Learn The History Behind The Mythical Creature Known As The Kraken With These 15 Facts

Ichthyosaur bones were found in a similar pattern to the way that octopi place the bones of their meals. Since the Ichthyosaur is so large, scientists believe that a rather larger creature would have had to have eaten it. 

The Kraken is described as being huge. Stories said that sailors would confused the Kraken for an island and try to sail to it. 

The story of the Kraken comes from a 13th century Norse legend about a father and son who come into contact with two sea creatures. 

The 1750s book The Natural History of Norway by Bishop Erik Pontoppidan said that sailors would lure fish this way, only to have the Kraken come back and eat all those fish. 

The original descriptions of the Kraken portray it as a crab-like creature and less like a squid. 

Most mythical creatures are known for their supernatural abilities, but according to all the legends, the Kraken has none. They're scary and powerful enough, just based on their size. 

There have been stories about multiple giant squids attacking ships that had sailors the world over feeling fearful. 

Zoologist Pierre Denys de Montfort studied giant cephalopods during the 1700s. He studied artwork and urban legends and believed that the Kraken was to blame after 10 ships went missing in one year. 

References to the Kraken have been made in books, poems, art work, television shows and movies since the 13th century. 

Stories said that the Kraken often left behind a giant whirlpool, so even if sailors weren't attacked by the kraken, they worried about being in its vicinity. 

Sir Richard Owen, the man who invented the word dinosaur, was very vocal about the fact that he didn't believe in the Kraken. He thought it was just a giant squid.

Legends say that the Kraken lives deep at the bottom of the ocean floor and uses its tentacles to stay there and hunt for food.