of this creature for a long time, since it sent terror to man and beast.

Character of the creature

The snake's behavior differs depending on the mentions. In the book of Job, Leviathan is presented as a proud and fearless beast.

The Lord describes the monster as a magnificent combination of strength and courage. This creature personifies the toughness and justice of God.

In later sources, Leviathan loses most of his noble traits. He appears as an insatiable, greedy animal, eager to devour the entire earth.

Mention in Christian sources

The sea serpent Leviathan is mentioned numerous times in scripture. In total there are 90 psalms dedicated to this creation.

Genesis

The first mention of the monstrous serpent is Psalms 73:12-16. They indicate that a terrible creature lives in the depths of the sea and sends fire and water to the lands of Judea. This creature lives forever, its skin is durable and mortal weapons will not help in the fight against it.

According to the scripture, on the Day of Judgment the Lord himself will slay the monster, after which he will feed his people with the meat of the slain beast. Other sources indicate that the creature will be struck by the sword of the Archangel Gabriel.

There is also a legend that on Judgment Day, Behemoth, the ruler of the earth, and Leviathan, the sea serpent, will fight to the death. Both creatures will destroy each other in battle.

Psalms 103:20-30 gives Leviathan as an example of the power of the Lord. The verses say that God created a huge creature, rivaling the size of human cities. Afterwards, the Creator created an ocean with enough water for the monster to play in it without disturbing people.

Book of Job

The Prophet of Job also mentions Leviathan as a symbol of the Lord's Power. In scripture, the prophet doubts the power of the Father. The Creator asks Job if he can defeat the serpent, and mentions Leviathan's many abilities. The book of the prophet also states that the sea creature has a fearless disposition and looks at everyone proudly. In the same scripture, Leviathan is first called the King of Beasts.

Book of Isaiah

The writings of the prophet Isaiah indicate that on the Day of Judgment the Lord will pierce the head of the monster with a fiery sword. The sea serpent will burst into flames and dry up all the waters of the earth with its body.

New Testament

In later writings, Leviathan is represented as a demon, sometimes identified with the Devil. The sea serpent symbolizes greed and gluttony; it inclines people to vice and stinginess.

In some legends, the serpent is credited with tempting Adam and Eve. After the fall, Satan granted the demon power over all the oceans of the world. Leviathan's mouth represents the Abyss.

Leviathan in other cultures

The sea serpent or water dragon is a common mythical creature in different cultures. There are several creatures that can be considered an analogue of Leviathan.

Mediterranean

In the pre-Christian period, residents of the Mediterranean coast revered mythological creatures that lived in the water. Sacrifices were made to them so that the creatures would not send storms to the sea.

Greek mythology

Scylla and Charybdis are two sea monsters that lived on the islands on both sides of the Strait of Sicily. According to the sailors, they had to be very careful and swim clearly in the middle of the strait, otherwise one of the creatures would destroy the ship.

Scylla was a six-headed creature with 12 pairs of legs. The monster's mouth was equipped with three rows of poisonous teeth. The monster's breath was also poisonous and caused plague. The prototype of this monster is an octopus.

The description of Charybdis is more vague. According to myths, this creature is a huge whirlpool mouth equipped with a thousand fangs. Three times a day, Charybdis absorbs the surrounding water and spews it back out.

A huge creature with 7 heads. Hydra lived in underground waters and was killed by Hercules during the 12th labor. She is related to Leviathan by her immortality, snake-like body and poisonous breath. The creature poisoned rivers and caused earthquakes.

Babylonian culture

In the ancient kingdom, Leviathan was a servant of the Sea God Yahweh. The snake carried out the will of its master and hunted sailors. According to Jewish beliefs, the monster was destroyed by the great God Baal. After the death of the creature, terrible storms and storms ceased in the Mediterranean Sea.

Western European culture

Myths about sea monsters are common among the northwestern peoples of Europe. Vikings and Celtic sailors told legends about giants living in the depths of the ocean.

Celtic mythology

The image of Leviathan can be traced in the Stor Serpent, which lived off the coast of Scotland. This creature, according to legend, was a servant of the Gods and was sent by them as punishment to mortals. The Stor snake had the following features:

Gigantic dimensions that allowed the monster to turn around the Earth three times.
The mouth of the creature raised a storm over all the waters of the world.
The creature's breath destroyed all living things and corroded ships.

An equally famous character from Icelandic mythology is the huge octopus named Kraken. This creature is capable of sinking even a large armada - the monster destroys large warships with its tentacles, and smaller ones are broken by the whirlpool that is formed from the movements of the creature.

Scandinavian legends

They talk about a terrible monster named Jormungandr. This huge serpent was the child of the God of Lies Loki and a representative of the family of giants Hel. According to legend, Odin foresaw the End of the World, which would be marked by the battle of the Gods and this monster.

To prevent Ragnarok, the Elder God persuaded Thor to destroy the serpent. But the god of Thunder and Lightning only wounded Jormungandr and, in anger, he entwined the planet, biting his own tail.

On Judgment Day, Thor will rise again in battle against the monster. According to the prophecy, the gods will win and humanity will find happiness in Valhalla.

Tales of Eastern Europe

Also meets the image of a huge sea monster. This creature is named Miracle Yudo and looks like a huge fish. The size of the creature allows it to swallow whole cities on the coast.

