Kraken Attacking Ship, 16th Century

In Olaus Magnus' 1555 work History of the Northern Peoples, he describes the Kraken, a serpent so bold that it would come out from its underwater cave on bright summer nights to feast on calves, lambs and pigs. This beast was said to be 200 feet long and 20 feet wide and was believed to live outside Bergen. Most disturbing, however, was this beast's flame-red eyes and penchant for eating people. The vicious creature would attack ships and feast on its people as it lifted itself straight up from the water toward the sky. The legend may have originated from sightings of giant squid that are estimated to grow to 40-50 feet in length, including the tentacles. The sheer size and fearsome appearance attributed to the kraken have made it a common ocean-dwelling monster in various fictional works.

1555 • ANIMAL • ARTE • BARCO • CREATURE • CRIATURA • CUENTO POPULAR • CUENTO • DESCONOCIDO • DESCRIPCION • DIBUJO • FLOTA • FOLKLORE • GRABADO EN MADERA • HISTORIA • HISTORICO • ILUSTRACION • IMAGINARIO • LEGENDARIO • MAR • MARINA • MARINE • MARINERO • MÍTICO • MITO • MITOLOGICA • MITOLÓGICO • MONSTER • MONSTRUO • NAUFRAGIO • OBRA DE ARTE • OCEANO • PLANCHA DE MADERA • PUEBLOS • S. XVI • SEA • SIGLO XVI • SIGLO • XILOGRAFIA