Kelpies are prevalent throughout Scottish folklore, and almost all bodies of water in Scotland have a unique kelpie story attached to them. Kelpies are thought to be spirits that live in lakes or pools. Some believe that Kelpies even have demonic connotations as they tend to entice victims to a watery grave.
These mythical creatures can appear in horse form, human form, or something in between, with a horse head and fishtail. Aside from the noticeable equine and aquatic qualities, one other way to define kelpies is the appearance of ears that are shorter than normal human ears.
Let’s dive in and enter the watery depths of kelpie-infested mythology.
Origins of Kelpies in Mythology
Kelpies have deep roots in Celtic mythology as guardians of waterways. However, they could also be tied to horse sacrifices performed in ancient Scandinavia or actual human sacrifices to the water gods. The same narrative of shapeshifting water spirits and water kelpies that haunt bodies of water appears throughout many mythologies worldwide.
These methodologies seem to tell the same tale of caution, urging children to stay away from the water’s edge or deep pools unless they want to be dragged to a watery death. The tales also have cautionary warnings for young women to be wary of handsome strangers, especially if they appear in areas believed to be a kelpie’s aquatic habitat.
It’s said that you could recognise a kelpie in human form by looking for backwards hooved feet, or for unnaturally attractive people with water weeds in their hair. Alternatively, kelpies can also appear as a beautiful black horse inhabiting nearby pools or streams of water.
Next time you’re near a body of water, keep an eye out for these characteristics. Now let’s get into Kelpie myths, featuring poor children lost to these malevolent spirits inhabiting water bodies and other intriguing tales.
Kelpies in Scottish Folklore
Almost every Scottish body of water has a resident equine spirit associated with it. Here are just a few kelpie folklore examples of some interesting water kelpie accounts that describe these mythological creatures.
The Loch Ness Monster
Bet you didn’t expect Nessie to make an appearance here, right? The appearance of kelpies is tied to explanations surrounding the existence of the Loch Ness Monster. Although they are two separate entities in Scottish folklore, it is thought that Nessie is simply an overgrown kelpie.
It’s believed that one of the earliest written mentions of malevolent water spirits dates back to the seventh century. The autobiography of Saint Columbus mentions an encounter at the River Ness with a strange aquatic creature responsible for an attack on his companion. Some accounts of the Loch Ness Monster’s description match that of water kelpies, with it having an equine face and fishtail.
The most famous water horse, Nessie, and kelpies (with their equine form) share similar physical attributes, although the Loch Ness creature might simply be on a larger scale.
The Lonely Kelpie Myth
Let’s first examine some background information on kelpies. It’s understood that if you remove the kelpie’s bridle, you can control the creature. We also know that kelpies are shapeshifters, so they can appear as a human or horse-fish hybrid. Now that we’ve established the basics let’s get into the story.
One account, originating from the Island of Balla, tells of a lonely kelpie seeking human companionship. To garner some success in his search for love, the kelpie transforms into a handsome human to win the heart of a human woman he has his eye on.
Their courting seemed to be going well until, one day, she removed his necklace while he was sleeping. This necklace was tantamount to his bridle. By removing his bridle, he transformed back into his half-fish, half-horse form.
Instead of being impressed by the magical being, she decides to capitalise on his immense strength. The woman takes the captured creature to her father’s farm and forces him into slave labour for more than a year — a huge red flag on her part.
Eventually, she seeks out the advice of a wise man on how to turn him back into the handsome young man she was initially interested in. Although her motives for this are unclear, the wise man advises that she simply return what she stole from him. Following suit, the woman returns the kelpie’s necklace, and he transforms back into a human.
The freed kelpie now has a choice. He must decide whether to stay in human form or revert to his kelpie form. He chooses to remain human so that he can marry the young woman he is in love with (despite her blatant mistreatment of him).
Was his choice based on true love or Stockholm Syndrome? I guess we’ll never know, but the main lesson here may be to be wary of the sacrifices you’re willing to make for love.
A Gruesome Kelpie Story
A rather gruesome fairy story recorded a young boy who survived an interaction with a malevolent kelpie.
The solitary creature is said to have magical powers that enable its shapeshifting. These powers also allow it to elongate its back when in equine form to accommodate more riders. The creature is also said to have an adhesive hide which ensures its victims can’t escape once they’re captured.
This tale tells us of a kelpie using all of the above-mentioned powers to lure children to a painful demise. When a group of children came across the kelpie and wanted to ride it, the kelpie then elongated its back to accommodate the children clambering on it.
However, one child didn’t join the others. Maybe due to heightened suspicions about the kelpie or a fear of riding horses, the boy decided to stay on land. Instead of climbing onto the kelpie’s back, the young boy pats the kelpie — which he soon realises is a mistake. His hand is now stuck to the creature’s magical hide.
