The Icelandic Sea Monster Catalogue

Record summary

Icelandic manuscript traditions include catalogues and descriptions of sea monsters, later known through works such as the Icelandic sea-monster maps and accounts associated with the bishopric of Hólar. These sources classify creatures by shape, behavior, and danger, making them valuable for comparing folklore taxonomy with environmental experience. They are not uniform sighting records: manuscript copying, Christian interpretation, and cartographic symbolism affect the material. A researcher should identify the particular manuscript, compiler, and date rather than treating “the Icelandic catalogue” as one document.