Sea goat
 | |
| Grouping | Legendary creature |
|---|---|
| Sub grouping | Hybrid |
| Region | Greece, Israel, Mesopotamia |
| Habitat | The ocean |
A sea goat is a legendary aquatic animal described as a creature that is half goat and half fish.[2]
The constellation Capricornus was commonly imagined as a type of sea goat. This has been done since the Bronze Age within Mesopotamia. Then the Babylonians used MUL SUḪUR.MAŠ, 'the goat fish', to symbolize the god Enki.[3][4]
Greek tradition
Concepts regarding sea goats existed in ancient Greek mythology. Many studies based upon the subject have connected the allegory of the sea goat to the zodiac Capricorn as well, although its origin is not entirely known.
Jewish tradition
In Jewish oral history, mentions of sea goats also crop up. Stated in the stories, once the time comes all the creatures of the sea must offer themselves to the monster leviathan. It is purported that a sailor once encountered a sea goat while far out on the ocean. On its horns the words "I am a little sea-animal, yet I traversed three hundred parasangs to offer myself as food to the leviathan" were found carved.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Tamsyn Barton (1995). "Augustus and Capricorn: Astrological Polyvalency and Imperial Rhetoric". The Journal of Roman Studies. 85. Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies: 47.
- ^ "The Capricorn goat/sea goat". Mythology. Gods and Monsters.
- ^ Rogers, John H. (1998). "Origins of the ancient constellations: I. The Mesopotamian traditions". Journal of the British Astronomical Association. 108: 9–28. Bibcode:1998JBAA..108....9R.
- ^ Espak, Peeter (2006). Master's Thesis (PDF) (Masters). p. 104.
- ^ Louis Ginzberg. (1909) Legends of the Jews. Entries: Vol I, "The Creation of the World: The Sixth Day" and Vol IV, "Elisha and Jonah: Jonah in the Whale". [1]