| Bahamut | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Other Names |
Bahamut, Bahamoot, Balhūt |
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First Appearance |
Arabic Legend |
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Created by |
Arabic Legend |
Origin[]
Bahamut, or Bahamoot, according to Zakariya al-Qazwini, is a monster that lies deep below, underpinning the support structure that holds up the earth.
In this conception of the world, the earth is shouldered by an angel, who stands on a slab of gemstone, which is supported by the cosmic beast (ox) sometimes called Kuyutha. Bahamut carries this bull on its back, and is suspended in water for its own stability.The cosmic fish and bull are connected with phenomena of nature, namely the waxing and ebbing of tides, maintenance of the sea-level, and earthquakes. The account which only connects concerns the bull states that its breathing causes the waxing and ebbing of the tides. And since the fish and the bull drink the water running off the earth into the sea, they counteract the tap-off causing sea-level to rise. But the beasts will eventually become engorged, when they will become agitated, or, it marks the advent of Judgment Day.
Iblis, the leader of devils in Islam, almost incited the whale Balhūt into causing a quake, but God distracted it by sending gnats to its eyes. Or alternatively, God had sent a sword-like fish that bedazzled and captivated the giant fish. This account is also found in al-Tha'labi's Qiṣaṣ al-anbīyāʾ, but in that version God forces the whale (Lutīyā) into submission by sending a creature that invaded through its nose and reached its brain.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Bahamut from before January 1, 1929 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
- The Wonders of Creation
- The Pearl of Wonders
- Qiṣaṣ al-anbīyāʾ
- Tafsir al-Thalabi
Notes[]
- In the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing game, Bahamut is the dragon god of justice, and is the first instance of the name being used for a dragon.
- In the Final Fantasy video game series, Bahamut is one of the most prominent summons – monsters that can be brought into battle to fight for their summoner. It appears in almost all installments of the series, with the exception of Final Fantasy II and Final Fantasy XII, where its name is used for the game's final dungeon, Sky Fortress Bahamut.