October 15-Kraken

Published by Aaron Perez

Published 10/15/2025

Image Credit: Public Domain

    The Kraken's legend hails from Scandinavian folklore, particularly Norse mythology, where it was said to haunt the seas around Norway, Iceland, and Greenland. The term "Kraken" itself derives from Old Norse, evolving from words meaning something twisted or crooked, fitting for a creature with writhing tentacles. Early accounts date back to the 18th century, with Norwegian bishop Erik Pontoppidan describing it in his 1755 book The Natural History of Norway as a massive, island-like monster that could ensnare ships with its arms.

    One of the earliest detailed mentions comes from Scandinavian sailors who reported sightings of enormous sea creatures. These stories likely stemmed from encounters with real ocean phenomena, but they grew into epic tales of doom. For instance, the Kraken was often portrayed as a crab-like entity in older lore before evolving into the octopus or squid we recognize today. By the 19th century, French naturalist Pierre Denys de Montfort popularized vivid illustrations of the Kraken attacking ships, blending myth with emerging scientific curiosity about deep-sea life.

    Interestingly, the Kraken isn't just a standalone myth—it's woven into broader Norse legends, sometimes linked to other sea beasts like the Hafgufa, a massive fish that could swallow ships whole. Historians believe these tales served as warnings for the perils of the sea, explaining shipwrecks and disappearances in an era before modern navigation.

What Does the Kraken Look Like? Descriptions from Lore

    Picture this: a gigantic cephalopod, part octopus, part squid, with tentacles stretching over a mile long and eyes as large as dinner plates. The Kraken is typically depicted as an aggressive, ship-destroying monster, capable of creating whirlpools by submerging quickly or spraying ink to disorient prey. In some accounts, it's so enormous that sailors mistake its back for an island, complete with trees (which are actually its spines or tentacles) and wildlife.

    Folklore describes the Kraken as a harbinger of storms, often rising from the depths during turbulent weather to ensnare vessels. Its tentacles could wrap around masts, pulling ships under, while its massive body created waves that mimicked natural disasters. Some tales even claim it fed on fish by releasing a foul-smelling discharge to lure them close, only to devour entire schools at once. No wonder it struck fear into the hearts of mariners—the Kraken embodied the uncontrollable fury of the ocean.

Real-Life Inspirations: From Myth to Marine Biology

    While the Kraken may be a product of imagination, it's widely believed to be inspired by real creatures: giant squids. These elusive deep-sea dwellers can grow up to 10.5 meters (34 feet) long, with tentacles that match the mythical descriptions. Sightings of beached giant squids in the 19th century fueled speculation, as their massive eyes and arms resembled the monster of lore.

    Modern science has demystified much of the legend. Giant squids (Architeuthis dux) are known to battle sperm whales, leaving scars that echo tales of epic sea clashes. However, they're not aggressive toward humans or ships—most encounters are accidental. Colossal squids, even larger cousins found in Antarctic waters, add to the intrigue with their hooked tentacles and massive beaks. These real animals likely washed ashore or were spotted floating, inspiring exaggerated stories passed down through generations.

The Kraken in Popular Culture

    The Kraken's tentacles have extended far beyond old sailor tales into books, movies, and games. Alfred Lord Tennyson's 1830 poem "The Kraken" portrays it as a slumbering giant awaiting the end of the world. In modern media, it famously appears in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006), where it's a massive, CGI-rendered beast commanded by Davy Jones.

    Video games like God of War and Sea of Thieves feature Kraken battles, while books such as China Miéville's Kraken blend myth with urban fantasy. Even sports teams, like the NHL's Seattle Kraken, draw from the legend for their branding, symbolizing power and mystery. And let's not forget its cameos in cartoons, comics, and memes— the Kraken has truly gone viral in the digital age.

Wrapping Up the Tentacles: Why the Kraken Endures

    From Norse sagas to Hollywood spectacles, the Kraken represents humanity's awe and fear of the unknown ocean depths. While science has revealed its likely origins in giant squids, the myth persists because it taps into our primal instincts about what's hidden below the surface. Next time you're by the sea, spare a thought for the sailors who first spun these yarns— and maybe keep an eye out for unusual ripples!

Sources:

"Giant Squid." Smithsonian Ocean, Smithsonian Institution, ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/giant-squid. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

"Giant Squid." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Oct. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_squid.

"Giant Squid: The Real-Life Ocean Kraken." Live Science, Future US Inc., 15 Sept. 2021, www.livescience.com/giant-squid.html.

"Kraken." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Oct. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraken.

"Kraken in Popular Culture." Wikiwand, Wikiwand, www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Kraken_in_popular_culture. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

"Release the Kraken! The Recontextualization of the Kraken in Popular Culture, from Clash of the Titans to Magic: The Gathering." ResearchGate, 7 Oct. 2016, www.researchgate.net/publication/308918570_Release_the_Kraken_-_The_Recontextualization_of_the_Kraken_in_Popular_Culture_from_Clash_of_the_Titans_to_Magic_The_Gathering.

Sea Monsters and Their Inspiration: Serpents, Mermaids, the Kraken and More. Natural History Museum, www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/sea-monsters-inspiration-serpents-mermaids-the-kraken.html. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

Tennyson, Alfred. "The Kraken." Poets.org, Academy of American Poets, poets.org/poem/kraken. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

"The Kraken." GreekMythology.com, www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Norse/Kraken/kraken.html. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

"The Kraken and Other Marvels of the Northern Seas." Bone and Sickle, 3 Apr. 2021, www.boneandsickle.com/2021/04/03/the-kraken-and-other-marvels-of-the-northern-seas/.

"The Kraken: When Myth Encounters Science." Medievalists.net, 7 Jan. 2015, www.medievalists.net/2015/01/kraken-myth-encounters-science/.

"The Life and Habits of a Colossal Squid." Te Papa, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/colossal-squid/life-and-habits-colossal-squid. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

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