Bestiarium Greenlandica

The world of Greenlandic mythology is inhabited by creatures that have played a vital role in Inuit beliefs and stories throughout the ages. The Bestiarium is a collection of what is generally known about these diverse beings, spirits, and animals.

Maria Bach Kreutzmann was born and bred in Nuuk, and has been fascinated by monsters ever since she was a little girl. She has used Greenlandic mythology and all its colourful creatures in many of her personal projects and has long dreamt of sharing Greenlandic stories in a new and unique way. She graduated from the Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark, in 2012, with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics Art. Since then she has worked in the gaming and advertising industry in Denmark and the UK. In January 2017 she moved back to Nuuk, and has since then worked on the Greenlandic film, culture, and literature scene as an illustrator and project manager with her company, Glaciem House. She is the lead editor, a researcher, and an illustrator for this project. Ujammiugaq Engell was born and bred in Nuuk, where she now lives with her family. She spent some years in Denmark where she read History and Curating at University of Copenhagen. Today she works as a communication manager at Greenland’s National Museum and Archives. Due to her Greenlandic-Danish background, Ujammiugaq has always had a particular interest in sagas and myths as well as the history of the Danish Commonwealth, which she works to share and promote every day. Robin Fenrir Mansa Hillestrøm was born and grew up in Nordsjælland, Denmark, but a series of unexpected events brought him ever closer to Greenland. He studied Culture and Modern History at the University of Greenland, Ilisimatusarfik, having previously read History at the University of Copenhagen. Robin lives in Nuuk where he enjoys the weather and the wonderful view, while he wonders how the past can be shared to make it relevant and help us better understand each other and the world around us. Qivioq Nivi Løvstrøm grew up in Nuuk and Ilulissat with stories about SASSUMA ARNAA and ghost stories about IKUSIK, the northern lights, and QIVITTUT. Qivioq has previously studied Inuit Cultures, Arctic Archaeology and History & Subject Didactics. She is currently studying Culture and Modern History at the University of Greenland, Ilisimatusarfik. She still refuses to whistle at the northern lights. Agust Kristinsson is an Icelandic artist who graduated from the Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark, in 2012, with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics Art. Since then he has worked in the gaming industry and has so far been art director on two games released on PlayStation and Xbox. He has been freelance since 2017 and has added Motion Graphics to his skills—and has barely left his workstation ever since. From there he has worked on countless illustrations, a game, and various Motion Graphics projects. Carina Lillegaard Løvgreen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Character Animation from the Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark, in 2012. Since 2014 she has worked as a supervisor for Characters for the LEGO Ninjago TV series. Ever since childhood she has loved horses and the X-Men universe which, together with her degree, has made her the artist she is today. She has really enjoyed gaining an insight into traditional Greenlandic culture and drawing mythical creatures for this book. Christian Fleischer Rex is a Greenlandic animator and illustrator who studied classic animation at the Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark. Christian has worked on several animated movies in Europe, including “Asterix and the Vikings.” Today Christian lives in Nuuk where he runs his own production company, Deluxus Studio. Here he produces animation, animated explainer videos, illustrations and storyboards, and designs logos for businesses and organizations. In 2008 Christian published the comic “Kaassassuk – the orphan,” based on a Greenlandic story of the same name. Coco Apunnguaq Lynge is an illustrator and visual artist. She specializes in drawing simple, beautiful, and colourful illustrations and characters. Throughout her childhood she was fascinated by cartoons and design, which continue to provide her with inspiration and passion. Coco was born in Nuuk where she lived until she was five years old, after which she moved with her mother and younger sister to Denmark. She has always been proud of her Inuit heritage and was delighted when she was asked to illustrate the Greenlandic mythical creatures in this book. Jonatan Brüsch graduated from the Animation Workshop in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics Art. He has studied at several art colleges and has always been passionate about traditional and digital art. Since finishing his studies, Jonatan has worked on everything from TV series to computer games in places such as Denmark, Germany, and Iceland. He has really enjoyed this project and feels it has given him a better understanding and insight into Greenland’s culture and history. Maja-Lisa Kehlet was born and bred in Nuuk and grew up in a family where art and music were highly valued. She travelled to Denmark at the age of 16 to continue her education and went on to study at the Animation Workshop where she was awarded a bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics Arts in 2015. She has worked freelance on books, cover art, character designs, 3D-based advertising, 3D game development, 3D backgrounds, characters, and developed games. In 2018 she delivered a major illustration to PlayStation in connection with International Women’s Day. She draws as much as she can in her spare time, and is delighted that this guide will help highlight how much there is to discover in Greenlandic mythology.

8 Preface by Maria Bach Kreutzmann 10 A brief history of Greenland by Ujammiugaq Engell A 17 AAJUMAAQ 18 AASSIK 20 AAVERPAK 21 AJAQQISAAQ 22 AKUEQQUTIT 24 ALLAQ 24 ALLIARUTSIT 26 AMAARSISARTOQ 29 AMAROQ 30 AMU 33 ANGIUT 34 ANINGAAQ 37 ANNGIAQ 38 AQAJARORMIORSIORTOQ 39 ARPATTUT 41 ASIAQ 42 ASSAGISSAT E 45 EQALUSSUAQ 46 EQQILLIT 49 EQUNGASOQ 50 ERLAVEERSINIOOQ I 53 IGALILIK 54 IKKIILLINEQANNGEQQISSAARTOQ 55 IKUSIK 55 ILLUKOQ 57 IMMAP NANUA 58 INNERSUIT & ALLIARUTSIT 61 INNERSUIT TAARTAAT 62 INORROOQ 64 INORUTSIT 65 INUARAKASIK 66 INUARULLIKKAT 67 INUSSUAQ SAARNGIINNAQ 68 ISEQQAT 70 ITTUKU K 71 KATSIIA 72 KIIAPPA 75 KILIFFAK 76 KISERMAAQ 77 KUKIFFAAJOOQ 78 KUUPAJEEQ M 79 MAKAKAJUIT 81 MALIINA N 82 NALAARSIK 85 NAPPAASILAT 87 NATTAANNGUAQ 88 NEQIKITSULIAQ 89 NERRERSUUT P 91 PARPALIGAMIK UNIAKATTALIKQ 95 QAJARIAQ 96 QAMALLARLUTIK 98 QAQQAT NAALAGAAT 100 QARLIMAATSOQ 103 QIVITTUT 104 QULLERMIUT 107 QUNGUSSUTARIAQ S 108 SASSUMA ARNAA 113 SERMILISSUAQ 114 SERMIP INUA T 116 TARRAJAARSUIT 118 TIMERSIIT 119 TOORNAARSUK 121 TUNIT 122 TUPILAK U 126 UERSAT INUAT 129 UMIARISSAT 130 Shamans, witches and witchcraft by Robin Fenrir Mansa Hillestrøm 136 Alternative names and spellings 140 Glossary 142 The team behind the book 156 Bibliography