Tradition: Greek Mythology
Alternative Names: Asp-Turtle, Fastitocalon, Zaratan, Jasconius
Category: Turtle
The Myth
The Aspidochelone is a gigantic sea creature described in the Physiologus and medieval bestiaries as either a whale or a vast sea turtle. Its enormous back resembles a rocky island, complete with sand and vegetation, making it difficult for sailors to distinguish it from land.
When sailors mistake the creature for an island, they anchor their ships beside it and climb onto its back to rest or prepare food. The heat from their fires awakens the creature, which dives beneath the waves and drags the sailors and their ships into the depths. The Aspidochelone is also said to emit a sweet smell that attracts fish, which it then devours.
The legend appears in the Physiologus, a Christian text dating to around the second century AD, and in later medieval bestiaries. Its story served as a moral allegory: just as the creature deceives sailors with its island-like appearance, Satan deceives people with false promises before leading them to destruction.
Sources
“Aspidochelone.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspidochelone