Karaken was believed to be a huge sea monster. Norwegian sailors from the 12th century onwards were terrified of it. According to legend, Karaken, who had huge eyes and tentacles as high as a ship’s mast, would disguise himself as an island. When a ship passed near it, he would pull it underwater with his tentacles and gobble up all sailors. Today, science tells us that Karaken was probably a giant squid that the terrified sailor thought to be a monster.
|
