The kelpie, or water kelpie (Scottish Gaelic: each-uisge), is a shape-shifting water spirit from Scottish mythology, inhabiting the lochs and pools of Scotland. It has usually been described as appearing as a horse, but is able to adopt human form. Some accounts state that the kelpie retains its hooves when appearing as a human.

Early artistic depictions show kelpies as entirely equine shaped, having two sets of legs, with marine characteristics such as fins (tail or otherwise), scales, a mane of aquatic plant-life or snakes, and backwards hooves.

Kelpies are described as "useful", "hurtful" or "possibly seeking human companionship" with tales describing them as attracting humans onto its back before diving deep underwater leaving its rider to drown.

See also

• water nymph
• mythological melusine
• nixie
• rusalka
• vodyanoy
• water spirit

External links

• Wikipedia — Kelpie