The Kraken was likely a misunderstood encounter with sperm whales hunting giant squids.

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For centuries, Norwegian sailors feared a gargantuan sea monster capable of dragging ships into the abyss. While legends described a many-armed beast, modern analysis suggests these terrifying sightings were actually natural, albeit dramatic, spectacles of sperm whales battling giant squids near the surface of the sea.

The legend of the Kraken, a cryptid of immense proportions, first appeared in a 1646 Norwegian glossary by Christen Jensøn. By the mid-18th century, Bishop Erik Pontoppidan had cemented the creature’s reputation in the English-speaking world, describing it as a massive octopus capable of pulling ships underwater. These accounts often intermixed biological observations with folklore; for instance, the creature was said to create artificial islands or shoals that attracted abundant fish, luring fishermen into danger.

The etymology of the word provides a clue to its origins. Derived from the Old Norse 'kraki', meaning a crooked tree or a drag, the name likely referred to the appearance of the creature’s limbs or the tools used by fishermen. This aligns with early descriptions, such as those by Olaus Magnus in his 1539 map, the Carta marina. Magnus depicted a monster with root-like horns and flaming red eyes, traits that researchers now believe correspond to the bioluminescent photophores of giant squids or the barnacle-covered skin of whales.

The most plausible scientific explanation for the Kraken myth involves the interaction between sperm whales and giant squids. Sperm whales are known to hunt giant squids, which can reach lengths of 10.5 metres. When these predators drag their prey to the surface, the resulting chaos—flaming eyes, thrashing tentacles, and disturbed water—would appear monstrous to observers. This theory is supported by the fact that many sightings occurred during evening hours, when bioluminescence is most visible, and by the historical tendency to conflate these encounters with the 'hafgufa', a mythical whale-like beast from medieval lore.

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