Merfolk in History

Author, Arthur Waugh (1960) cites the first recorded merman tale was from Oannes in Babylonia. Oannes had the body of a fish with feet and a human-like head. This sea god brought the knowledge of science and civilization. The merfolk stories emerged later in mythology as the fish-tailed gods Dagon, Derceto, Triton, Artemis, and Poseidon. The change in merfolk from being helpful to harmful happened over time and was influenced by Christian interpretation in the medieval period, where the primary attributes of mermaids became that of the enticing songstress. Later the naturalist theories were presented where mermaids were marine mammals such as dugong and manatees. During the periods of ocean exploration, there were several accounts from famous captains seeing mermaids on their voyages, even some who claimed to have eaten mermaids that taste like veal. One story cited was of a mermaid that washed ashore and was so human-like it was given a burial by local officials.

Merfolk Around the World

Mermaid folktales come from areas all over the world. The Selkies or seal folk from Scotland lived as seals that could shed their skin. The finfolk of Norway were thought to abduct humans as partners. Mami Wata is a water spirit from Africa that is symbolic of healing and fertility. In Japan the ningyo, a fish with a human face and the mouth of a monkey that sometimes has horns, were thought to bring eternal beauty to those that eat them. A common theme with the mermaid folklore throughout the world is that mermaids can live as humans. Stories from many different places portray mermaids as having families with humans, only to leave them to return to the sea.

Most coastal communities around the world have some traditions that have been influenced by mermaid folklore. The duality of mermaids allows for a variety of beliefs. Sailors and fishermen have long traditions of mermaid sightings and superstitions. The mermaids can be beautiful and alluring yet other times they are represented as grotesque and monster-like. The stories of men being lured to their deaths are as commonplace in folklore as those of mermaids falling in love with humans. Mermaid sightings can bring good fortune or warnings, bad luck, and vengeful storms.

The interpretation of the meaning of a mermaid appearance is strongly based on the local folklore.

The text of mermaid folklore was traditionally verbal. Because these folktales had a profound impact on maritime groups the tales were shared over vast distances. Many of the elements in the tales were blended creating an archetype that became commonplace for much of the world’s seafaring groups. For centuries mermaid sightings were reported, particularly in the Atlantic. Columbus, Capt. John Smith and Samuel Purchas, who sailed with Henry Hudson, all had crew members who had reported mermaid sightings (Sax, 2000). Few of the beliefs that mermaids are real survive today. With the introduction of natural sciences, the mermaid sightings are thought to be manatees or other sea mammals.

The Blue Men of Minch. Storm Selkies. Male merfolk that controls the weather.