Nuckelavee - the malevolent creature that terrorised Scotland's Northern Isles

In the Celtic nations there are a number of mythological creatures that share the land and waters with humankind. Some are benign, others avoid their human neighbours at all costs. Probably they are the most sensible of all, because of the creatures of the world humans appear to cause the most harm and trouble. Other entities in folklore can be only be seen or heard at times of impending tragedy. There are some that will not cause you harm if you show respect and on occasion placate them. But there are those creatures which feature strongly in traditional beliefs, that are extremely frightening and whose name strikes fear into the heart of all who hear it.

Once such  entity exists around the seas of Orkney, the group of islands situated of the north coast of Scotland. Known by the name Nuckelavee, which is thought to derive from the Orcadian word  knoggelvi, meaning "Devil of the Sea". Accounts vary in regard to the appearance of the Nuckelavee, and what it might look like in the sea, its normal habitat, is not known. However, its description when on land was horrifying. A hybrid of a man and horse like creature with added horrific elements.  Given the strong Viking influence in Orkney it appears to be a fusion of the water horse or Kelpie from Celtic mythology and something from a dark Norse legend.

The Nuckelavee is described as having a head and torso in the shape of a man but with a huge head and a large mouth protruding out like that of a pig. The creature had one single red eye that burned like fire. It had a man's torso attached to a horse's back but with long arms that could reach the ground. To add to the horror of his appearance the creature is without hair and skin. A raw body where his black blood could be seen coursing through his veins. Every pulsating muscle on show. Its intention towards all humans who crossed his path completely malevolent.

The Nuckelavee did not have everything his own way though. There is another being in Orcadian folklore known as the Mither of the Sea. It is said that during the summer months she had the power to keep Nuckelavee under the sea and off the land. However, in the winter the creature could emerge from the depths and walk the land of the Orkney islands. A catastrophe if it had not been for another factor that could curtail the power of the Nuckelavee.  He had a fear of rain of which there is a plentiful supply in Orkney during the winter and an inability to wade through fresh flowing water. So a key to escape this horrific monster was to reach a freshwater loch or river.

Nevertheless, for the people of Orkney this was a feared and loathsome creature. His breath was said to be like a poison that caused harm to life stock and caused crops to fail.  He was also considered to be responsible for epidemics and drought. It was said there was nothing more infuriating to the Nuckelavee than the burning of seaweed to produce kelp. A method used in Orkney from the early 18th and with increasing frequency until the early 19th century. The ash produced was rich in potash and soda, substances sought at the time by the glass and soap. Nuckelavee hated the smell of the smoke and it drove him into an uncontrolled rage. In revenge he would inflict all the horses with a deadly disease known as mortasheen. Not that the Nuckelavee required much of an excuse to cause as much harm as he could to the people and animals of Orkney. He was indeed an evil and malevolent creature.