Myths & Legends

1. {{ Scottish Myth

2.  A Kelpie is a shape-changing aquaticA Kelpie is a shape-changing aquatic
spirit from scottish myths. Its namespirit from scottish myths. Its name
comes from the scottish gaelic wordscomes from the scottish gaelic words
““cailpeachcailpeach”” oror ““colpachcolpach””. Kelpies are. Kelpies are
said to haunt rivers and streams ,said to haunt rivers and streams ,
normally in the shape a horse . Thesenormally in the shape a horse . These
creatures are evil spirits . The kelpiecreatures are evil spirits . The kelpie
usually appears as a horse beside a riverusually appears as a horse beside a river
. It is especially attractive to children. If. It is especially attractive to children. If
the children decide to ride the kelpie itthe children decide to ride the kelpie it
will never let them get off, he wouldwill never let them get off, he would
drag them into the river and eat themdrag them into the river and eat them
under the waters surface.under the waters surface.
What are Kelpies?What are Kelpies?

3.  Kelpies can also appear inKelpies can also appear in
human form , they canhuman form , they can
appear as a beautifulappear as a beautiful
young woman to lure inyoung woman to lure in
young men to their death.young men to their death.
It can also transorm intoIt can also transorm into
the figure of a hairythe figure of a hairy
human ready to pouncehuman ready to pounce
on unsuspecting travelerson unsuspecting travelers
and crush them to death.and crush them to death.
A Kelpie’s formsA Kelpie’s forms

4.  Kelpies can also useKelpies can also use
their magical powers totheir magical powers to
call a flood to sweep acall a flood to sweep a
traveller down the rivertraveller down the river
until he drowns.until he drowns.
 The sound of a kelpie’sThe sound of a kelpie’s
tail entering the water istail entering the water is
said to sound likesaid to sound like
thunder. If a storm is athunder. If a storm is a
approaching a kelpieapproaching a kelpie
lets out an incrediblelets out an incredible
howl .howl .
PowersPowers

5.  A kelpie has a weak spot: its bridle.A kelpie has a weak spot: its bridle.
Anyone who can get hold of aAnyone who can get hold of a
kelpie’s bridle will have control overkelpie’s bridle will have control over
it and any other kelpie. A captiveit and any other kelpie. A captive
kelpie is said to have the strength ofkelpie is said to have the strength of
at least 10 horses and the stamina ofat least 10 horses and the stamina of
many more. It is rumoured that themany more. It is rumoured that the
MacGregor clan have a kelpiesMacGregor clan have a kelpies
bridle, passed down through thebridle, passed down through the
generations and said to have comegenerations and said to have come
from an ancestor who took it from afrom an ancestor who took it from a
kelpie near Loch Slochd.kelpie near Loch Slochd.
A Kelpie’s weak spot.A Kelpie’s weak spot.

6.  A common Scottish folkA common Scottish folk
tale the kelpie and thetale the kelpie and the
ten children. Havingten children. Having
lured nine children ontolured nine children onto
its back, it chases afterits back, it chases after
the tenth. The childthe tenth. The child
strokes its nose and hisstrokes its nose and his
finger becomes stuckfinger becomes stuck
fast. He manages to cutfast. He manages to cut
off his finger andoff his finger and
escapes. The other nineescapes. The other nine
children are draggedchildren are dragged
into the water, never tointo the water, never to
be seen again.be seen again.
Scottish folk taleScottish folk tale

7.  This is how celtic culture represented kelpies.This is how celtic culture represented kelpies.
Celtic KelpieCeltic Kelpie