There are many monsters in the Sea,
But none so perilous as HE,
Old horny Fastitocalon,
Whose mighty kindred all have gone,
The last of the old Turtle-fish.
Fastitocalon was a legendary sea monster, apparently the last of the mighty Turtle-fish. He is only mentioned in Hobbit verse.[1]
Fastitocalon was the size of a small island and vegetation would often grow on his back when not submerged, adding to his deceitful appearance as an actual island. Because of his huge size, sailors landed on his back only to drown when he dove underwater.[1]
Etymology
Fastitocalon derives from the word astitocalon of the Shire-speech (rendered in modern English), which itself is an alteration or corruption of the High-Elven Aspido-chelōne (rendered in Greek, meaning "turtle with a round shield (of hide)"), and "the F was put on by the versifier simply to make the name alliterate".[2]
External links
- Fastitocalon at Wikipedia (a fictional sea creature)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "Fastitocalon"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 255, (dated 5 March 1964); see also "Letter to Eileen Elgar (5 March 1964)" (letter)