There is probably no more terrible legendary monster compared to the Kraken, the ruler of the sea which makes the sailors shudder with fear. What is interesting about the legend of the Kraken is the possibility that this legend is probably based on something real.Kraken is a monster who is described as a giant creature that dwells in the sea area of Iceland and Norway. These creatures are called often attack ships passing by rolling it with giant tentacles and pull it down.
Kraken word itself comes from the word "Krake" of the Scandinavian languages are meant to refer to animals that are not healthy or something weird. This word is still used in modern German language to refer to Octopus.
Once the popularity of these creatures so much that he often mentioned in popular films such as Pirates of the Caribbean or the Clash of the Titans. If there is a giant ruler of the sea creatures, then Krakenlah name.
Kraken characterWe may think Kraken is just a part of the tale, but it is not. Kraken designation first appeared in book Systema Naturae written by Carolus Linnaeus in 1735.
Mr. Linnaeus was the first person to classify living things into groups, and studied them. In his book, he classifies the Kraken to the class with the Latin name Microcosmus Chepalopoda. So, arguably that Kraken has a place in modern science.
Erik Ludvigsen Pontopiddan, Bishop of Bergen is also a naturalist, wrote in his book Natural History of Norway, published in 1752 that the Kraken "is undeniable, is the largest sea monsters ever known".
According Pontopiddan, Kraken has a size of an island that floats and has tentacles like a sea star. He also mentioned that these creatures can roll the ship through the tentacles and pull it into the ocean floor. However, according to Pontopiddan, especially the danger of the Kraken is a fierce ripple of water when he dived into the sea. Ripples that could sink the ship that was nearby.
Interestingly, in addition to describing the Kraken as a dangerous creature, Pontopiddan also wrote about the other side of this mysterious creature. He says that the fish in the sea like being near the Kraken. Therefore, the Norwegian fishermen in the know like to take a risk to fish with the boat until just above the Kraken.
If they come home with a lot of catches, the villagers know that the fishermen must have caught the fish just above the Kraken.
Since long, the creature is only considered as part of the mythology of the ancient equivalent of a fairy tale. But when the remains of dead beached monster Albaek, Denmark, In 1853, scientists began to realize that the legend of the Kraken may indeed be based on something real, namely the giant squid (Giant Squid), a colossal squid ( Colossal Squid) or a giant octopus (Octopus Giant).
How a squid or octopus exaggerated to grow?
They could justify attacking a large vessel as depicted in the movies?
Significant sightingsIn 1801, Pierre Denys de Montfort who investigated the subject of the Kraken found that in the Chapel of St.Thomas in St.Malo, Brittany, France, there is a painting depicting a giant octopus is attacking a ship in a way to roll with the tentacles. The incident depicted in the painting was based on real events.
It is said that the ship was a Norwegian ship was off the coast of Angola. When getting the unexpected attack, the sailors on the ship and made a vow to St.Thomas is if they can be detached from this danger, they will make a pilgrimage.
The crew then took an ax and began to fight the monster with tentacles, tentacles cut. Monster went away. As a fulfillment of his vow, the crew then visit the Chapel of St.Thomas in Britanny and hang the painting as an illustration of the events that befall them.
Unfortunately, the events that befell the sailors were not known exactly the year incurred. However, at least, a giant monster attack against a ship can not be regarded as mere myth.
In addition to the story of the painting in the Chapel of St.Thomas, Mr.Monfort also told another encounter with squid or octopus-like creatures giant suffered by captain Jean-Magnus Dens of Denmark, who met with the creature's also off the coast of Angola. The giant creature attacking their ships, and even succeeded in killing three crew members.
The other crew is not standing still and soon took the cannon and fired it into the monster over and over again until he disappeared into the ocean.
Dens captain estimated that monster has a length of 11 meters.
Another story occurred on November 30, 1861. When he was sailing in the Canary Islands, the French crew, Alencton, saw a giant sea monster swimming not far from the ship. The sailors quickly set up the bullets and mortars are then fired in the direction of the monster.
Monsters are scared to swim away immediately. However, Alencton ship immediately directed to pursue it. When they had approached, iron forks immediately dihujamkan into the monster's body and immediately cast nets. When the crew lifted the net, the monster's body broken and crushed and then immediately falls into the water, leaving only a portion of the tentacles.
When the ship landed and the tentacles were disclosed to the scientific community, they agreed that the crew may have seen a giant squid with a length of about 8 meters.
