 A representation of a Merman from the 17th century |
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| Creature | |
|---|---|
| Grouping | Mythological |
| Sub grouping | Water spirit |
| Similar creatures | Mermaid |
| Data | |
| Mythology | World mythology |
| Country | Worldwide |
| Habitat | Ocean, sea |
Mermen are mythical male legendary creatures who are human male from the waist up and fish-like from the waist down. They are less commonly known than their female counterparts, mermaids.
Contents |
[edit] Mythology
In Greek mythology, mermen were often illustrated to have green seaweed-like hair, a beard, and a trident. In Irish mythology, mermen are described as extremely ugly creatures with pointed green teeth, pig-like eyes, green hair, and a red nose. In Finnish mythology, a merman (vetehinen) is often portrayed as a magical, powerful, handsome, bearded man with the tail of a fish. He can cure illnesses, lift curses and brew potions, but he can also cause unintended harm by becoming too curious about human life. The boto of the Amazon River regions is described according to local lore as taking the form of a human or merman, also known as encantado ("enchanted one" in Portuguese) and with the habit of seducing human women and impregnating them. Chinese mermen were believed to only surface during storms or, in some cases, were believed to have the ability cause storms.
Much like sirens, mermen would sometimes sing to people and gods and enchant them, distracting them from their work and causing them to walk off the deck or run their ships aground. Other stories have them squeezing the life out of drowning men while attempting to rescue them. They are also said to take humans down to their underwater kingdoms.
The actions and behavior of mermen can vary wildly depending on the source and time period of the stories. They have been said to sink ships by summoning great storms, but also said to be wise teachers, according to earlier mythology. A merman, like a mermaid, attracts humans with singing and tones.
[edit] Notable mermen
- The most well-known merman was probably Triton, son of Poseidon and Amphitrite. Although Amphitrite gave birth to a merman, neither Poseidon nor Amphitrite were merfolk, although both were able to live under water as easily as on land. Triton was also known as the Trumpeter of the Sea for his usage of a conch shell.
- Other noteworthy mermen were the Babylonian Oannes and Ea, and the Sumerian Enki.
- Another notable merman from Greek mythology was Glaucus. He was born a human and lived his early life as a fisherman. One day, while fishing, he saw that the fish he caught would jump from the grass and into the sea. He ate some of the grass, believing it to have magical properties, and felt an overwhelming desire to be in the sea. He jumped in the ocean and refused to go back on land. The sea gods nearby heard his prayers and transformed him into a sea god. Ovid describes the transformation of Glaucus in the Metamorphoses, describing him as a blue-green man with a fishy member where his legs had been.
- Norse mythology, in particular Icelandic folklore, has mermen known as Marbendlar.
- In Dogon mythology (not to be confused with the semitic fish god Dagon), ancestral spirits called Nommo had humanoid upper torsos, legs and feet, and a fish-like lower torso and tail.
[edit] Cryptozoology
A "merman" (actually a Fiji mermaid) was supposedly found in Banff, Alberta. It has a display at the Indian Trading Post.[1]
[edit] Entertainment
In some modern works and films however, mermen are portrayed as handsome, strong and brave. They are almost always portrayed wearing no clothing, no matter what the temperature of the water is, with the exception of armour or cloaks in some settings.
- King Triton is a prominent character in Disney's The Little Mermaid franchise.
- The Thirteenth Year (1999) is about a teenage boy turning into a merman.
- In The Little Mermaid animated TV series, an original character by the name of Urchin is a merboy and Ariel's close friend. He shares her love for adventure and is unofficially her adopted brother.
- Erotica author Megan Hussey has written several romantic e-books pertaining to the merman legend, including "A Good Catch" and "Prince of the Seas," released through Silk's Vault publishing, as well as "Azure Masquerade" and "Passion Storm" through Midnight Showcase (in print, audio and e-book versions).[citation needed]
- The Creature from the Black Lagoon could be seen as a modern adaptation of the merman myth.[2]
- One of the main villains in the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series was named Mer-Man; he was the lord of aquatic beings of similar appearance.
- In an episode of Family Guy, after falling overboard from a cruise ship, Lois Griffin is saved from drowning by a merman who, in reverse of tradition, has the upper body of a fish and lower body of a man. The merman, believing all women fantasize about making love with mermen, is incensed when Lois rebuffs his advances. The merman attempts to force himself upon Lois before she pushes him down and leaves him flapping helplessly in the sand.
- Prior to Crisis on Infinite Earths, Supergirl had a romantic interest in Jerro the Merboy, similar to the one Superman had with Lori Lemaris.
- In Kamen Rider Kiva, Bassha is a Merman who takes a form of a young boy, and provides one of Kiva's weapons. He can spit deadly water bubbles.
- In Zoolander (2001), Ben Stiller's character portrays a Merman in a commercial.
- In Funny People (2009), Adam Sandler's character is an actor who played in several fictional movies, including one named "Merman".
- The character Marino in the Bust a Move 4 video game is a merman with green hair and a trident.
- Matthew Arnold's poem "The Forsaken Merman" is based on the story of a merman marrying a human.
- In the comicbook Hellboy, Abe Sapien is an aquatic empath resembling a merman.
- In the videoclip for her song Cherish, North-American singer Madonna runs by the sea with mermen emerging from the water.
[edit] References
- ^ Babin, Tom (2007-01-22). "Banff's oldest celebrity resident". Calgary Herald. http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/entertainment/story.html?id=ff50fd08-c286-4c09-9870-a7d1e48e806c&k=44963. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
- ^ A.W. (May 1, 1954). "Movie Review - The Creature From the Black Lagoon". nytimes.com. The New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9900E3DB1131E53BBC4953DFB366838F649EDE. Retrieved 2009-05-19.