The Kraken
Giant squid were myth until they weren't. The legendary sea monster that dragged ships to their doom was dismissed—until science proved enormous cephalopods exist.
For centuries, sailors told tales of the Kraken—a sea monster so vast it could be mistaken for an island, with tentacles that could drag ships to the depths. Scientists dismissed it as myth. Then we discovered giant squid really exist.
Ancient Accounts
According to historical records:
The first written account appears in the 13th-century Old Icelandic saga “Örvar-Oddr.” King Sverre of Norway’s 1180 work describes a creature called “hafgufa.”
Norwegian Bishop Erik Pontoppidan wrote in 1752:
- The creature was so large fishermen mistook it for an island
- When it submerged, it created whirlpools
- It had many arms/tentacles
- It could drag down ships
The Legend
Traditional Kraken lore includes:
- Size of a small island
- Multiple long arms
- Rising from the deep without warning
- Creating whirlpools when diving
- Attacking ships
- Dwelling at extreme depths
Sailors throughout the North Atlantic told Kraken stories for centuries.
Scientific Discovery
What was dismissed as myth began to be validated:
1857: Danish naturalist Japetus Steenstrup confirmed giant squid existence from beached specimens.
1870s: Multiple giant squid washed ashore in Newfoundland, some over 50 feet long.
2004: Japanese researchers photographed a living giant squid for the first time.
2012: Video of a giant squid in its natural habitat was captured.
Giant Squid (Architeuthis)
The actual creature:
- Can reach 43 feet or more (some estimates suggest 60+ feet)
- Has the largest eyes in the animal kingdom
- Lives at depths of 1,000-3,000 feet
- Is rarely seen alive
- Possesses powerful tentacles with serrated suckers
These animals could absolutely have inspired Kraken legends.
Colossal Squid (Mesonychoteuthis)
Even larger:
- Discovered in 1925
- May exceed giant squid in mass
- Has rotating hooks on its tentacles
- Lives in Antarctic waters
- Maximum size unknown—potentially 50+ feet
We still know remarkably little about these deep-sea giants.
Modern Encounters
Large cephalopods continue to be encountered:
- Fishing vessels occasionally catch or hook them
- Whales bear sucker scars from epic battles
- Sonar has detected large objects at depth
- Rare surface appearances still occur
In 2020, a giant squid attacked a paddleboarder in Japan—a very rare shallow-water encounter.
The Mystery Continues
Despite validation of giant cephalopods, questions remain:
- How large do they actually grow?
- Why are they so rarely seen?
- What drives them to the surface?
- Are there even larger species unknown to science?
The deepest oceans remain largely unexplored. The Kraken’s descendants may still hold secrets.
Cultural Impact
The Kraken has influenced:
- Jules Verne’s “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea”
- “Pirates of the Caribbean” films
- Countless works of fantasy
- Scientific interest in deep-sea exploration
The lesson of the Kraken: sometimes legends are based on something real.