Legend of the Kraken: Giant Squids and Octopuses

Kraken are one of the most commonly used plot devices in fantasy works today. The word kraken comes from Scandinavia and refers to something twisted or unnatural. In the earliest myths, the physical form of the Kraken was variable – sometimes it was referred to as a ‘crab-fish’, other times it was likened to a whale, but it was always distinct from the sea serpent, which was also a popular motif in Scandinavian lore. Most commonly the Kraken is represented as an enormous octopus or squid.

The poem ‘The Kraken’ by Alfred Tennyson made the concept popular in the western world and inspired Jules Verne’s depiction of the (unrealistically) giant squid in Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea. The legend of the Kraken was also an inspiration for H.P. Lovecraft’s tentacled aquatic god Cthulhu in his short story Call of the Cthulhu. The Watcher in the Water in JRR Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings is depicted as a giant squid-like monster guarding the entrance to the mines of Moria. The Kraken appears in a myriad of other mediums, including in the Narnia series by CS Lewis, the Marvel comic franchise and most recently in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. In Dead Man’s Chest, the Kraken is the last of its kind and is used as a tool of Davy Jones to hunt and destroy rival/enemy ships.

The origin of this myth probably stems from several factors. A majority of legends originate from the ancient desire to explain natural phenomena. Many of the events which are associated with the appearance of a Kraken are explainable by volcanic activity, i.e. Bubbling water and sudden changes in currents. The appearance of the Kraken can be attributed to early sightings of giant squid or giant octopuses.

The largest octopus species in the world is Enteroctopus dofleini. These creatures can grow up to 7m in girth.

Giant squid can grow up to 13 metres in length and have been known to ‘attack’ ships. Their ten tentacles are lined with powerful suckers which are surrounded by a row of tiny teeth. Sperm whales have been discovered which bear scars inflicted by the suckers of giant squid, which gives you and idea of their size and ferocity. Giant squid have been described as early as the first century AD, by Pliny the elder. Giant squid may also be the inspiration for several other mythical sea monsters, including:

• Scylla: a six headed sea monster who would attack passing ships and kill six members of the crew.
• Charbydis: a monster who sucked in vast amounts of sea water before expelling it as a whirlpool.
• Aspidochelone: a giant sea monster commonly mistaken for an island.
• Hydra: this many-headed serpent could grow back a head that that been cut off.
• Cetus: a hideous sea monster, who was the personification of the dangers of the sea and unknown creatures.