Crocodile
The crocodile denotes voracity lying still at the threshold of water and land, capable of sudden devouring, yet brooding its young with improbable care.
Our paraphrase of what the sources say it carries.
At a glance
- Type
- Image
- Group
- Animal World / Water Creatures
- Borne by
- 3 figures
- Traditions
- Australian Aboriginal folklore (1)Aztec mythology (1)Chinese mythology (1)
- Same group
- Clam/ OysterDolphin
Figures that bear it
A model judged each figure against its own description, one term at a time. Is: the figure is a kind of this thing. Bears: it carries the thing or is marked by it. What a figure does is filed under motifs and powers. Open "why" for the sentence the judgement rests on.
- Cipactli is Aztec mythology
why
In Aztec cosmology, Cipactli is an amphibious, dragon-like creature with crocodile skin and fish fins.
- Kurrea is Australian Aboriginal folklore
why
The Kurrea is a giant crocodile-like monster of Australian Aboriginal Dreaming tradition that turned from hunting animals to hunting people until the warrior Toolalla exploited its fear of the bumble tree.
- Shen is Chinese mythology
why
A serpentine crocodile from Chinese lore, the Shen has dragon's horns and a red mane, with scales that defy the norm.