Was the Kraken a Real Creature?

By Faun Grey

"Le Poulpe Colossal" by malacologist Pierre Dénys de Montfort, 1801, from the descriptions of French sailors reportedly attacked by such a creature off the coast of Angola. Date 1801 Source de Montfort, P.D. (1801). Le Poulpe Colossal. [pp. 256–412] In: Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière des mollusques, animaux sans vertèbres et a sang blanc. Ouvrage faisant suite aux œuvres de Leclerc de Buffon, et partie du cours complet d'histoire naturelle rédigé par C. S. Sonnini, membre de plusieurs sociétés savantes. Tome Second. L'Imprimerie de F. Dufart, Paris. 424 pp. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.51804

The kraken (/ˈkrɑːkən/) is a mythical ocean beast of colossal proportions, which according to its linguistic origins resembles a massive cephalopod, reportedly dwelling in the waters between Norway and Iceland. Researchers suggest that the mythological Kraken tales likely emerged from early encounters with the giant squid, a real marine creature capable of reaching impressive lengths between 12–15 meters (40–50 feet).

The kraken, a prominent figure in sailors' superstitions and mythos, was initially documented in modern times through a detailed travelogue authored by Francesco Negri in 1700. Following this, in 1734, Dano-Norwegian missionary and explorer Hans Egede provided a comprehensive account, connecting the creature to the legendary hafgufa from medieval tales. However, the most widely recognized early description came from Danish bishop Pontoppidan in 1753. He pioneered the characterization of the kraken as a gigantic octopus (polypus), notorious for dragging ships into the depths. Later, the French malacologist Denys-Montfort conducted groundbreaking research in the 19th century, investigating the possible existence of enormous octopuses (Octopi).

The fearsome man-devouring octopus made its literary debut in French fiction when renowned author Victor Hugo (1866) introduced the pieuvre, a terrifying octopus from Guernsey folklore, which he associated with the legendary kraken. This literary interpretation subsequently influenced Jules Verne's portrayal of the creature, though Verne's work notably lacked distinction between squid and octopus species.

Linnaeus has been linked to indirect references of the kraken in his scientific works. In his documentation of the Microcosmus genus, he described colonial organisms where multiple creatures or growths existed together as a unified entity. Historical scholars have drawn connections between Linnaeus's descriptions and earlier accounts, including Bartholin's depiction of the hafgufa as cetus, and Paullini's description of monstrum marinum, interpreting these collectively as references to the kraken. However, the assertion that Linnaeus annotated the term "kraken" in the margins of a subsequent edition of Systema Naturae remains unverified.ymology

The term "kraken" in English, referring to a sea monster, originates from the Norwegian words kraken or krakjen, which are definite forms of krake ("the krake").

According to a Norwegian dictionary, krake fundamentally means "a misshapen or overgrown tree with a crooked form". The word stems from Old Norse kraki, which shares etymological roots with Old Norse krókr, meaning 'hook', and is cognate with the English word "crook". This etymology is further supported by the Swedish dictionary SAOB, published by the Swedish Academy, which provides virtually identical definitions for the Swedish term and confirms that the root krak is a diminutive form of krok, meaning 'hook/crook' in both Norwegian and Swedish (krake can thus be loosely interpreted as "little crook").

[10] Over time, "krake" evolved to denote any cut tree trunk or stem with twisted outgrowths, subsequently lending its name to various tools and objects derived from such forms, particularly relevant to maritime contexts, including primitive anchors and drags (grapnel anchors) fashioned from cut spruce tops or branchy bush trunks fitted with stone weights, known as krake, or alternatively as krabbe in Norwegian or krabba in Swedish (literally meaning 'crab').  In modern Icelandic, Old Norse kraki maintains similar usage patterns, denoting "twig" and "drag", while also referring to "pole/stake used in pole blockages" and "boat hook".  The Swedish SAOB translates Icelandic kraki as "thin rod with hook on it", "wooden drag with stone sinker" and "dry spruce trunk with the crooked, stripped branches still attached".

<Traditional Scandinavian drag (grapnel anchor) crafted from tree crowns, historically referred to as krake or krabbe in Scandinavian languages, is believed to be the etymological origin of the legendary creature's name.

The term Kraken likely derived its name metaphorically from the concept of "twisted tree" or its associated meaning "drag," since tree trunks with gnarled branches and outgrowths, particularly drags whether wooden or otherwise, naturally evoke imagery reminiscent of a cephalopod or similar creature. This linguistic connection was first significantly documented by Icelandic philologist Finnur Jónsson in 1920.[17] The alternative term krabbe has also been used synonymously with kraken, further supporting the naming theme's connection to drags.

They say there is always some truth in myths and legends, and perhaps the Kraken is no exeption.