In some legends, Miracle Yudo is a snake with 12 heads. Its snouts are equipped with fangs and trunks. The creature crawls along the bottom and guards countless treasures. The monster rarely surfaces. The reason for leaving the sea is to find a bride.

Asian countries

In Asian culture, the sea was deified, which is why there are many references to sea monsters in the mythology of Japan, India and China. They were not identified with evil, since in the religion of the East there is no duality of concepts. The image of these creatures is close to the image of Leviathan - a monster that carries out the will of the Gods.

Chinese mythology

For the Chinese, the role of the sea monster was played by the snake fish Beyu. Outwardly, this creature resembled a cross between a whale and a salamander. The creature's back was covered with dangerous, poisonous spines.

Beyu's dimensions are inferior to those of Leviathan. According to legend, the monster could swallow a boat, but it would not have the strength to overcome a large ship.

Japanese mythology

In the Land of the Rising Sun, there are several creatures that live in the seas. Among them are:

Sea serpent Ayakashi. This creature reached 2 km in length. The monster often emerges from the water, forming arches with its body. If the boat is under its tail, then the sailors may die due to a waterfall of mucus and water flowing from the kite.
Isonade. A huge turtle fish that destroys ships with its tail.
Vani. A sea monster that combines the features of a large predatory fish and an alligator.

Indian mythology

Aquatic reptiles have long aroused sacred awe among Hindus. Among the sea monsters of India, the most popular are:

Makara. Fierce, whose body combines the features of a shark, crocodile and dolphin. It is the mount of the god Ganga. Represents the anger and power of the ocean.
Basoeki. A sea monster that lives in the Indian Ocean. His name literally means "King of Snakes."
Buru. Snake crocodile from the valley near the Rilo River. According to legend, it ate both fishermen and hunters on land.

Leviathan (from Hebrew - “an animal covered with wrinkles”) is an Old Testament sea monster. The Book of Job (Job 40:20-41:26) has a detailed description of it:

“There is no one so brave who would dare to disturb him... the circle of his teeth is horror... At dawn, when Leviathan’s head appears above the surface of the water, his eyes sparkle like the rays of dawn. The scutes on his back fit tightly to each other. These bone plates embedded in the skin are difficult to penetrate even with a bullet, let alone a sword or spear. His breath heats the coals, flames come out of his mouth; the sharp scutes on its belly leave a mark in the mud, like a threshing tool. In his rage, he foams the water like boiling ointment. Leviathan knows no fear - he is created huge, protected by strong armor, armed with a terrifying mouth and a powerful tail...” (41, 2-26)

Under what circumstances does Leviathan appear in the Book of Job?

Righteous Job“he was blameless, just and God-fearing and shunned evil,” and in terms of his wealth “he was more famous than all the sons of the East.” He had a happy family: seven sons and three daughters. Satan began to assert that Job was righteous only thanks to his earthly prosperity, with the loss of which all his piety would disappear. He deprived Job of all his wealth, all his children died, and when this did not shake the righteous man, then Lucifer struck the body of a Christian with terrible leprosy.

Killing Leviathan. Engraving. Gustave Doré, 1865. Photo: Public Domain

Job's wife and those around him began to say that his troubles were evidence of God's wrath. Like, this is the only way to explain the nature of all these misfortunes. Job was also tormented by the question of what sins all these trials were sent down to him, but he did not renounce his faith. Then God conveyed to Job that “the ways of the Lord are mysterious,” and as one of the proofs of man’s incomprehensibility of the divine essence, he showed him the Leviathan he created - a seven-headed dragon with horns, huge eyes and a tail, like a hippopotamus. For his humility and repentance, God subsequently rewarded the righteous man: he was healed of his illness, became even richer, and again became the father of seven sons and three daughters.

What is Zvyagintsev’s film “Leviathan” about and why is it called that way?

Film "Leviathan" Andrey Zvyagintsev so named for two reasons:

The director brings the biblical story to modern Russia. The main character of the film Nikolai ( Alexey Serebryakov) is the righteous Job of our time, he leads a quiet life in a small town near the Barents Sea. When the mayor is corrupt ( Roman Madyanov) is trying to confiscate almost all of Nikolai's property, the main character asks for help from an old friend in the army, now a respected lawyer Dmitry ( Vladimir Vdovichenkov).

The film uses the biblical image of Leviathan as a metaphor, suggested by Thomas Hobbes, who compared the state machine to a monster, since both, in his opinion, degrade human nature and destroy freedom.

Andrey Zvyagintsev. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

Zvyagintsev himself, in an interview with RFI, explains the choice of title for the film as follows:

"For me and for my co-author Oleg Negin— when the scenario was formed, when it turned into the material that you just saw on the screen - Leviathan has two references. The first is the Book of Job and the final scene of this plot, the conversation of the Lord God with Job, when he invites him to look at Leviathan and describes to him what it is. And the second reference is to Thomas Hobbes, to his philosophical treatise called “Leviathan”. This is a treatise on the state, that is, the state for Hobbes is Leviathan, the state, its power, secular power and ecclesiastical power. These allusions, references - whatever you call it - were the main thing for us in this project. And then, of course, each viewer will see his own thing and be completely free in his own interpretation,” summed up Zvyagintsev.

* Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) - English materialist philosopher, one of the founders of the theory of the social contract and the theory of state sovereignty.

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