History of Kraken in Timeline

The Kraken is a legendary sea monster of immense size, resembling a giant cephalopod, said to inhabit the Norwegian Sea. The legend likely stems from sightings of giant squid, which can reach impressive lengths. The Kraken has become a popular figure in various forms of media, often depicted as a terrifying and powerful creature of the deep.

1917: Hafgufa Translated to Kraken in English

In 1917, an English translator of the King's Mirror opted to translate hafgufa as kraken.

1920: Finnur Jónsson Explains 'Horven' as Alternative Name for Kraken

In 1920, Finnur Jónsson explained that, besides Kraken, the monster also went by the name "horven", an alternative form of harv (harrow), suggesting that the name came from the inkfish's action of seeming to plough the sea.

1920: Finnur Jónsson Favors Identifying Kraken as Inkfish

In 1920, Finnur Jónsson favored identifying the kraken as an inkfish (squid/octopus) on etymological grounds, linking it to Pliny's tale of the giant polypus.

1920: Finnur Jónsson Expresses Skepticism About Kraken's Origin

In 1920, Finnur Jónsson, having come to the conclusion that the kraken probably represented an inkfish, expressed his skepticism towards the commonly accepted notion that the kraken originated from the hafgufa.

1920: Finnur Jónsson Remarks on Kraken's Name Origin

In 1920, Icelandic philologist Finnur Jónsson notably remarked on the figurative origin of the name Kraken, linking it to "crooked tree" or "drag", due to the cephalopod imagery evoked by crooked branches and drags.

1928: H.P. Lovecraft Creates Cthulhu

In 1928, H.P. Lovecraft created the character of Cthulhu, a giant, squid-like humanoid creature embodying the horror originating with the idea of the mythological serpent and is a modern depiction of the kraken.