The following annotated
bibliography was written by Michael Zibelman for Kip Wheeler's
English 199 Class, on July 19, 2001.
Annotated Bibliography on the Sea
Serpent
Bright, Charles. Sea Serpents. Bowling Green, Ohio: Bowling
Green State University Popular Press, 1991.
Bright offers a great beginner's book for monster lovers and
serpent enthusiasts as well. The book is short but well rounded. It
includes Olaus Magnus' illustrations of the "Monster Fish." It also
compares Eastern and Northern European serpent myths. Starts with the
Leviathan and the Bible and ends with the Gloucester Sea monster of
1817 and recent sightings of Nessie. Historiography and text analysis
make this one a winner.
Ellis, Richard. Monsters of the Sea. New York, NY: Alfred
A Knoff, Inc., 1994.
One of the best sources I found. Explains everything from
a historian's point of view. Includes the Kraken, Leviathan, Giant Squid.
Nothing is skipped over in this book. Excellent resource.
Encyclopedia Mythica. On-Line at <http://www.pantheon.org/mythica.html>.
Answers some questions on Jormungandr and other mythic sea
beasts from ancient Rome to the present. Includes images if you search
hard enough. Great Links to other Web pages
Habel, Norman C. The Book of Job: A Commentary. London:
SCM Press, 1985.
Lengthy commentary on Job and the Leviathan. Original "Book
of Job" text included. Answers modern biblical scholars' questions on
the Behemoth and Leviathan and explains Leviathan as the mythological
chaos monster of the sea. Goes into depth concerning the heroism of
Job and the capture and the silencing of Leviathan. Helps to create
a starting point for studying all sea serpents.
Magnus, Olaus. Historia De Gentibus Septentrionalibus.
Ed. E.A. Cabejibeba. Hayka: 1983.
Good luck with this one. I hope you can read Magnus' original
1555 Latin account of sea serpents translated into Russian. You might
be able to find it in English through Orbis, maybe. Only redeeming factor:
An exact copy of Olaus' maps detailing the islands and seas where serpents
dwell.
Sturlason, Snorri. The Prose Edda. Ed. Jean Young. Cambridge,
England: Bowes & Bowes Publishers, 1954: 79-80.
The real deal. Written in 1220 CE by Snorri Sturlason. Explains
the Midgard Serpent and its relation to Norse mythology. Excellent primary
source on Norse monsters, serpents, Hymir, and Thor.
Weiser, Artur. The Psalms: A Commentary. Philadelphia:
The Westminster Press, 1962: 663-671.
Weiser provides valuable commentary on Psalm 104 of the Old
Testament. Includes description of the Leviathan Sea Serpent as the
embodiment of the primeval flood and the chaos monster. He also inserts
the Psalm in its entirety. This might be where to start if one needs
to gather evidence of Sea Serpents prior to medieval times.
