Karkinos, also known as the Giant Crab (nicknamed Mr. Crabby by Percy Jackson) is a creature which Percy encountered and defeated on the Princess Andromeda.
History[]
Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes[]
In Greek mythology, Karkinos came to the Hydra's aid sent by Hera right when Hercules got the idea to have Iolaus burn the heads so they wouldn't grow back. Hercules saved his nephew by launching himself at the crab with a flying kick between its eyes, it was killed instantly as its shell was cracked and brain was squished. With the crab out of the way, Hercules and Iolaus proceeded to defeat the Hydra.
Afterwards, Karkinos was honored as the constellation, Cancer.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians[]
The Last Olympian[]
| “ | Hey, crabby. I'm just gonna scoot around you so- | ” |
–Percy Jackson to Karkinos, in The Last Olympian | ||
While Percy Jackson was on board Princess Andromeda with Charles Beckendorf on their mission to blow up the ship, Percy had to distracted the monsters so Beckendorf had time to plant the bombs. Percy met Karkinos on the fountain in the middle of the courtyard, he promenades. While fighting it, Percy defeated Karkinos by making the ground slick with water, and then sliding underneath him to stab the Crab in its weak spot, which was the belly, with Riptide. He did this by remembering what Paul Blofis had taught him during their crabbing trip. Karkinos dissolved, leaving behind its empty shell as a Spoil of War.
Appearance[]
| “ | I'm not talking "giant" like $7.99 all-you-can-eat Alaskan king crab. I'm talking giant like bigger than the fountain. The monster rose ten feet out of the water. Its shell was mottled blue and green, its pincers longer than my body. | ” |
–Percy on Karkinos's appearance, in The Last Olympian | ||
Karkinos was bigger than a large water fountain, precisely ten feet tall, its shell mottled blue and green. It had pincers longer than Percy Jackson's body and black eyes full of intelligence and hate. It had a terrible smell, similar to that of garbage. It constantly foamed at the mouth when Percy encountered it.
When fighting Hercules and Iolaus, Karkinos was the size of a chariot wheel.
Abilities[]
- It has hard, powerful pincers longer than a man's body.
- It possesses amazing speed.
- It has a near impenetrable shell.
- It can launch a spray of pressurized water.
Trivia[]
- Assuming it is not the original Karkinos, likely having reformed from Tartarus, it can be assumed Rick Riodan was inspired by the original myth for its appearance in The Last Olympian.