Researchers Discover Wooden Sea Monster In The Baltic Sea

On Tuesday divers recovered a wooden sea monster from the Baltic Sea. The object that seems to have been lying on the sea floor for over 500 years has the mouth of a crocodile and lion ears. It was carved from the top of a beam that had eleven feet in length. The ferocious creature was placed at the prow of the ship. It weighs 660 pounds.

It seems that the Danish warship anchored in Ronneby, a northern Swedish town, and caught fire in 1495. The ship sank and along with it other objects sank as well juts like the wooden sea monster.

The wooden sea monster was discovered by experts from Blekinge museum. According to them the object was part of the warship Gribshunden, belonging to the Danish King Hans. It dates from the 15^th century.  The figurehead is in a good condition because the brackish waters in the Baltic Sea do not favor sea worms.

Experts say that the figure is unique, it was meant to scare the enemies. No other object from that period that is similar to this was ever discovered in the world. Actually a very small number of wrecks escaped the sea worms. Even though the hull has suffered extensive damage the ship is considered to be the most well preserved ship that dates back to the same period when Christopher Columbus’ Santa Maria existed.

Johan Ronnby from Sweden’s Södertörn University explained that the figure looks like a monstruous dog that holds something in its mouth. He said:

It’s a monster. It’s a sea monster and we have to discuss what kind of animal it is. I’m amazed. We knew that it should be a fantastic figure, but it was over our expectations when we saw it now. It’s a fantastic figure, unique in the world. There seems to be a person in its mouth and he’s eating somebody. It may depict the very ‘Grip Dog’ that the name of the ship—Gribshunden—reflects.”

Researchers are hopeful that they could recover more pieces from the wreck. This could provide valuable information about how ships were constructed in that period since there are no other ships left from that period. Some pieces of armors and weapons were recovered already and are on display in museums.

Image Source: freemalaysiatoday.com