Hans
A Dano-Norwegian missionary who reported a sea monster off Greenland in July 1734.
Hans Egede, a Dano-Norwegian missionary, reported an encounter with a sea monster in July 1734 during a voyage to Godthåb on the western coast of Greenland. He described a most terrible creature, resembling nothing they saw before, which lifted its head so high that it seemed to be higher than the crow's nest on the mainmast. The head was small and the body short and wrinkled, and the unknown creature used giant fins which propelled it through the water. Later the sailors saw its tail as well, and the monster was longer than our whole ship. Ellis (1999) suggested the Egede monster might have been a giant squid.
- First Appearance
- July 1734
- Status
- Deceased
Lore & Background
Hans Egede's account of a sea monster comes from his voyage to Godthåb on the western coast of Greenland in July 1734. He reported a most terrible creature, resembling nothing they saw before. The monster lifted its head so high that it seemed to be higher than the crow's nest on the mainmast. The head was small and the body short and wrinkled. The unknown creature was using giant fins which propelled it through the water. Later the sailors saw its tail as well. The monster was longer than our whole ship. Ellis (1999) suggested the Egede monster might have been a giant squid.
In Their Own Story
In July 1734, Hans Egede, a Dano-Norwegian missionary, was on a voyage to Godthåb on the western coast of Greenland when he observed a most terrible creature, resembling nothing they saw before. The monster lifted its head so high that it seemed to be higher than the crow's nest on the mainmast. The head was small and the body short and wrinkled. The unknown creature was using giant fins which propelled it through the water. Later the sailors saw its tail as well. The monster was longer than our whole ship. Ellis (1999) suggested the Egede monster might have been a giant squid.
Reader's Guide
Hans Egede's report is a notable sea monster account from July 1734. The creature was described as having a small head, short wrinkled body, and giant fins. It lifted its head higher than the crow's nest on the mainmast and was longer than the whole ship. Ellis (1999) suggested this might have been a giant squid. This account is one of many sea monster sightings found in cultures with contact with the sea, and it is likely that many such reports are misinterpreted sightings of known creatures or phenomena.
Did You Know?
- Hans Egede was a Dano-Norwegian missionary who reported a sea monster in July 1734.
- The monster was described as having a head higher than the crow's nest on the mainmast.
- The creature's body was short and wrinkled, and it used giant fins to propel itself.
- Ellis (1999) suggested the Egede monster might have been a giant squid.
- The monster was reported to be longer than the entire ship.
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