Kelpie
A Scottish water spirit that takes the form of a horse. It lures humans to ride it before dragging them underwater to their deaths.
At a glance
- Tradition
- Scottish folklore
- Region
- Scotland (place of origin)Rivers, Lochs and Water Sources (Scotland) (habitat)
- Symbols
- Horse
Near this figure
Symbols
Judged against the description by a model. Meanings are our own paraphrase.
- Horse is image-domain The horse denotes harnessed striving power, mount of gods, sun and sea alike, carrying the dead as psychopomp and the living into their conquests.
why
A Scottish water spirit that takes the form of a horse.
Traits
Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.
Form
- Shapeshifts human animal
why
In some variations of the legend, the Kelpie possesses additional shapeshifting abilities, allowing it to assume human form.
Behaviour
- Drowns riders
why
The Kelpie then plunges into the depths of its watery domain, drowning its rider and devouring them beneath the waves.
Offensive powers
- Supernatural binding
why
Once a victim touches the Kelpie, they find themselves supernaturally bound to its back, unable to escape.
Roles
Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.
- Anima carries both readings
5 citations
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Kelpie."
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Death carries
5 citations
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Kelpie."
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Shadow carries both readings
5 citations
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Kelpie."
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Threshold carries
5 citations
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Kelpie."
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Trickster carries both readings
5 citations
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Kelpie."
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Water carries both readings
5 citations
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Kelpie."
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Hero meets
5 citations
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Kelpie."
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Kelpie."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Kelpie."