Leviathan (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

“*Jiminy Christmas! IT'S A MACHINE!!!*”
―Milo Thatch after seeing the Leviathan's eye
The **Leviathan** is a giant Atlantean artifact that was left near the underwater entrance to Atlantis so
 that it could protect the city from intruders. Being longer than a
submarine, the Leviathan is a mechanical monstrosity that closely
resembles a lobster. According to Milo Thatch,
 the Leviathan's lair has ships from every era, meaning that the giant
has killed many men throughout the centuries. It is also capable of
flight, as seen just before the destruction of Atlantis.

## Description

The Shepherd's Journal
 describes the Leviathan as a sea serpent; while the Bible describes it
as a beast that breathes sparks of fire from its mouth. Milo Thatch
thought this was merely a ruse, however, and thought that it was a
statue. Unbeknownst to him, the Leviathan was, in fact, a real
machination that subsequently attacked the *Ulysses*. Also, the
creature was not even a sea serpent, but a giant, robotic, lobster like
creature. Also, this creature was able to fly, but being submerged only
made it appear to be swimming.

### Abilities and Weaknesses

Being a giant, the Leviathan can easily crush any enemies. It can
easily destroy enemy ships in one blow by launching powerful bolts of
electrical energy from its mouth. However, due to its size, any ship
that manages to elude its capture can get into the entrance to Atlantis,
 where it is too big to fit.

In the original treatment, Milo figures a way to destroy the Leviathan when in a Sub Pod with Helga Sinclair.
 However, this concept was dropped early in pre-production. All that
remains of this are one or two storyboards and an animation test that
also contained an early design idea for Helga.

## History

In *Atlantis: The Lost Empire*,
 three Leviathans are swallowed by a gigantic tsunami
accidentally/purposefully generated by the King of Atlantis. These
machines were used to guard Atlantis, as well as for military purposes.

For nearly 8,000 years, only one of its kind survived the Great
Flood. Due to Atlantis completely forgotten all knowledge to the extent
of welcoming strangers, the Leviathan is eventually forgotten and it
guards the volcanic crater (the only way to Atlantis), destroyed ships
and vessels (including a ship containing the Viking Expedition led by
Thorfinn Karlsefni) which trespassed its domain.

In 1914, it attacks the submarine *Ulysses* for trespassing
on its territory. The submarine is destroyed and it continues its
onslaught by killing 100 crew members in which only the remaining 100
managed get into the crevice and escaped its wrath.

In *Atlantis: Milo's Return*,
 the Leviathan is known to have investigated the return of Team
Atlantis, who returned using the original route instead of using the
volcano for some unknown reason, as they would not have encountered the
being otherwise. It apparently sensed the Atlantean crystal necklaces
the team wore that identified them as Friends of Atlantis and allowed
them to pass. Later on, it is mentioned in passing as a possible suspect
 regarding Kraken attacks, although the Kraken was neither Atlantean nor
 mechanical.

It is unknown what became of the creature after the raising of
Atlantis, but it is presumed that it continues to guard the (no longer
needed) entrance.

## Trivia

The Leviathan resembles a lobster, much like the other Atlantean
 vehicles resemble sea creatures. It (or perhaps another of its kind)
can be seen flying in the movie prologue.

As mentioned by Milo, the creature is one of the three Biblical
 monsters, the others being the Ziz of the sky, and the Behemoth of the
earth, with the Leviathan being of the sea.

The Leviathan may also be similar to a Eurypterid
 also known as a Sea Scorpion, an extinct group of arthropods related to
 arachnids which include the largest known arthropods that ever lived.

In *Once Upon a Time*, the character Lancelot was also known as Leviathan.

The surviving Leviathan's malicious programming resembled King Kashekim Nedakh's
 xenophobia towards visitors (the face resembled the king's).
Ironically, it represents Atlantis' true might before the Great Flood.

The Leviathan's piercing roar during it's pursuit of the
remaining subpods and Aqua-Evacs containing the expedition crew is
actually the roar of a Gallimimus from *Jurassic Park.*