The legend of the Kraken - The ruler of the seas

Probably no legendary monsters more terrifying than the Kraken, the ruler of the seas that made the sailors shudder with fear. What is interesting from the legend of the Kraken is the possibility that this legend may be based on something real.

Kraken is a monster who is described as a giant creature that dwells in the sea area of Iceland and Norway. These creatures are referred to often attack ships that pass by way of rolling it with its giant tentacles and pull it down.

Kraken word itself comes from the word "Krake" from the Scandinavian language meaning refers to animals that are not healthy or something weird. This word is still used in modern German language to refer to Octopus.

Once the popularity of these creatures to the point that he was often mentioned in popular films such as Pirates of the Caribbean or the Clash of the Titans. If there is a giant creature ruler of the ocean, then Krakenlah name.

Character Kraken

We may think Kraken is just a part of the tale, but they are not. Kraken designation first appeared in book Systema naturae written Carolus Linnaeus in 1735.

Mr. Linnaeus was the first person to classify living things into the class-faction. In his book, he classifies the Kraken in the group with the Latin name Microcosmus Chepalopoda. So arguably if Kraken has no place in modern science.

Erik Ludvigsen Pontopiddan, Bishop of Bergen, who is also a naturalist, once wrote in his book Natural History of Norway, published in 1752 when the Kraken "is undeniable, is the largest sea monster ever known."

According Pontopiddan, Kraken has a size of an island that floats and has tentacles like a sea star. He also mentions that this creature can roll up a passing ship with tentacles and pulled into the ocean floor. However, according to Pontopiddan, danger, especially from the Kraken is sweeping the ripple of water when he dived into the sea. Ripple that could sink the ship that was nearby.

Interestingly, in addition to describing the Kraken as a dangerous creature, Pontopiddan also wrote about the other side of this mysterious creature. He mentions that the fish in the sea near like Kraken. Since then, the Norwegian fishermen who know this love to take risks to catch fish by bringing his ship to be just above the Kraken.

If they are home with a lot of catches, the villagers know that the fishermen must have caught the fish just above the Kraken.

Since long, these creatures are only considered as part of the ancient mythology of the equivalent of a fairy tale. But when the remains of this monster carcasses washed up on beach Albaek, Denmark, In 1853, scientists began to realize that the legend of the Kraken may indeed be based on something real, namely the giant squid (Giant Squid), colossal squid ( Colossal Squid) or a giant octopus (Octopus Giant).

How exaggerated a squid or octopus can grow?

They could justify attacking a large ship as depicted in the movies?

Significant sightings

In 1801, Pierre Denys de Montfort who investigated the subject of the Kraken found that in the Chapel of St.Thomas in St.Malo, Brittany, France, there is a painting depicting a giant octopus attacking a ship by way of rolling with the tentacles. The incident depicted in the painting was based on real events.

It is reported that the ship was a Norwegian ship was off the coast of Angola. When getting an unexpected attack, the sailors on board and then make a vow to St.Thomas that is if they can be separated from this danger, they will make a pilgrimage.

The crew then took the ax and started to fight the monster with tentacles cut-tentacles. Monster went away. As a fulfillment of that vow, the crew then visited the Chapel of St.Thomas in Brittany and hang the painting as an illustration of the events that befall them.

Unfortunately, the events that befall the sailors were not known exactly the year incurred. However, at least, a giant monster attack on a ship could not properly be regarded as mere myth.

Besides the story of painting in the Chapel St.Thomas, Mr.Monfort also told another encounter with a creature like a giant squid or octopus suffered by captain Jean-Magnus Dens of Denmark, who met with the creature's also off the coast of Angola. The giant creature attacking their boat and even managed to kill three crewmen.

The other crew members who had not been idle and immediately took the gun and fired it into the monster again and again until he disappeared into the ocean.

Dens captain estimated that monster has a length of 11 meters.

Another story occurred on November 30, 1861. When he was sailing in the Canary Islands, the French crew, Alencton, watch a giant sea monster swimming not far from the ship. The sailors quickly set up bullets and mortars that later ditembakkannya toward the monster.

Monsters are scared to swim away immediately. However, Alencton ship immediately directed to chase him. When they got closer, iron forks immediately dihujamkan into the monster's body and immediately cast nets. When the crew raised the net, the monster's body broken and crushed and then immediately fell into the water, leaving only part of the tentacles.

