Tradition: Icelandic Mythology
Alternative Names: Red Comb, Red Crest
Category: Whale
The Myth
The Raudkembingur is a monstrous whale from Icelandic mythology. It has an elongated, streamlined body measuring 10–20 metres long, with a coffee-brown back, a pink belly, and a bright red crest resembling bristly hair, a horse’s mane, or a row of small fins. Its head has a reptilian appearance, with sharp teeth in both jaws. It swims extremely fast, producing enormous amounts of foam and an ominous neighing sound.
One of the most savage of the illhveli, or evil whales, the Raudkembingur is notorious for attacking and destroying boats. It sometimes pretends to be dead, floating on the surface until a boat approaches, then leaping onto the vessel and drowning everyone aboard. Beluga whales and narwhals follow behind it, feeding on the remains.
The Raudkembingur is so consumed by destruction that it may die of frustration if it fails to destroy a boat during the day. In one tale, a boat escaped by throwing a piece of wood dressed in clothes into the sea. The whale mistook it for a person and repeatedly tried to drown it.
The creature can also pursue its prey until it dies of exhaustion. In one story, a Raudkembingur chased a boat commanded by Eyvindur Jónsson off Fljót. The crew escaped to Saudanesvik, and the whale died, turning the sea red. The boat was subsequently named Hafrenningur, meaning Ocean Runner.
Another tale tells of a cruel young man from Hvalsnes who was cursed by elves and transformed into a red-headed whale. He terrorised Faxafjörður and Hvalfjörður before dying of exhaustion in Hvalvatn Lake while pursuing a priest. Its bones are said to remain there.
Sources
“Rauðkembingur.” A Book of Creatures, July 31, 2015. https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/07/31/raudkembingur/