The mermaid legend has been a universal belief for centuries. According to the legend, mermaids, depicted as beings with a woman's upper body and a fish tail, spell disaster for sailors.
Mermaids are part of various beliefs worldwide. Though these legends date back to around 5000 BC, it was in 1000 BC, during the Assyrian era, that the first documented evidence of mermaids was found. In Assyrian sources, mermaids were depicted and portrayed as goddesses, with Queen Semiramis's mother Atargatis, who, after falling in love with a shepherd who died, threw herself into the water to become a fish. However, it's stated that the water only gave her a fish tail and the ability to breathe underwater.
According to common maritime belief, mermaids would appear to sailors at sea, leading them to fall off their ships and perish, or pull them into the water to drown, and in more sinister tales, even sink their ships.
Mermaids are described as creatures living on islands under the name Sirens. Sirens would bask in the sun on cliffs, and upon seeing them, sailors would head towards the rocks, resulting in shipwrecks. In Greek mythology, mermaids are referred to as Nymphs or water nymphs. It's even believed in Greek legends that Alexander the Great's beloved sister Thessalonike transformed into a mermaid after her death.
In Turkish mythology, the mermaid is known as Susulu. Similar to mermaid legends in other parts of the world, they are depicted as fish-tailed girls. Described as exceptionally beautiful, Susulus are also referred to as Sukızı or Suvkıs.
When we look at the legend from a factual perspective, we can understand that the true source of the legend is Manatees. These sea creatures, approximately the size of a human, have arms that resemble human arms due to their way of carrying their babies, and since they are mammals living in the sea, they were often likened to mermaids, giving rise to the legend.
Especially in Christopher Columbus's exploration notes, it's mentioned that he saw mermaids and described them as very ugly. Upon closer examination, it turns out that what he saw was actually a manatee. Sailors who saw manatees portrayed them as mermaids, inciting rebellion by claiming that the ships would sink and they wouldn't return to the mainland.
Mermaids are described as non-speaking beings with long, seaweed-colored hair, existing in oceans, and rivers. Mermaid myths can be found in many cultures, from African to Japanese legends, as well as in English sources and even in the tales of One Thousand and One Nights. Moreover, English sources also mention Sea Men.
According to the widespread belief, mermaids influence sailors and lead them into the water to drown. They also deceive them by singing songs, causing them to fall into the water and lose their way. Therefore, they are considered malevolent creatures. According to Japanese belief, those who consume the flesh of a mermaid become immortal.
While there are various visuals and videos claiming the existence of mermaids, and even reports of witnesses claiming to have seen mermaids in the past and present (most recently in 2012 when construction workers in Zimbabwe halted work claiming they saw a mermaid), their existence remains controversial and has not been scientifically proven.
Post a Comment