When the ship landed and the tentacles were disclosed to the scientific community, they agreed that the crew might have seen a giant squid with a length of about 8 meters.

In October 1873, a fisherman named Théophile Piccot and his son managed to find a giant squid tentacle in Newfoundland. Once measured, the researchers concluded that the animal is likely to have a length up to 11 meters.

In 1924, Frank T. Bullen published a book called The Cruise of the Chacalot. In this book, Bullen tells a remarkable story that referred to occurred in 1875. This story makes Kraken get his eternal enemy, the Pope throwers (Sperm Whale).

According to Bullen, in 1875 she was on a ship that was sailing in the straits of Malacca. When the full moon night, he noticed a big riakan in water.

"There's a big movement in the sea when the full moon. I grabbed the binoculars night that is always ready in hanger. I saw a huge whale throwers were involved in a great battle with a squid that has a body almost as big as whales. Head of the whale that looks like a nimble hand Just like. Pope was seen being bitten by a systematic squid tentacles. In addition to the black head, also seen a large squid head. Terrible, I never imagined there squid with a head that big. "

Hearing testimony Bullen, we may be tempted to say that he exaggerated or maybe just made it up. However, in October 2009, the scientific community realized that the story told Bullen probably is not just fiction. Giant squid are hostile to the Pope throwers.

In the territorial waters in the Bonin islands in Japan, marine researchers managed to obtain rare photographs showing a whale throwers are eating a giant squid is estimated to have a length of 9 meters.

Old grudges never ends.

Giant Squid, Colossal Squid and Giant Octopus

Now, let us know a little further three giants of our friends may have triggered the legend of the Kraken. I will start from the Giant Squid or the giant squid.

Giant Squid or colossal squid

Giant Squid or the giant squid Architeuthis from this genus has 8 species and are known to have a length up to 13 meters for the females and 10 yards to the male. This measure is calculated from caudal fin to tip of tentacles. However, the size of this squid could be bigger than expected.

In 1880, pieces of tentacles found in New Zealand and is estimated to belong to the giant squid which has a length of 18 meters. Size incredible!

The idea that a giant squid could sink a ship may sounds corny Ngada today. However, in the Middle Ages, the size of the ship is not as great as we have now. For example, Columbus' ship Pinta named only has a length of 18 meters. A 10-15 meters long squid was certain to attack and sink the ship with ease.

Giant Squid behavior is almost never known before until in 2004 when Japanese scientists succeeded in getting 556 photos of this creature alive. The squid was caught in a trap is set. When he managed to escape, one of the tentacles that have a length 5.5 meters off. From this length, the scientists estimate that the creature has a length of 8 meters.

Colossal Squid

If we thought the giant squid already has tremendous size, then, introduce a single creature, the Colossal Squid or colossal squid.

This creature has a Latin name Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni and scientists believe that these creatures can grow up to at least have a length of 14 meters. This makes it the longest in the world of invertebrate animals. However, the scientists could not tell until how long these animals can grow.

About Colossal Squid, Dr.Steve O'Shea, squid expert from Auckland University said:

"Now we know that this creature has a size larger than the Giant Squid. Giant Squid is no longer the biggest squid out there. Now we have something bigger. In fact it is just simply great, but it is really much greater."

Colossal Squid at the photo above was captured in the Ross Sea and 2.5 meters in length coat. This measure includes remarkable because of Giant Squid has the largest known only 2.25-meter-long coat. Moreover, the Colossal Squid over long believed to still be growing until it reaches a much larger size.

If there Kraken out there, then certainly if Colossal Squid is the main suspect.

So, what's the difference Giant Squid and Colossal Squid?

Giant Squid tentacles only have suckers that have holes and small teeth, while the Colossal Squid has tentacles are also equipped with sharp hooks. Some hooks even has 3 tip.

In addition to two types of squid on top, being this one also has tentacles and can grow in size remarkable, namely the Giant Octopus.

Giant Octopus

Giant Octopus can grow up to 9 meters in length. This long enough to make it a monster feared by the sailors. Monfort trust this creature as a monster who attacked the sailors off the coast of Norway in Angola that his paintings hanging in the Chapel of St.Thomas.

These carcasses washed up on beach St.Augustine, Florida in 1896. Believed to be a Giant Octopus

At present, the theory about a giant squid or octopus is considered as the most plausible explanation of the legend of the Kraken.

If we assume that the European legend that says that the Kraken has a size of an island as "exaggerated", it probably already solved the mystery of Kraken.