According to the tradition of the Physiologus and medieval bestiaries, the aspidochelone is a fabled sea creature, variously described as a large whale or vast sea turtle, and a giant sea monster with huge spines on the ridge of its back. No matter what form it is, it is always described as being so huge that it is often mistaken for a rocky island covered with sand dunes and vegetation. The name aspidochelone appears to be a compound word
combining Greek aspis (which means either "asp" or "shield"), and chelone, the turtle. It rises to the surface from the depths of the sea, and entices unwitting sailors with its island appearance to make landfall on its huge shell and then the whale is able to pull them under the ocean, ship and all the people, drowning them. It also emits a sweet smell that lures fish into its trap where it then devours them. In the moralistic allegory of the Physiologus and bestiary tradition, the aspidochelone represents Satan, who deceives those whom he seeks to devour.
Fabled sea creature
An Aspidochelone from a French manuscript, c. 1270. J. Paul Getty Museum
According to the tradition of the Physiologus and medieval bestiaries, the aspidochelone is a fabled sea creature, variously described as a large whale or vast...
creature called the aspidochelone in the Physiologus. The Icelandic Physiologus contains two illustrations of the aspidochelone, one with its back overgrown...
('heather-back'). The aspidochelone of the Physiologus is identified as the potential source for the hafgufa lore. Although the original aspidochelone was a turtle-island...
folklore) Turtles all the way down World Serpent World Tree Zaratan Aspidochelone Toke L. Knudsen, Indology mailing list. Locke, John (1689). An Essay...
feature on Neptune's largest moon Triton has been named Leviathan Patera. Aspidochelone Bahamut (This name is thought to derive from the biblical Behemoth.)...
story of the Zaratan without the incredulity found in the earlier work. Aspidochelone World Turtle "Saratan". A Book of Creatures. 2015-06-22. Retrieved 2018-05-30...
are not to be broken." Turtles in North American Indigenous Mythology Aspidochelone Abya Yala – a name used by the Guna people and others to refer to the...
found in Indonesia, and also published an alleged photograph of "it." Aspidochelone, a giant turtle or whale that appeared to be an island and lured sailors...
submersing itself, drowning the crew. Notable examples of these include the aspidochelone, Fastitocalon, Jasconius, Lyngbakr, Hafgufa, and various accounts of...
as a small island (somewhat similar to the turtle variation of the Aspidochelone). Alice and the Knave of Hearts end up on it after being dropped by...
"Fastitocalon" echoes a second-century Latin tale in the Physiologus of the Aspidochelone ("round-shielded turtle"); it is so large that sailors mistakenly land...
island of Krakoa had become a single monstrous mutant, similar to the Aspidochelone of legend. (Godzilla and Monster Island are also likely influences,...
herald of Poseidon. Tritones, fish-tailed spirits in Poseidon's retinue. Aspidochelone, colossal sea monster from the medieval bestiary Physiologus. Morana...
shield. The suffix "-aspis" is used to describe armored fish. Examples: Aspidochelone ("shield turtle"); Cephalaspis ("head shield"); Sacabambaspis ("shield...
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