13 August 2023: Holy smokes! Middle of August and we have not put up anything here in almost two weeks! Sorry friends, I guess summer has got in the way combined with a dearth of semi-interesting subjects! This past week, a friend mentioned that when he was fishing recently from a small boat, a whale surfaced and blew, almost along side of him, certainly giving him pause. Not to mention a somewhat elevated heart rate.
That got me thinking of the things I have seen while off shore (on decidedly larger craft) and that led to the following offering on Krakens.
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The deepest parts of the world's oceans can be mysterious and frightening enough without legendary sea serpents and or a colossal octopus with huge eyes lurking about. That still doesn't stop our imaginations from running a bit wild.
For centuries, seafarers have spread legends of the Kraken attacking sailing vessels on the high seas. The giant cephalopod, known for its enormous size and strength unheard of in the natural world, has garnered credit for an untold amount of wreckage that has washed ashore, in spite of a distinct lack in concrete proof of it existing as a real animal.
But the giant squid ended up being real — why not a cryptid like the Kraken?
The Kraken is a legendary sea monster that, in some descriptions, resembles a giant octopus, Architeuthis dux or oversized versions of other squid species.
There are tales of an epic battle between the giant squid and a sperm whale, but the Kraken is so big that it could allegedly conquer sperm whales with a single tentacle.
Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images/Dorling Kindersley
When we say this is a sea creature of epic proportions, we mean it. Imagine each tentacle being large enough to pass for a sea serpent capable of taking out a sperm whale, then picture teeth on the suckers of each tentacle. All this would be in addition to a mouth ringed with sharp, beak-like structures — similar to those of giant squid.
While no beast in scientifically confirmed natural history has actually measured up to the mythical descriptions, it's easy to see why early sailors would fear even the possibility of this kind of monster swimming beneath them.
The origins of the Kraken myth can be traced back to ancient Scandinavian folklore. In Old Norse, the term "kraken" is thought to have evolved from the word "krake," which referred to an unhealthy animal or something twisted or curled.
Legends of the Kraken date back to Viking times.
In Norse mythology, tales of the Kraken emerged as part of the rich tapestry of sea monsters that haunted the minds of seafaring Vikings. These legends described a colossal, squid-like creature capable of pulling down entire ships with its powerful tentacles.
Over time, the Kraken became intertwined with maritime superstitions, with Norwegian fishermen purportedly watching the beast attack ships in the distance and conjure up all sorts of other sea mischief.
The Kraken in Historical Accounts
Historical accounts dating back to the 13th century lend some credence to the existence of the Kraken. Stories from mariners of the time described encounters with massive sea creatures that could fit the descriptions of the legendary Kraken.
Sailors reported witnessing terrifying tentacles rising from the depths, capable of crushing ships and dragging them into the abyss. The consistency of these tales varied enough that skepticism has thus far prevailed.
One popular theory attempting to explain the existence of the Kraken is that it is based on sightings of giant squids. These deep-sea dwellers can reach astounding sizes, with some measuring up to 43 feet (13 meters) in length.
It is conceivable that encounters with such enormous creatures could have spawned exaggerated tales of the Kraken. The elusive nature of giant squids and their preference for the depths of the ocean may explain why these sightings were sporadic and shrouded in mystery.
According to Edie Widder, an ocean researcher who captured footage of a giant squid, told NPR: "The reason we know giant squids exist is that they happen to float when they die. But we really [have] only explored 5 percent of the ocean, and I think we've explored that in the wrong way. I think we've scared a lot of animals away. So what about the stuff that doesn't float when it dies?"
Who knows what could be lurking in the darkness of the deep ocean?
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Who knows, indeed! When you are out on the water, keep a weather eye peeled for tentacles reaching up from the depths!
As a matter of interest [certainly to us] this might be the final episode of our 10th years (yes, we began this blog in 2014!) as we embark on our eleventh year in about a week. What a journey! 540 posts, 153,050 readers, worldwide! Who would have imagined Maritime Maunder would last this long! Clearly, we did not!
Until next time!
Fair Winds,
Old Salt
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