Before we discuss if Amarok is a lousy creature, we need to know who or what an Amarok is. Creation of the Inuit mythology, the Amarok wolf is not an ordinary wolf.
What is an Amarok Wolf?
An Amarok, according to the Inuit Mythology and Eskimo folklore, is a wolf-like creature found in certain parts of Arctic regions and Greenland. It is a super-sized wolf that is allegedly predatory. Amarok wolf, a solitary creature, is dormant during the daylight and roams by itself during the night time, especially if they’re out to hunt. It is said to devour any person who is foolish enough to go out alone to explore the darkness of the night.
Appearance
Some mythological folklore also discusses the super wolf having larger than-normal claws and fangs, although it is disputed. Another debatable characteristic follows two schools of thought. Some claim that the Amarok wolf is a very dark fur-coated world, whereas others claim it has a white fur coating.
Abilities
Amarok wolf is a creature with supernatural abilities. Amarok can communicate with people although again there are debates about whether it does through speaking with humans or through telepathy. Amarok is deemed to be a creature possessing high emotional intelligence and can understand people and situations. Believed to have an intelligent mind, Amarok can assess and analyze any situation and does not solely act on animal instincts. Ironically, they are fierce creatures with a high capacity to hunt their prey once they’ve set a target.
Nature
With heightened emotional intelligence and the ability to analyze situations, they are creatures that make wise conscience-based decisions. They are there to help people as long as they don’t cross them. They are ferocious but have been said to only react depending on the situation. The idea behind this mythological creature is that it is there to serve a purpose to somebody it comes across. It is referred to as a figure of Moral Integrity and conscience.
Source of Origin
Several Danish legends feature Amarok, including the local tales and tell tales of sorts. A book called ‘Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo’ by Heinrich Johannes Rink, popularly known as Henry Rink also mentions the creature. The tales associated often portray Amarok as a wise creature with immense power and strength. Further, we discuss two tales about the Amarok wolf that help us understand the creature better.
Tale of The Little Boy
This tale is about a small boy who happened to be suffering from stunted growth. Although the reasons are unknown, different folktales have different versions. Some say he was like that by birth, whereas others say that it happened later. So, this boy was very ashamed of his condition, his looks, and his strength. And he wanted to test his capacities and increase his strength. He took it upon himself to find a way and decided he would face Amarok’s wolf.
He set out on his journey in the middle of the night and called out to him. Soon, Amarok appeared in front of him out of nowhere and stood face to face. The little boy showed courage and challenged the Amarok wolf. The creature could have easily eaten him up in a matter of seconds, but instead, he took pity on him. The beast engaged the boy in a mock wrestle, shunning him with his tail almost like a true challenge. A small set of bones fell out of this boy’s body and he looked up at Amarok with contempt.
The Amarok wolf then communicated with the boy explaining to him that those were the reason for his stunted growth and asked him to return to train with him to develop strength. The boy religiously complied and eventually became strong enough to fight 3 bears together. After completing the training, the boy then left for his Village. Everybody stood in awe of the growth this child had attained and he narrated the incident to them, for which they all praised the Amarok!
The Grieving Man and the Amarok Wolf
There was once a man who was grief-stricken because of the death of a person very close to him. Almost in a suicidal state, he started seeking the Amarok and decided he would do something to get the beast to kill him. He was accompanied by another Man as they approached the Amarok cave. They couldn’t find the Amarok but found little pups. The man in a state of fury ended up killing these pups in a very brutal manner and waited to face the Amarok.
Eventually, they decided to leave after coming to senses but were confronted with the Amarok approaching the exit, with a freshly hunted reindeer captured in its mouth. The Amarok had carried this kill to feed its young ones but instead saw them butchered mercilessly. The mourner tried to hide, and the Amarok left the cave quietly and went to the river. It then pulled out a faint look-alike of the man, which turned out to be the soul, and killed it resulting in the man collapsing in the place he was hiding.
The Final Verdict
We believe that Amarok is a mythological creature that minds its own business and does not attack unless meddled with. The two tales above show that the Amarok was a compassionate creature with Supernatural abilities, and it knew how and when to use its strength. The mythological creature depicts righteousness.
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