The Origins of Supernatural Beings

Creepy Cryptids- The Kraken

The Kraken

The Kraken is a cryptid inhabiting the sea. It is a giant squid large enough to drag a boat to the bottom of the ocean. The most terrifying aspect of the Kraken is that it may not be a legend. The Majority of the ocean remains unexplored. The Earth's surface is 71% covered in seawater, and 95% of those depths are completely unknown to mankind. Scientific studies confirm it is possible for a massive squid to exist, and in an environment so vast and untamed, the prospects of a Kraken lurking under the waves are starting to appear plausible.

The Kraken was a prominent feature of Norse mythology and originates from the Old Norse word "Krake", used to describe unhealthy or deformed animals. In these legends, the Kraken is portrayed as a gigantic creature with a gaping mouth full of sharp teeth and eyes the size of dinner plates. Many accounts compared it to a squid or octopus but clarified the beast was exponentially larger. The description of the Kraken has hardly evolved in the current day. According to the Norse sagas, the Kraken inhabited the coasts of Norway and Greenland. It was the bane of sailors, as it could seize and capsize entire ships with minimal effort.

In 1180 AD, King Sverre of Norway published a manuscript where he described the beast as sometimes appearing like a small island, only to disappear under the waves. Apparently, in 1000 AD, a Christian bishop spotted a small mysterious island and decided to christen it. He served liturgy on the Island and returned to the mainland. As he sailed away, he glanced back to see the landmass sink under the waves. In 1555, Father Olaus Magnus wrote a book called "Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus", which translates to "History of the people of Northern regions". Father Olaus Magnus was a writer, cartographer and Roman Catholic priest. His book contains many fascinating and insightful excerpts describing the mysterious sea beasts.

"There are monstrous fish on the coasts or sea of Norway, of unusual names, though they are reputedly kinds of whales, who show their cruelty at first fight, and make men afraid to behold them; and if men look long on them, they will frighten and amaze them. Their forms are horrible, their heads square, all set with prickles, and they have sharp and longhorns round about... One of these sea monsters will drown easily many great ships, provided with many strong mariners." -Olaus Magnus, Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus

Lent the 40 days before Easter in the Roman Catholic calendar, where devout practitioners will abstain from a habit or activity they enjoy. Currently, followers have the freedom to choose what they will be surrendering for Lent, but during the medieval ages, Roman Catholics were expected to give up animal products like meat, eggs, and milk. Fish was considered an acceptable Lenten food, and so Roman Catholics began to question what animals qualified as fish. The common consensus was that any animal that lived in water was a fish, and could be eaten during Lent. Nowadays, creatures like whales, capybaras, hippopotamuses, beavers, otters, seals, manatees, and walruses are commonly known to be mammals, but Roman Catholics in the medieval era perceived all these animals like fish. To modern audiences, it may sound odd for Father Olaus Magnus to refer to whales as fish, but during those centuries any aquatic or semi-aquatic animal could be referred to as a fish. Capybaras are the largest recognized rodents, and despite being able to walk on land, they need water to keep their skin moist. They were almost hunted to extinction during the medieval ages because the pope decreed they qualified as fish and could be eaten over Lent. The description of fish would have been a lot broader to a Roman Catholic priest like Father Olaus Magnus and could have encompassed any animal that primarily inhabits bodies of water.

"They who in works of navigation, on the coasts of Norway, employ themselves in fishing or merchandise, do all agree in this strange story, that there is a serpent there which is of a vast magnitude, namely 200 foot long, and more –– over 20 feet thick; and is prone to live in rocks and caves toward the sea-coast about Berge: which will go alone from his holes in a clear night, in summer, and devour calves, lambs, and hogs, or else he goes into the sea to feed on polypus, locusts, and all sorts of sea-Crabs. He hath commonly hair hanging from his neck a cubit long, and sharp scales, and is black, and he hath flaming shining eyes. This snake disquiets the shippers, and he puts up his head on high like a pillar and catches away men, and he devours them; this happens not, but it signifies some wonderful change of the kingdom near at hand; namely that the princes shall die, or be banished; or some tumultuous wars shall presently follow." -Olaus Magnus, Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus