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The Hamburg Hydra Linnaeus revealed fake
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The Hamburg Hydra Linnaeus revealed fake
Copperplate engraving with hand colouring by J. Chapman 1806 after engraving by Seba in his " Treasury of Natural History" (1734). In 1735 a young Linnaeus visited Hamburg. While there he inspected the famous stuffed seven headed hydra held by the Burgomeister. It had originally been looted from a Church by Count Konigsmark in 1648. Seba believed it was a real animal (as did most) and made this illustration. But Linnaeus saw it was a fake. The jaws and claws were of weasels, the body covered in glued snake skins. He assumed the hydra was made by the monks of the original church as a representation of the apocalyptic beast rather than the Greek mythological animal. When Linnaeus tactlessly made the fraud public, the value of the animal (which the Burgomeister had tried to sell to various Cabinet of Wonders collectors) collapsed. Linnaeus feared an angry response and left Hamburg
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6319303
© This image is Paul D. Stewart 2009. Do not reproduce without permission of the photographer at Stewartpauld@aol.com
Beast Composite Fake Fantastic Fantasy Fraud Hydra Linnaeus Monster Myth Mythology Taxidermy Albertus Seba Chimaera Monstrosity Seba
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the infamous Hamburg Hydra, a legendary creature that once held the curiosity of many. Created in 1806 by J. Chapman after an engraving by Seba in his "Treasury of Natural History" from 1734, this artwork reveals the shocking truth behind the mystical beast. In 1735, a young Linnaeus embarked on a journey to Hamburg and encountered this seven-headed hydra displayed by the Burgomeister. While most believed it to be a real animal, Linnaeus saw through its deceptive facade. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that its jaws and claws were actually those of weasels cleverly disguised as monstrous appendages. The body itself was covered in snake skins meticulously glued together. Linnaeus soon realized that this hydra was not born out of Greek mythology but rather crafted by monks from the original church where it had been looted centuries ago. It served as their representation of an apocalyptic beast rather than an actual creature. When Linnaeus exposed this fraudulent creation to the public, chaos ensued. The value of the hydra plummeted dramatically, leaving both disappointment and anger in its wake for those who had sought to profit from its mystique. This remarkable image transports us back to a time when science clashed with mythological wonders and reminds us how even our greatest fantasies can sometimes be nothing more than elaborate deceptions.
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