Introduction
Over the centuries, the name of Leviathan has existed across various cultures, religions, and philosophies. It’s often associated with mighty sea creatures, mythological monsters and even political theories. The name Leviathan takes on different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. For some, it personifies a fearsome sea monster from ancient lore; for others, a symbol of government control and order.
So here in this article, we will discuss the explanations of Leviathan, its history, and how it manifests in different fields (i.e. Religion, Literature, movies, and modern culture).
Table of Contents
Leviathan in Religion and Mythology
Leviathan in the Bible
One of the earliest references to Leviathan appears in the Bible. As a creature of the sea that was made by God and far stronger. Leviathan is described in The Book of Job (41:1-34) as a gargantuan, fire-breathing serpent, incapable of being tamed by humans. It represents chaos, destruction and God’s power to nature.
The leviathan is mentioned again in the Book of Psalms (74:14), where it is written that the beast was defeated by God, who gave its body to be consumed by the children of the wilderness. It could represent the triumph of good over evil.
Leviathan in Other Mythologies
The Leviathan is also found in cultures outside of the Bible. In the ancient myths of Mesopotamia, there was levied a primordial sea monster known as Tiamat who represented chaos and that was vanquished by the god called Marduk. Lotan also features in Canaanite mythology as a serpent monster that must be defeated by the storm god Baal.
You can refer to Leviathan in Political Philosophy
The term Leviathan is also well known in political philosophy due to the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes. He termed such a powerful government as the Leviathan (1651) needed for keeping peace and order in society.
Hobbes thought that strong government was necessary to avoid chaos and danger. He made the case that citizens should surrender some of their liberties to a sovereign in return for security and order. The Leviathan should be strong enough to rule society and stop violence.
This notion is still a topic of discussion, and in today’s world of debating how much power should governments have over citizens.
Leviathan in Literature and Pop Culture
Leviathan in Books
Leviathan has come up in numerous books, both as a monster and a symbol of might. Notable examples include the following books:
- Moby-Dick by Herman Melville — While the narrative acknowledges that the book features a white whale, some interpret Moby-Dick itself to symbolize Leviathan, an inscrutable and primal force.
- On some mad science! Leviathan (Leviathan, Book 1) by Scott Westerfeld — set in an alternate WWI where Leviathan is a living giant flying creature used as a war machine.
- The Bible – We saw earlier that Leviathan is a major figure in religious texts.
Leviathan in Film and Television
Leviathan has also crossed over into films and television series. A few common examples of these include:
- Supernatural (TV Series) — Based on the show, Leviathans are ancient creatures of immense power that are challenging to kill.
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – in the film, the Kraken (a huge sea monster) is compared to the Leviathan.
- Pacific Rim – The Kaiju (giant monsters) in the film resemble Leviathan in their enormous size and destructive power.
Leviathan in Video Games
Leviathan also serves a role in many video games as an enemy or a powerful character, including:
- Final Fantasy – Leviathan is depicted as a massive sea serpent that can create massive waves.
- Black Flag – The game features a legendary sea monster inspired by Leviathan.
- Mass Effect – Leviathans are ancient, powerful beings who wield a mysterious influence over the game’s story.
Leviathan: In Science, Nature
The term Leviathan has been used to refer to great sea beasts, especially whales. In the 19th century, fossils of a prehistoric whale known as Leviathan melvillei — after Herman Melville, the author of Moby-Dick — were discovered. The predator gave us our first glimpse of an ancient whale with large chunks of teeth, and was among the most fearsome predators of the time.
The name Leviathan is also used metaphorically for the deep ocean and for unknown creatures that may dwell there. With the size and elusive aspect of these deep-sea denizens, creatures like giant squid and colossal squid are likened to the mythical Leviathan.
Modern Culture and Symbolism Standards of Leviathan
Day One, the word Leviathan can mean a number of things:
- In Business — Large corporations and powerful organizations, when we talk about them from a distance and when they are non-personal, are even referred as to “Leviathans” because of how they are shaped by size and effect they have.
- In Politics – Politics — Leviathan Politics — Leviathan Governments that have too much power over people are described as Leviathan, inspired by Hobbes.
- Art and Music – Many artists and musicians invoke Leviathan to symbolize power, danger, or mystery.
Conclusion
Leviathan has many definitions, including one ancient sea monster and one representing government’s might. It appears in religion, philosophy, literature, movies, science. Sea monster of chaos or tectonic force of control, Leviathan remains a product of the human imagination.
