This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA The Kelpies The sculptures and the myths

You may have heard of the Kelpies, but how much do you know about them? Here are facts about the Kelpies. The myths and the sculptures. Plus a questionnaire at the end.

The myth • The kelpie myth says that kelpies, solitary creatures, that live in lochs and ponds across Scotland, are shape-shifting water spirits/monsters, that when on land, take the form of a beautiful horse and when in water their true form shows. A horrible sea monster, that if you climb upon its back you won’t be able to get off and it pulls you to the bottom of its loch or pond. There you would drown a scary death. And some say that after you have drowned the kelpie that killed you eats the flesh, bones and organs of the dead body. All except the heart and lungs. It is also said that Kelpies only kill grown adults. But they would leave behind young children and young women.

The sculptures 1. • The Kelpie sculptures were designed by the sculptor Andy Scott from Glasgow. • The Kelpies stands a tall 30 metres(100 ft). • They are situated in Falkirk, Stirling near the Falkirk wheel. • The building started in June 2013 and were completed in October 2013. • Together the Kelpies weigh a massive 600 tonnes(300 tonnes each) or 300 Clydesdale horses. • It took nine years(3285 days) from the idea to opening of the Kelpies sculptures. • The Kelpies are seen by around more than 50 million people a year. • The Kelpies were designed and built to last at least 120 years. • The Kelpies stand on top of 1200 tonnes of concrete sunk down almost 40 metres on to bedrock to hold them firm. • Each Kelpie has more than 18000 individual bits.

The Sculptures 2. • 30 metres is the same as 6 and a half double decker buses all stacked on top of each other. • A whole horse sculpture in the same scale would be a massive 213 metres. • The Kelpies cost around £ 5 million to build. • They are the largest monument of its kind, and pays tribute to the working horses in Scotland that pulled small boats and barges along the canal. • The names of the Kelpies sculptures are Duke and Baron. Named after two real working horses in Pollock, that are probably still about today.

The task • Without looking at the answers. Fill in the questionnaire on a piece of paper or a jotter, then send your answers back to me on my email gw 13 woolleyeleanor@glow. sch. uk • Use capital letters where needed!!

The Questionnaire • 1. What month did the building for the Kelpies start? • 2. Who designed the Kelpies? • 3. In the myth about the kelpies, what organs would the Kelpie leave after eating the rest of the body? • 4. How tall are the Kelpie sculpture? • 5. Hhat animal would the Kelpies take the form as on land? • 6. How do Kelpies kill people? • 7. What the names of the horses the Kelpies are named after?