Loch Ness Monster: A History of Sightings

1. The sighting of Saint Columba

The first written record of the Loch Ness Monster dates from the 7th century.  It is described in The Life of St Columba which was written one century later.  St Columba was an Irish monk.  He left Ireland  after a viscous dispute over a copied psalter and came to the land of the Picts. In Scotland he worked as a missionary and diplomat between the waring tribes. During his travels St Columbia encountered a small party burying a man on the banks of the River Ness.  The man had been attacked by a “water beast” while swimming in the river. Hearing this, Columbia asked one of his party to swim across the river.  When the beast came after him Columbia made the sign of the cross and held the monster at bay.

Although this may be evidence for the Loch Ness monster some background information needs to be taken into account.  Celtic mythology contains many myths of serpents and monsters.  St Columba’s story may be a recycling of an existing tale to suit local conditions  It may even be an allegory, declaring that  St Columbia converted those who believed in the old ways to Christianity.  Perhaps there is a reference to an earlier legend in which St Patrick banished snakes from Ireland because snakes referred to the serpent symbolism of the Druids.

The old legends talk of kelpies in the Loch. Outside of the Loch the Kelpie takes the form of a horse.  Should a weary traveller climb on the back of the horse, the legend states that the kelpie would return to the water.  There it would devour its prey.  In Pictish culture this story was an effective way to keep children away from the water’s edge.

Source: Wikipedia

2. The 1933 sightings

The events of 22 July 1933 gave rise to popular interest n the monster and caused the birth of the modern legend.