|
Leviathan - "Elusive Serpent” - "Twisting Serpent” - "Dragon of the Sea”
Biblical Legend:
As written in Biblical Legend Leviathan is a monstrous sea monster, sometimes identified with the whale. It was written that it’s skin was chain mail that could repel any weapon, bright eyes that could be seen in the murkiest of waters and the monster was accompanied by a evil smelling fog.
Leviathan was considered the lord of the sea and is also thought of as the demonic fish that swallowed Jonah and retained him in his stomach for three days before vomiting him out. Also, tying in with Behemoth, Leviathan would be one of the delicacies served at the banquet at Judgement Day. In Job 41, Leviathan is described as so:
Canst thou draw out leviathan with a hook? or his tongue with a cord which lettest down? Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servan for ever? Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears? Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. Behold the hope is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me? Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle? Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. They are joined to one another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him. The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved. His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, not the habergeon. He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire. He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary. Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
In the Bible, and especially the Old Testament, the Leviathan is some sort of chaos animal in the shape of a crocodile or a serpent. In other bible texts it is taken to mean a whale or dolphin, because the animal is there described as living in the sea. Later the Leviathan became a symbol of evil, an anti-divine power (some sort of devil) which will be destroyed on Judgement Day.
Writings of Leviathan are written elsewhere in the bible, these are: Job 41, Psalm 74:14, and Isaiah 27:1. Below are a few passeges.
Ps. civ, 25-26
"This great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein."
Japanese:
Leviathan is a Japanese god of the sea in the form of Serpent.
Canaanite:
In Canaanite mythology and literature, the Leviathan is a monster called Lotan (‘the fleeing serpent’), the coiling serpent the powerful with seven heads. This serpent was eventually killed by Baal.
(more info to be obtained)
Ugaritic:
The Leviathan is also the Ugaritic god of evil.
(more info to be obtained)
Final Fantasy 8
Leviathan is a Water Elemental Guardian Force. It looks like a sea serpant/dragon. Light Blue/Green in colour. |