In October 1873, a fisherman named Theophile Piccot and his son managed to find a giant squid tentacles in Newfoundland. Once measured, the researchers concluded that the animal is likely to have a length of up to 11 meters.
In 1924, Frank T.Bullen published a book called The Cruise of the Chacalot. In this book, Bullen tells a wonderful story called occurred in 1875. This story makes Kraken get his eternal enemy, the Pope throwers (Sperm Whale).
According to Bullen, in 1875 she was on a ship that was sailing in the Strait of Malacca. When the full moon night, he noticed a large riakan in water.
"There is a large movement in the sea when the full moon. I grabbed binoculars are always ready in the evening hanger. I saw a huge whale throwers were involved in a great battle with a squid that has almost as big as the whale's body. Head of the whale looks like a nimble hand Just like. Pope was seen being bitten by a systematic squid tentacles. In addition to the black head, the head looks too big squid. Terrible, I never imagined there with the head of the squid. "
Bullen hearing testimony, we may be tempted to say that he was exaggerating, or maybe make that up. However, in October 2009, the scientific community realized that the story told Bullen probably is not just fiction. Giant squid are hostile to the Pope throwers.
In the territorial waters of Japan's Bonin island, marine researchers managed to get a rare photographs showing a whale throwers was eating a giant squid are thought to have a length of 9 meters.
Old grudges never ends.
Giant squid, Colossal Squid and Giant OctopusNow, let us know a little more three giants of our friends may have fueled the legend of the Kraken. I'll start from the Giant Squid or giant squid.
Giant Squid Giant Squid orGiant Squid or the giant squid Architeuthis from this genus has eight species and are known to have a length of up to 13 meters for the females and 10 yards to the male. This size is calculated from the caudal fin to the tip of the tentacles. However, the size of squid could be larger than expected.
In 1880, cut the tentacles found in New Zealand and is expected to belong to the giant squid which has a length of 18 meters. Size is very unusual!
The idea that a giant squid could sink a ship may sound ridiculous Ngada today. However, in medieval times, the size of the ship that we have now. For example, Columbus ships Pinta named only has a length of 18 meters. A 10-15 meter long squid was certain to attack and sink the ship with ease.
Giant Squid behavior is almost never known before until in 2004 when Japanese scientists managed to get 556 pictures of these creatures alive. The squid was caught in a trap is set. When he escaped, one of the tentacles are long 5.5 meter drop. Of this length, the scientists estimate that the creature has a length of 8 meters.
Colossal Squid Colossal Squid orIf we thought the giant squid have tremendous size, then, introduce a single creature, the Colossal Squid Colossal Squid or.
This creature has the Latin name Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni and scientists believe that these creatures can grow up to at least 14 meters in length. This makes it the longest in the world of invertebrates. However, the scientists could not tell how long until these animals can grow.
About Colossal Squid, Dr.Steve O'Shea, a squid from Auckland University said:
"Now we know that these creatures have a larger size than the Giant Squid. Giant Squid is no longer the largest squid out there. Now we have something bigger. In fact it is just simply great, but it is really much greater."
Colossal Squid on the photo above was captured in the Ross Sea and has a mantle length of 2.5 meters. This includes extraordinary size for Giant Squid has the largest known only 2.25 meters long coat. Moreover, the Colossal Squid over the long-believed to still be growing until it reaches a much larger size.
If there Kraken out there, it stands to reason that the Colossal Squid is the main suspect.
So, what's the difference Giant Squid and Colossal Squid?
Giant Squid have tentacles that have only the suction holes and small teeth, whereas Colossal Squid have tentacles are also equipped with sharp hooks. Some even have the 3 end of the hook.
In addition to the two types of squid on top, being this one also has tentacles and can grow in size is amazing, the Giant Octopus.
Giant Octopus Giant Octopus orGiant Octopus or a giant octopus can grow up to 9 meters in length. This long enough to make it a monster feared by sailors. The creature is believed Monfort as the monster who attacked the Norwegian sailors off the coast of Angola that his paintings hanging in the Chapel of St.Thomas.
At present, a theory about a giant squid or octopus is considered as the most plausible explanation of the legend of the Kraken.
If we assume that the European legend that says that the Kraken has a size of an island as "exaggerated", then perhaps the mystery had been solved Kraken.
But, how can we be sure?