A wooden sea monster has emerged from the Baltic sea after lying on the ocean floor for more than half a millenium.

The creature, which has ‘lion ears and crocodile-like mouth’, is around 660lbs (300kg) and stood at the prow of a 15th-century Danish warship.

It was carefully lifted from the coast of Ronneby in southern Sweden this week by divers bringing up treasures from the wreck of the ‘Gribshunden’.

A sea monster has emerged from the Baltic sea after lying on the seabed for more than half a millenium

The Gribshunden, which belonged to Danish King John, is believed to have sunk in 1495 after it caught fire on its way from Copenhagen to Kalmar on Sweden’s east coast.

Although the hull suffered extensive damage, the remaining bits make it one of the best preserved wrecks of its kind, dating from roughly the same period as Christopher Columbus’s flagship, the Santa Maria.

‘Last time it looked at the world, Leonardo da Vinci and Christopher Columbus were still living,’ Johan Ronnby, professor of marine archaeology at Sodertorn University, said as the ferocious-looking figurehead, which was intended to scare the enemy, was brought to the surface.

The menacing appearance of figureheads on 15th century ships had the protective function of warding off evil spirits

The creature, carved at the end of an 11-foot-long beam, appears to be holding a person in its mouth.

The wooden creature, which has ‘lion ears and crocodile-like mouth’, is around 660lbs (300kg) and stood at the prow of a 15th-century Danish warship

It was carefully lifted from the coast of Ronneby in southern Sweden this week by divers bringing up treasures from the wreck of the ‘Gribshunden’

When divers was first spotted the figurehead lying on the seabed, they thought its bared-teeth snarl were similar to that of a dog.

This fits with the name of the ship, the Gribshunden, which means griffon-dog.

‘It’s a monster. It’s a sea monster and we have to discuss what kind of animal it is. I think it’s some kind of fantasy animal – a dragon with lion ears and crocodile-like mouth,’ Ronnby said.

‘I’m amazed, We knew that it should be a fantastic figure, but it was over our expectations when we saw it now. It’s a fantastic figure, unique in the world.’

Researchers are hoping to bring more of the wreck to the surface in future. 

They say the hulk is well preserved, because sea worms do not like the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea.

Dating techniques on samples of the ships timbers have already revealed they were sourced from oak trees felled in the winter of 1482, according to ABC.

‘Last time it looked at the world, Leonardo da Vinci and Christopher Columbus were still living,’ Johan Ronnby, professor of marine archaeology at Sodertorn University, said as the ferocious-looking figurehead, which was intended to scare the enemy, was brought to the surface

When divers was first spotted the figurehead lying on the seabed, they thought its bared-teeth snarl were similar to that of a dog

The Gribshunden, which belonged to Danish King John, is believed to have sunk in 1495 after it caught fire on its way from Copenhagen to Kalmar on Sweden’s east coast

Parts of armour and weapons have also been recovered, and are now on display in museums.

Researchers believe the ship was at the forefront of naval technology for its day.

The fire that sunk it came at a time of political upheaval in the region, causing a major setback to King John’s plan to unify Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

‘The ship comes from a time just when Columbus was sailing across the ocean and Vasco da Gama also went to India, and this is the same period and we can learn very much about how the ships were made, how they were constructed since there are no ships left from this time,’ said Marcus Sandekjer, head of the Blekinge Museum, which is involved in the salvage effort.

‘It’s unique in the world and I think there are going to be more excavations around here and we’re going to find some more unique objects. But this … today is just fantastic.’

An image of figurehead from the Gribhunden ship which has just been found at the bottom of the ocean

Ronneby is regarded as the heart of ‘the Garden of Sweden’. The latest discovery was made just off its coast

Researchers believe the ship was at the forefront of naval technology for its day. The fire that sunk it came at a time of political upheaval in the region, causing a major setback to King John’s plan to unify Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Pictured is an illustration of what the figurehead may have looked like on the ship