Some versions of the same story mention that the boy cuts off the attached hand to avoid drowning as the kelpie drags the children into the water. His companions aren’t as lucky.
The surviving boy has to watch helplessly as the rest of the children get dragged down into the watery depths, where they get devoured. They say that only the innards of the lost children were found on the water’s edge, and no other remains.
There are a few other instances and recollections of this story. Some mention nine children, and some say that the surviving boy had a bible in his pocket, which ultimately saved him. Using this as a descriptor for water kelpies gives these water horses a bad and malicious reputation. This tale is often used as a fear tactic to get children to behave or stay away from dangerous bodies of water or unaccompanied horses.
These are only a few of the most famous Scottish folklore retellings surrounding the kelpies myth. You can find further tales throughout folklore. The kelpie’s folklore range extends beyond just being a kelpie in Scotland. They also rear their heads in stories from various other cultures, like Greek, Roman and Scandinavian tales.
Kelpie Counterparts
There are similar creatures to the kelpies of Scotland throughout various cultures.
- Scandinavian folklore: The resident equine spirit in Scandinavia is the Neck and the Brook Horse. While believed to be two separate entities, they are actually the same water spirit. Their tale warns us to avoid swimming on Midsummer’s Eve as it intensifies the malevolent aspect of the creature’s nature.
- Greek mythology: Ancient Greek and Phoenician tales refer to ‘horse monsters’ as Hippocampi, or a hippocampus (singular). A passage in the Iliad mentions these imposing hippocampi pulling the chariot of Poseidon, God of the Seas.
- Norse mythology: While Sleipnir is technically not a relative of the Scottish kelpies, this eight-legged steed deserves an honourable mention. He is the fastest horse in the nine worlds and the child of Loki, the God of Mischief. Sleipnir is also said to carry Odin, the All-Father, to the afterlife after Ragnarok.
These creatures are not only prevalent in these stories but also show up in artistic pieces as well. We’ll be taking a look at a few of these instances below.
Modern and Ancient Art Depicting the Water Horse
There are both visual and written accounts of kelpies. The format of the type of art doesn’t make it any less interesting. So, let’s take a look at some noteworthy depictions of kelpies.
“The Kelpies” Statues
If you’ve been hearing murmurs about “The Kelpies” of Scotland and you’re wondering “What are the Kelpies” or “Where are the Kelpies in Scotland?” We’ve got the answers for you right here.
“The Kelpies” are staggering steel statues in Helix Park, Falkirk. Those imposing structures are modern art installations by Andy Scott. This is the largest equine sculpture not just in Scotland but in the world. It stands at a whopping 30 metres high. The impressively talented sculptor states that he was inspired both by the kelpie myths and by the trailblazing Clydesdale horses that were the driving force behind the improvement of the Scottish economy.
To create this impressive monument for such a creature, the artist first sketched his ideas and then moved on to making models. He then worked with engineers to incorporate technology to make the structure ten times the size of their models.
That’s how the strong steel structures of the Scotland Kelpies came to be. Although made from rigid steel, the artist created them so that they appear to exhibit some movement.
If you’re visiting Helix Park to see the sculptures up close and personal, check out our list of things to do in Falkirk while you’re in the area.
A Scottish Poem
Although not a visual representation of the creature’s nature, there is a somewhat modern poem by famous Scottish poet Robert Burns. The 1786 poem reads:
“When thowes dissolve the snawy hoord an float the jinglin icy boord
Then, water-kelpies haunt the foord
By your direction
An’ nighted trav’llers are allur’d
To their destruction.”
The poem gives us an insight into the malevolent nature of these creatures.
Pict Tribe Stone Art
The earliest depictions of these mythical creatures date back to the 6th and 9th centuries when Pictish stones depicted kelpies or similar creatures. The image on the Maiden Stone depicts something like a kelpie horse, with a tail meant for swimming creatures and the face of a horse.
Roman Mosaics
The depiction of a water horse also shows up in Roman mosaics. There is an image of the hippocampi water horse laid out in mosaic tiles at the thermae (or Roman bathing facilities) in Bath, Somerset. They were seen as an appropriate decoration for these spaces as the creatures were associated with bodies of water.
The Kelpies Mythology Wrap-Up
So, what are kelpies? They are mythical creatures with the top half of a normal horse and the bottom half of a fish. These water horses can use magic to change their shape and transform into human form.
Do kelpies exist? In a loose, representative sense, yes, as shown astonishingly by “The Kelpies” structure in Falkirk. But are they real? Anything can be real if you believe in it enough; that’s the magic of it.
What’s the light-hearted take-home here? Always tread carefully when you’re near Scottish lochs or any body of water, in fact. You never know what’s lurking beneath the surface or on land. Don’t approach unaccompanied horses or suspiciously dazzling young men and women lest you want to get dragged to a watery demise.
