Myths Arise . . .
Centuries ago, people invented explanations for what their astonished eyes saw - - or thought they saw.
1500s: When several large,
unfamiliar sea creatures were
stranded in Norway, people decided
they were mermen.
1854: Professor Japetus Steenstrup of Denmark, the leading cephalopod specialist of his time, concluded that the mythical mermen were very large squid.
1861: An alleged encounter
between a giant squid and French
naval ship fueled the imagination
of author Jules Verne, who used it
as the basis for Captain Nemo's
encounter with a "squid of
colossal dimensions" in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.
1900s: Hollywood embellished the
monster myth in its film version
of Verne's novel.
1874: Photo of first whole squid specimen in Harvey's bathtub
1880: Using Rev. Harvey's
specimen, Professor A.E. Verrill
of Yale University carried out the
first scientific study and
description of the giant squid.
Ocean Planet Exhibition Floorplan
Smithsonian Giant Squid Overview Page
gene carl feldman / gene@seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov