Leviathan
Biblical ocean beast
Leviathan is a sea monster from the Hebrew Bible, described in Job and Psalms as a fearsome, untamable creature of the deep.
Thomas Hobbes borrowed the name for his 1651 political treatise arguing that an all-powerful sovereign—the Leviathan—is necessary to prevent the chaos of human nature.
Both uses emphasize overwhelming, almost terrifying power. (Lowercase leviathan is any enormous creature or entity.)
Mythic ocean beast
- serpentCunning, limbless reptile
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
- JobBiblical patience exemplar
Psalms · Isaiah · Tiamat · primordial · abyss · deep · waters · covenant
English political philosopher
- sovereignSupreme in power
- commonwealthState for public good
- stateCondition or mode
- absolutismUnrestricted governmental authority
social contract · authority · monarchy · power · government · body politic · frontispiece · civil war
Prince of demons
- MephistophelesSoul-bargaining demon
- BaphometGoat-headed occult symbol
- hellmouthMonstrous underworld entrance
- sinViolation of divine law
Profound moral wickedness
- cosmic forcesFundamental energies of existence
- KabbalahJewish esoteric tradition
- mysticismPursuit of divine union
- dualityTwofold nature
Rabbinic biblical commentary tradition
- TalmudRabbinic law compilation
- aggadahRabbinic homiletical narrative
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
sport · commentary · oral tradition · homily
sea monster
Mythic ocean beast
- serpentCunning, limbless reptile
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
Job · Psalms · Isaiah · Tiamat · primordial · abyss · deep · waters · covenant · apocalypse
Hobbes
English political philosopher
- sovereignSupreme in power
- commonwealthState for public good
- stateCondition or mode
absolutism · social contract · authority · monarchy · power · government · body politic · frontispiece · civil war · order
Ahab
Beelzebub
Prince of demons
- MephistophelesSoul-bargaining demon
- BaphometGoat-headed occult symbol
- hellmouthMonstrous underworld entrance
sin · envy · seven deadly sins · Satan · prince · hell · fallen
evil
Profound moral wickedness
- cosmic forcesFundamental energies of existence
- KabbalahJewish esoteric tradition
- mysticismPursuit of divine union
duality · impurity · emanation · concealment
Midrash
Rabbinic biblical commentary tradition
- TalmudRabbinic law compilation
- aggadahRabbinic homiletical narrative
- legendUnverified traditional tale
lore · sport · commentary · oral tradition · homily
- amusement parksroller coaster, Ferris wheel, carousel, bumper cars, thrill rides
- BibleOld Testament, New Testament, Holy Scriptures, Adam, Moses
- mythical creaturesdragon, dragons, vampire, vampires, werewolf
- supernatural beingsghost, demon, phantom, specter, banshee
- demonologydemons, devil, Satan, Lucifer, Lilith
- philosophyethics, logic, metaphysics, ontology, epistemology
Leviathananarchy
Disorder from absent authority
statelessness · libertarianism · state of nature · decentralization · individual liberty