Amarok

The Amarok (or Amaroq) is a legendary giant wolf in Inuit religion, believed to hunt solitary humans who venture out at night. Unlike typical wolves that hunt in packs, the Amarok is always a solitary hunter.

Danish geologist and Greenlandic scholar Hinrich Johannes Rink documented in the 19th century that Greenlandic Inuit use the term Amarok specifically for this mythical creature, while other Arctic cultures apply the word to wolves in general.

In Rink's collection Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo, several Amarok legends are preserved:

One tale describes a small, bullied boy seeking strength. When he calls upon the "lord of strength," an Amarok appears and wrestles him to the ground using its tail, causing small bones to fall from the boy's body. The Amarok explains these bones had stunted his growth and instructs the boy to return daily. After regular wrestling matches with the Amarok, the boy develops enough strength to overcome three large bears, earning respect in his village.

Another story tells of a grieving man who, upon hearing of an Amarok nearby, searches for it with a relative. Finding her pups instead, the mourner kills them all. When the mother Amarok returns carrying a reindeer in her mouth and discovers her dead offspring, she goes to a nearby lake and pulls out a humanoid form. At that moment, the mourner collapses, as the all-knowing Amarok takes his soul.

Some legends feature humans capturing or killing an Amarok. Scholars believe these myths may have originated from ancient Inuit tales about dire wolves.

In Inuit animism, "amarok" encompasses both the physical wolf and its spiritual essence. The creature specifically targets lone hunters or wolf packs careless enough to roam at night.