Vikings carrying the head of Grendel, the beast that attacked the feasting hall in Beowulf.
Mapping the Menacing Sea Monsters in Medieval and Renaissance CartographyĪlthough any mention of Kraken was omitted in later editions of the Systema Naturae, Linnaeus described the mythical creature in his later work, Fauna Suecica, as a “unique monster” that “is said to inhabit the seas of Norway.” Accounts of the Kraken are believed by many historians to have originated from sightings of the giant squid, which can reach a staggering 59 feet (18 meters) in length.Of Monsters and Men: What Is the Grim Being Known as Grendel from the Epic Beowulf?.Within this scientific work, Linnaeus classified the Kraken as a cephalopod, designating the scientific name Microcosmus marinus. The existence of the Kraken was even acknowledged in scientific texts, including the first edition of Systema Naturae, a taxonomic classification of living organisms by the Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist Carolus Linnaeus. The Hafgufa is supposed to be a reference to the Kraken. It is first mentioned in the Örvar-Oddr, a 13th century Icelandic saga involving two sea monsters, the Hafgufa (sea mist) and the Lyngbakr (heather-back). ( Dieter Holstein / Adobe Stock) The Legendary KrakenĪccording to Scandinavian mythology, the Kraken is a giant mythical sea creature, said to be 1 mile (1.61 km) long, that attacks ships and is so huge that its body could be mistaken for an island. Whether they truly exist in physical form is indeed secondary to their existence in the minds of so many people throughout the world and history.Ī Kraken, a giant mythical creature from Scandinavian folklore, attacking a ship. While the origins of such fabulous creatures are varied, and often disputed, they have played significant roles in human society, serving to stimulate the imagination and desire that is ingrained in human nature to experience more than this physical world. Some mythical creatures, such as the Loch Ness Monster or Sasquatch, continue to be spotted and sought out. From the powerful dragon to the soaring phoenix, these mythical creatures continue to thrill, terrify, entertain, and inspire us. Sometimes living animals or fossils have inspired these mythical creatures. They have filled folklore, stories, songs, and works of art. Mythical creatures, legendary beasts, and supernatural, mystical, and god-like beings have fascinated us since ancient times.
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