Kraken

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Pen and wash drawing by malacologist Pierre Dénys de Montfort, 1801, from the descriptions of French sailors reportedly attacked by such a creature off the coast of Angola.

A kraken is a huge mythical sea creature. In Scandinavian and Norwegian mythology, kraken lived off the coasts of Norway, Greenland, and Iceland.

Literary works discussed this mysterious sea monster as far back as 1180, according to paleontologist Rodrigo Brincalepe Salvador. The first known sighting was in 1769.

The legend may actually have originated from sightings of real giant squid. They are estimated to grow to 13 meters (40 feet) or more, including the tentacles.

Related pages

Other websites

The dictionary definition of Kraken at Wiktionary
Works related to Kraken at Wikisource
The King's Mirror (See Chapter XII)

References

↑ "Kraken | legendary sea monster | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2025-08-11. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
↑ Fox, Alex. "The Legend, the History and the Science Behind Seattle's New Hockey Team Name". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
↑ Staff, N. P. R. (2013-01-13). "The Kraken Is Real: Scientist Films First Footage Of A Giant Squid". NPR. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
↑ "Sea monsters and their inspiration: serpents, mermaids, the kraken and more | Natural History Museum". www.nhm.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
↑ "Giant squid | Description, Size, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2025-09-03. Retrieved 2025-09-14.

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