It was in the year 565 that the first sighting of the legendary Loch Ness monster was recorded.
The story of the Loch Ness monster appears in the biography of St Columba written by Adamnan, an abbot of the monastery on Iona. The text refers to "aquatilis bestiae" or water beast. This account is one of the many tales of miracles performed by this 6th-century saint.
The story of the Loch Ness monster appears in the biography of St Columba written by Adamnan, an abbot of the monastery on Iona. The text refers to "aquatilis bestiae" or water beast. This account is one of the many tales of miracles performed by this 6th-century saint.
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Adamnan's account has Columba looking for a way to cross the River Ness, he writes that Columba spotted a boat moored on the opposite bank and ordered his travelling companion to swim across the river to fetch it.
While waiting he notices a tribe of Picts burying a man they say had been attacked and killed by a huge 'water beast' whilst swimming river. Columba proceeds to raise the man from the dead by placing his cross on his chest. Shortly after performing this miracle Columba and the gathering crowd watch as the great water beast rises from the depths, attracted to the surface by the splashing of the aforementioned swimming monk. Columba, writes Adamnan, invokes the powers of the almighty and brandishing his trusty cross frightens monsters who quickly swims away. Astonished by what they have just witnessed the heathen Scottish tribe of Picts fall to their knees and are converted to Christianity on the spot and are baptised in the river before the last ripple, caused by the fleeing beast, has disappeared from the water.
I can imagine Nessie swimming from the River Ness into the Loch shouting the immortal words of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator "I'll be back!" and true to his word he was back nearly one thousand years later. The so-called Loch Ness Monster appears for the second time as part of the story of one Fraser of Glenvackie who is said to have slaughtered the last Scottish dragon. This story, written in 1520, states that the dragon was slain but it also states that the creature of Loch Ness had been 'lately seen.'
I can imagine Nessie swimming from the River Ness into the Loch shouting the immortal words of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator "I'll be back!" and true to his word he was back nearly one thousand years later. The so-called Loch Ness Monster appears for the second time as part of the story of one Fraser of Glenvackie who is said to have slaughtered the last Scottish dragon. This story, written in 1520, states that the dragon was slain but it also states that the creature of Loch Ness had been 'lately seen.'
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