Throughout history, tales of mysterious creatures have captured human imaginations. Loch Ness Monsters, giant sea snakes, Asian dragons – are they real or mere products of folklore? Over the last 2,000 years, countless theories have been proposed, yet the truth remains elusive. In the eyes of Professor Angela Milner of the British Museum of Natural History, these enigmatic beings can be understood through the lens of modern science.
The Giant Sea Snake: A Fisherman’s Tale
Tales of a giant sea snake have passed down among seafarers for millennia. Witnesses describe a massive, horse-headed creature with a dark upper body and pale tail, capable of sinking the largest ships in a fit of rage. However, Professor Milner suggests that the supposed sea monster might simply be a flipper fish, a species known for rarely surfacing.
Loch Ness Monster: Legend or Reality?
The Loch Ness Monster is a widely recognized figure, largely thanks to a photograph from the 1930s that depicted a creature resembling a prehistoric reptile emerging from Scotland’s Loch Ness. Despite numerous expeditions and the use of advanced technology, no concrete evidence has been found. Professor Milner proposes that the alleged monster is a product of human imagination sparked by an ambiguous photograph.
Horned Horses: Fantastical Steeds of the West
According to Western folklore, there exist snow-white horses with a single horn – unicorns. Some consider them angelic steeds, while others describe them as fierce beasts. Some researchers speculate that the unicorn might be a blend of a narwhal and an extinct rhinoceros species called Elasmotherium. Others propose that it might be a white antelope, which appears to have a single horn when viewed from the side.
The Kraken: Terror of the Deep
Described as a monstrous octopus capable of sinking ships, the Kraken was reportedly sighted off England’s coast centuries ago. Professor Milner believes that this depiction is an exaggerated image of a giant squid, which, despite its impressive size, poses no threat to ships.
Half-Eagle, Half-Lion: A Mythical Hybrid
The story of a creature half-eagle, half-lion originated in Central Asia around 500 BC. Recent archaeological discoveries have unearthed fossils of the dinosaur Protoceratop, which might have inspired this mythical creature due to its bird-like skull.
One-Eyed Giants: Misinterpreted Fossils?
Greek mythology speaks of Cyclopes, a race of one-eyed giants. However, this could be a case of misinterpreted fossil evidence. The skull of a small prehistoric elephant species, with a hole for the trunk (which could easily be mistaken for an eye socket), could have led to the creation of this myth.
Dragons: Dinosaurs or Mythical Beasts?
Dragons, commonly depicted with four claws (or five for royal dragons), are a significant part of Chinese culture. Today, people often confuse dragons with dinosaurs, aided in part by the existence of modern Komodo dragons in Indonesia and the discovery of dinosaur fossils. Western dragons, unlike their Eastern counterparts, are traditionally depicted with wings.
