Depictions and Representations of Kelpies The Kelpies: 30-Metre-High Horse Sculptures in Scotland Since the kelpie was said to have taken on the form of a man, traditionally, the story warned young women to be wary of young, attractive strangers. If someone drowned, people would say that they had been captured and killed by the kelpies. Kelpies were also blamed for any deaths caused in water. They were told that the kelpies would come after children who behaved badly. Much like the Boogeyman, the stories of the kelpies were also told to scare children into good behavior.
The purpose of these stories was to scare children into staying away from dangerous waters. The Scandinavians told stories of dangerous water spirits that ate little children. However, it’s not clear where these stories actually originated.Īccording to certain sources, the kelpies may have their roots in ancient Scandinavia, where horse sacrifices were performed. There are many stories about kelpies, one of the most common being the tale of the Loch Ness monster. The meaning of the word ‘ kelpie’ remains uncertain, but it’s believed that it was derived from the Gaelic word ‘ calpa’ or ‘ cailpeach’ which means ‘ colt’ or ‘ heifer’. The kelpie myth has its origins in ancient Celtic and Scottish mythology. Much like the Sirens of Ancient Greece, they would then seduce their unsuspecting victims and drag them into the water to be eaten. Kelpies would also take on the form of beautiful young women and sit on rocks by the river, waiting for young men to come by. The kelpie would then gallop straight into the water, taking their victim to its depths where it would finally devour them. However, once they sat on the saddle, they would become fixed there, and unable to dismount. Those who were attracted to the animal’s beauty, would attempt to sit on its saddle and ride it. They would take on the form of a horse, with a saddle and bridle to attract attention. Although they looked beautiful and innocent, they were dangerous creatures that would lure people to their deaths by coming to shore. In Scottish folklore, kelpies were beautiful creatures that took on the forms of both horses and humans. Let’s take a look at the story behind these fascinating creatures. It was believed that kelpies often transformed into horses and haunted streams and rivers. The kelpie is a mythological creature and one of the most famous aquatic spirits in Scottish folklore. Depictions and Representations of Kelpies.The child saves himself but is unable to help his friends, as they are pulled underwater with the Kelpie. Another more gruesome variation on this tale is that the tenth child simply stroked the Kelpie's nose but, when his hand stuck to it, he took a knife from his pocket and cut his own hand off, cauterizing it with wood from a nearby fire. The Kelpie chased the tenth child, but he escaped. A common Scottish tale is the story of nine children lured onto a Kelpie's back, while a tenth kept his distance.
Kelpie mythical creature skin#
The water horse would encourage children to ride on its back, and once its victims fell into its trap, the water horse's skin would become adhesive and the horse would bear the children into the river, dragging them to the bottom of the water and devouring them-except the heart or liver. The water horse is a common form of the Kelpie, said to lure humans, especially children, into the water to drown and eat them. Other versions of the myth describe the kelpie as "green as glass with a black mane and tail that curves over its back like a wheel" or that, even in human form, they are always dripping wet and/or have water weeds in their hair. The fable of the kelpie varies by region.
They created illusions to keep themselves hidden, keeping only their eyes above water to scout the surface. Kelpies were said to transform into beautiful women to lure men into their traps. Its skin was said to be like that of a seal, smooth but as cold as death when touched. Its hide was supposedly black (though in some stories it was white), and appeared as a lost pony, but could be identified by its constantly dripping mane. In mythology, the Kelpie is described as a strong and powerful horse.
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