Fossils, The Stuff Of Legends...

[Manticocerasman]

Although we see fossils as facts of evolution and science, this was not always the case and many fossils found during the history of mankind gave birth to some nice stories and legends.

Here is a very well-known story in Belgium that I like to share whit you:

The origin of the name “Antwerpen” the city with one of the biggest ports of Europe.

In the early dark ages Antwerpen was already an important port on the estuary of the “Schelde” with an important economy.

This attracted the attention of the giant “ Druon Antigoon” who then terrorized the whole region and asked heavy toll fees to shippers to access the port.

People who wouldn’t or couldn’t pay where grabbed by the giant and he cut of a hand as payment.

A roman legionair named Silvius Brabo revolted against the giant and killed Antigoon in combat, he cut of the hand of the giant and threw it in the river.

This is how according to the legend Antwerpen got his name .

(Antwerpen could be separated in 2 dutch words: hand (Ant) and werpen which means “hand throwing”)

Of course for us the interesting part is still to come:

Al around Antwerpen are Miocene deposits rich in fossils well known for the fossil shark teeth, but also very rich in cetacean fossils.

The story was based on some bones of “the giant” that where found centuries ago near the center of Antwerpen .

The rib and shoulder blade of “Druon Antigoon” are still visible today in the MAS (museum) in Antwerpen and are fossil whale bones.

I am sure that there are more of those stories based on fossils ( stories like dragons, devils toe-nails,… come to mind)

I wonder if some of you know of stories with similar fossil origins that you would like to share.

Kevin

[xonenine]

fascinating origins, thanks for sharing that story!

[ZiggieCie]

Very nice,stories like that we never hear here.

[snolly50]

This is certainly a fascinating topic. Humankind through time has encountered fossils and endeavored to explain them. A volume I possess that approaches this subject is Fossil Legends of the First Americans by Adrienne Mayor, Princeton University Press, 2005. I am sure there are others. I recall reading an article that suggested fossil origins for the mythological creatures, cyclops and griffin.

[Manticocerasman]

This is certainly a fascinating topic. Humankind through time has encountered fossils and endeavored to explain them. A volume I possess that approaches this subject is Fossil Legends of the First Americans by Adrienne Mayor, Princeton University Press, 2005. I am sure there are others. I recall reading an article that suggested fossil origins for the mythological creatures, cyclops and griffin.

Snolly50, I think I found the article you mention on the website of “National Geographic”

There is a discussion on the book of Adrienne Mayor and a mention of a possible relation between griffin myths and Protoceratops remains.

The link to the article of National Geographic:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/06/0617_050617_monsters.html

[Manticocerasman]

I found another really nice one.

The “Lindwurmbrunnen” or Wyrm fountain in the Austrian town of Klagenfurt

This is the classic tale of a medieval town terrorized by a dragon eating the livestock in the region.

A knight went out to slay the dragon. To remember the event a “dragon” skull was placed in the town hall.

In 1582 an artist borrowed the skull to use as model for the sculpture of a fountain the “Lindwurmbrunnen”

The skull is still present in a museum in the town. It is the fossil skull of a woolly rhino. The fountain can still be admired in Klagenfurt.

Edited June 17, 2015 by Kevin H.

[aplomado]

Here is the fountain mentioned by Kevin... can you squint and make it look like a rhino?

I have read that early Scandinavians found mammoth teeth washed up on the shore and ascribed them to the teeth of giants.

[Fossildude19]

And here is a National Geographic article about the Cyclops myth - a Mammoth skull's trunk hole does kind of look like a single eye.

Regards,

Edited June 17, 2015 by Fossildude19

[Manticocerasman]

Here is an other one from British folklore on the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/fossils/Folklore#intro

I realy like the "fairy loaves" interpretation of echinoids

[Auspex]

The book "Fossil Legends of the First Americans", by Adrienne Mayor (and all her other works on the topic) are pretty interesting.

[Triceratops]

I've heard that one scientist believes that the ledgend of gryphons(half eagle, half lion creatures) was sparked by findings of Protoceratops fossils. These fossils lay near rich gold deposits, possibly giving rise to the Gryphons legendary love of gold.