The seas have always terrified and beguiled mankind. Their almost endless scale, their tumultuous nature and unfathomable depths have led to countless legends and tales which have been spread around the world by those who were actually brave enough to embark across the inky, black watery abyss.
Whether it's Homeric tales of Charybdis and Scylla picking off Odysseus' men in The Odyssey, the Leviathan of Biblical lore, or modern day supposed sighting of Nessy, we've always thought there might be more going on under the waves than might meet the eye.
Early map-makers such as Abraham Ortelius certainly thought this, as he created one of the most beautiful and intriguing maps of Iceland. Around the island, labeled as 'Islandia,' is a menacing menagerie of bizarre watery beasts of unprecedented scale and ferociousness.
These monsters certainly plagued the fears of 16th century fishermen and sailors, but could there actually be some truth to these creatures? Are they merely real-life sea creatures blown out of proportion? Take a look at the pictures and descriptions and see if you can figure out the real life inspiration for the monsters. What creature are they really?
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