A huge worm-like monster from Linton

The story of this Scottish Riptide dates back to 1100 years. In ancient legend tells about a terrible huge worm-eater, who used to scare people in the village of Linton, County Roxburghshire that in the southern highlands of Scotland.

According to legend, the worm of Linton was rather large and reached 3-4 meters in length, the size of course is not particularly giant, but for worm or even snake is very large. And if it was a real creature, these dimensions virtually eliminate any known British animal - wild or domestic - which could be the source for these legends. Also in legends it was said that the worm had two homes or two lairs.

One of them was in the center of the area called Linton Loch is a small swampy area, the perfect place for a monster to hide from people.

The other monastery was in Linton hill, which even today is sometimes called the Lair of the worm (Worm's Den).

This animal appears to float and also move by land, and, besides the fact that he ate people, he ate everything, what I ran across: cows, sheep, pigs, vegetables - everything was food for the monster. It is quite natural that the people of Linton were constantly in a state of intense fear. People were once again afraid to leave their homes, and doors and Windows were always locked. Even the farmers tried to be at home than working in the fields.

This continued until, until Linton was not a man named John de Somerville (John de Somerville). It is also known under the name of the Laird of Lariston. When John decided to kill the worm, a local blacksmith had forged for him, the razor-sharp spear. During the battle with the monster John drove a spear into the throat of the worm. In agony, the worm rushed to his lair and furiously wriggled his whole body, palsy the hills.

When they reached Linton hill, he was hiding in his hole in the ground and not heard and not seen him. At the local Church after the battle had erected a bas-relief in honor of the victory over the worm. In our days this bas-relief there is little that can be seen, can see only the broad outlines of the objects. It is possible to see the rider in armor on a horse that long, thick spear strikes a creature in the open mouth. Next to the worm see the outlines of another living being, believed to be the lamb.

Today Linton is mostly visited by tourists and legends about the huge worm has become an important part of local folklore. But who was this worm or serpent, it is difficult to understand. Can be lived to the human era reptile from the time of the dinosaurs?

Translated by «Yandex.Translator»