Oceanic legends: distinguishing genuine mermaid lore from Disney-inspired tales
In Western cultures, the archetypal mermaid is often perceived as a Disney princess, such as Ariel, or the tragic heroine from Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale. However, an exploration of their historical and global manifestations reveals a far more intricate portrayal.
The popular perception of mermaids owes much to the influence of Andersen's tale, which casts them as hybrid creatures, possessing the torso and head of a woman and the tail of a fish. Conversely, in early religions, there existed fish goddesses which some believe are the ancestors of today's mermaids. Yet, the origins of mermaids remain elusive, as many scholars argue that sirens may have served as the first models for these aquatic creatures.
Famed by Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey, sirens were bird-woman hybrids known for luring sailors with enchanting songs, often leading to their doom. By the 13th century, writer Richard de Fournival had classified three types of sirens, two of which bore a striking resemblance to mermaids. This overlap in features and attributes eventually led to the two mythical creatures becoming interchangeable in Renaissance Europe.
Mermaids were often used to symbolize the unknown and the undiscovered, transforming depending on the bodies of water they inhabited. They could be beautiful, monstrous, seductive, maternal, or a blend of these traits. These ambivalent, powerful figures represent the mysteries and wonders of the ocean.
In Haitian folklore, Lasirèn, a mermaid-like spirit, continues to persist. A symbol of wealth and seduction, she is said to haunt the waters, bestowing prosperity upon those she favors but taking revenge upon those who anger her.
As travelers journeyed across seas, tales of mermaids and sirens were exchanged, with reported sightings recorded throughout history. In 1608, explorer Henry Hudson remarked on a mermaid sighting, detailing that it had the tail of a porpoise and long, dark hair.
During the Renaissance, the lure of these mysterious beings was exploited commercially, as those who claimed to have captured a mermaid sought to showcase their discovery for financial gain. One such example is the Feejee Mermaid, which was brought from Nagasaki to London in 1822.
While Europe and the Americas primarily knew mermaids as partially human, partially fish creatures, Japanese mermaids, or ningyo, were more varied in appearance. Some possessed a horned human head, while others resembled monkey-like or scaled beings. Lore surrounding ningyo often warned of dire consequences for those who interacted with them.
In the 19th century, as Japan opened up to international trade, ningyo began being exported to sideshows in America and Europe, where they were rebranded as mermaids.
Mermaids held a complex role in African cultures, symbolizing the dominance and ambivalence of water in the continent's history. The Yoruba tradition introduced water deities such as Yemonja and Oshun, who were often depicted as mermaids and ruled over the oceans.
In Yoruba mythology, Yemonja is a motherly figure who protects women and children, while Oshun is a goddess of sensuality and fertility. Both deities gained greater prominence among enslaved Africans in the Caribbean and Americas, who invoked them for alleviation from their suffering.
Mythical mermaids have captivated the human imagination for millennia, and their allure continues to endure. Disney's The Little Mermaid is set for a live-action reboot, Beyoncé wore a dress inspired by Oshun in her music video, and Monique Roffey's The Mermaid of Black Conch was awarded Costa Book of the Year for 2020.
Mysterious and enigmatic, mermaids serve as reflections of both the mystical and the unknown in our world and our societies, as well as ourselves.
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The mermaid's image in Western cultures has evolved from Disney princesses like Ariel to encompass the complexities of ancient history, as illustrated by fish goddesses and sirens. Modern history, however, shows a melding of different mythical creatures, such as the confusion between mermaids and sirens in Renaissance Europe, and the variations seen in Japanese mermaids or ningyo. Today, the allure of mermaids is shared across diverse cultures through art, literature, and fashion-and-beauty, demonstrating their enduring presence in pop-culture and entertainment.
