The Kelpies

The kelpie is a demon capable of taking the form of a horse and originates from Celtic folklore, believed to haunt the lakes and rivers of Scotland and Ireland. It is also present in Scandinavian folklore, where it is known as Bäckahästen (the river horse), and on the Isle of Man, where it is known as Alastyn. [wikipedia]

Now, Scotland celebrates the Kelpies with these approximately 30-meter-tall sculptures, the work of Andy Scotts, installed in the Falkirk area, at the mouth of the Forth, not far from Edinburgh.

Judging from the photos, the visual impact is remarkable, and the landscape impact is not bad either. In a normal country, these things can be done despite the controversy (but, as is right, these are cultural controversies, not political or, worse, criminal ones, as often happens here).

Some, in fact, have wondered why we celebrate kelpies, who, according to tradition, are demons who convince humans to ride them, then drag them into the water and devour them. But ultimately, it is a traditional myth, and by extension, the work also celebrates the horse, which, for centuries up until the Industrial Revolution, played a major role in Scottish civilization.

Here is the site dedicated to the work with more images, including the 1:10 scale models, currently on display at the Field Museum in Chicago.

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