The Nature of the Kraken

~ The Nature of the Kraken ~

Until the latter fire shall heat the deep:

Then once by men and angels to be seen,

In roaring he shall rise and on the surface die

-- Alfred Lord Tennyson

The Kraken, which is found primarily in Scandinavian myths, was a huge sea creature. It was said to lie at the bottom of the sea for a long time and then it would rest at the surface. When it was at the surface, sailors would mistake the creature for a chain of small islands, sometimes even landing on the creature and building camp, only to be drowned when the creature submerged. Later myths give the Kraken a romanticized side, by adding that he only attacked ships where unfair men were, leaving those who were fair unharmed.

The kraken was supposed to have very large tentacles, which could seize even the largest ships. Like the Midgard serpent in the Norse myths, the Kraken was supposed to rise to the surface at the end of the world.

Back to Main

Saint Seiya is property of Masami Kurumada/Shueisha; Toei Animation Co.; Ltd Shonen Jump