Post by Icarus on Mar 26, 2008 9:01:19 GMT -5
The Kraken:
From Scandinavia, we have received tales of the Kraken. The principal characteristic of the Kraken is its sheer size, and it has been told over and over again that when the Kraken rose up from the depths of the sea in order to bask in the sun, sailors would mistake the Kraken for an island. This has given rise to the Kraken’s other name, “The Living Island.”
The Living Island would act just like a natural island until one of the humans on top of the “island” would decide to light a fire. As the fire began to burn the Kraken’s skin, it would sink below the surface of the water, drowning the people left on top.
Thus the Kraken has been known as a menace to sailors and has been feared through the centuries. However, the Kraken also caused good fortune for fisherman. It has been told in some tales that whenever the Kraken would rise up from the depths, large schools of fish would be forced upwards. The fisherman only had to take notice of this and throw out the nets and prepare for a large haul.
The Kraken is also said to have a fondness for saints and clergymen. There is one such tale that claims a bishop once was sailing, and at some point, he sighted an island. He thought to claim new territory for the Church and subsequently rowed ashore to this island. The bishop said Mass, then claimed the island as the Church’s property. He then rowed back to the ship. Once back on board, he watched as the “island” sank into the sun and swam away.
No one knows the actual number of Krakens in the world. The number is always said to be small, though, usually one or two, only.
So what is the source of the Kraken? Most people believe that it is the giant squid. In the 19th century, scientists were able to prove the existence of giant squid that reached lengths of eighty feet. The giant squid also likes to float on the surface of the water, and perhaps it is this that sailors mistakenly thought of as “islands” and “sandbars.” While the Kraken is known to snatch sailors off of ships and wreck boats to pieces, giant squid have never been known to do this. However, it is not hard to imagine a giant squid doing these things when looking at its giant tentacles lashing about.
From Scandinavia, we have received tales of the Kraken. The principal characteristic of the Kraken is its sheer size, and it has been told over and over again that when the Kraken rose up from the depths of the sea in order to bask in the sun, sailors would mistake the Kraken for an island. This has given rise to the Kraken’s other name, “The Living Island.”
The Living Island would act just like a natural island until one of the humans on top of the “island” would decide to light a fire. As the fire began to burn the Kraken’s skin, it would sink below the surface of the water, drowning the people left on top.
Thus the Kraken has been known as a menace to sailors and has been feared through the centuries. However, the Kraken also caused good fortune for fisherman. It has been told in some tales that whenever the Kraken would rise up from the depths, large schools of fish would be forced upwards. The fisherman only had to take notice of this and throw out the nets and prepare for a large haul.
The Kraken is also said to have a fondness for saints and clergymen. There is one such tale that claims a bishop once was sailing, and at some point, he sighted an island. He thought to claim new territory for the Church and subsequently rowed ashore to this island. The bishop said Mass, then claimed the island as the Church’s property. He then rowed back to the ship. Once back on board, he watched as the “island” sank into the sun and swam away.
No one knows the actual number of Krakens in the world. The number is always said to be small, though, usually one or two, only.
So what is the source of the Kraken? Most people believe that it is the giant squid. In the 19th century, scientists were able to prove the existence of giant squid that reached lengths of eighty feet. The giant squid also likes to float on the surface of the water, and perhaps it is this that sailors mistakenly thought of as “islands” and “sandbars.” While the Kraken is known to snatch sailors off of ships and wreck boats to pieces, giant squid have never been known to do this. However, it is not hard to imagine a giant squid doing these things when looking at its giant tentacles lashing about.