Medieval Mermaids: Melusine

The legend of Melusine can be found in European regional folklore, particularly in Germany and the northern and western areas of France and Burgundy. In medieval times, royalty from these regions even claimed to be descended from the goddess or water spirit Melusine. Hey, whatever helps legitimize your claim to the throne, right?

The story usually goes as follows: a knight or king finds a beautiful and mysterious maiden in the woods, often near a stream or spring. They marry on the condition that he gives her one day out of the month, or week to spend alone bathing. He cannot look at her during this time, or speak with her. Things go on happily for a while (usually several years) and they have many children together. But then one day the knight or king's curiosity gets the better of him, and he peeks in on her bathing. He sees her in her true form, half woman on the top, half fish or reptile below the waist, and is greatly disturbed. She leaves with the children never to return.

Here's an illustration from the German translation of the Melusine legend by Thuring von Ringoltingen.

Melusine, Thüring von Ringoltingen, 1456, Germany.

She is also often depicted as a two-tailed siren, as this 15th century illustration shows. Look familiar Starbucks lovers?

For a more in-depth read about Melusine, the legends, and etymology of the name, check out this post on the Origins: What Does History Say? blog.

Mermaid of the Moment: Nuremberg Bible Mermaids

Noah's Ark, Nuremberg Bible, Biblia Sacra Germanica, 1483

The Nuremberg Bible contains a curious woodcut illustration featuring Noah's Ark surrounded by a mermaid, merman and merdog.

The medieval text was printed by Anton Kolberger, a German goldsmith, printer and publisher, who was the godfather of artist Albrecht Durer. 

Here's a color version of the same image. (Click on the image to see it larger.)

Noah's Ark, Nuremberg Bible, Biblia Sacra Germanica, 1483

There are so many interesting and odd little details in this illustration--the bare-breasted (gasp!) mermaid holds a mirror and appears to be combing or tending her hair, while the merman seems to be looking at bearded Noah, who is looking at the dove with the olive branch.

And of course this mer-couple must have a pet, a loyal merdog who accompanies them on this adventure, while a standard four-legged dog looks at the mermaid from the Ark's deck.

I'm also guessing that the small orange/red pyramids towards the back of the picture are the tops of towers, now barely visible due to the complete and catastrophic flood which has been ongoing for 40 days.

I love the simplicity and humor of this illustration. And, it may have inspired me to take a closer look at other 15th century mermaids to see what they're doing.

Look for more medieval mermaids to come.

"The Mermaid" Chinese Film (2016) Poster Design

Recently, I watched "The Mermaid", a Chinese fantasy/action film. It was the top-grossing film in China this year, and I was very curious to see it.

The film was an engaging eco-fable with some romance, comedy and action thrown in, but what I want to highlight here are some of the creative poster designs for the film's promotion.

There's a series of posters created in this gold and white-hued design, showing each of the main characters with their hair styled to reflect their personality/character traits. This one shows Yun Lin as the titular mermaid, Shan, who has a sweet, goofy personality and a split fish tail.

This one seems like it may have started as concept art created for the film's design, as there wasn't a scene like this in the finished film, but it's still a beautiful mermaid image.

I think this one may be my favorite. Again, it doesn't reflect a literal scene from the film, but it captures a bit of the mystery and romance that occurs between the two leads, with Chao Deng pictured here as his character Liu Xuan.

If you're interested in seeing the film, it's available on disc from Netflix (that's how I saw it), and Amazon Video and iTunes.

Mermaid of the Moment: Mermaid & Captain Peg Dolls

Recently my husband and I received these adorable hand-painted peg dolls from a friend. She has an Etsy shop if you'd like to see some of her past projects.

They stand about 3 inches high. I love how the mermaid holds a book (like my blog logo) and she's wearing glasses very much like my 1960's aluminum cat-eye frames. They are too cute.

El Galeon at Newburyport Maritime Days

This past weekend we took a drive up to Newburyport to visit El Galeon, the reconstructed 16th century ship from Spain.

Spain used galleons primarily for cargo transportation during colonial times, but oftentimes they were captured by pirates in the West Indies, as some of that cargo tended to Spanish silver and gold coin.

Maybe this is why I find them romantic. When I look at this ship, I picture a dashing buccaneer gazing over the side, looking at something in the water... something mysterious, beautiful and not quite human...

Howard Pyle must have thought they were pretty romantic too, and based one of his better known pirate illustrations on this type of ship. I got to see "An Attack on a Galleon" in person a few years ago at the Norman Rockwell Museum. The colors are so vivid, they practically leap out at you.

And, looking at it, don't you hear the wind and sloshing waves?

"An Attack on a Galleon," Howard Pyle, 1905, Oil on canvas.

The Daily Mermaid Pillow & Tote Bag Giveaway

Thanks for your patience while I've been putting this together! (My cat is playing Vanna White while napping.)

Starting today, enter for a chance to win the above pictured tote bag and pillow, featuring The Daily Mermaid logo, created by my illustrator hubby George Courage.

Pillow materials and care instructions: Polyester jersey and fleece, removable machine washable cover.
Tote bag materials and care instructions: Polyester jersey, machine washable.

TO ENTER:
Please subscribe to my blog, and leave a comment with your name below this post.

At the end of two weeks, on May 7,  2016 at 12 pm midnight EST, I'll stop taking entries. I'll pick a winner and announce them shortly thereafter. We'll get in touch via email to make arrangements, and then I'll mail the items to you.

The Ballad of the Mermaid by Ruth Moore

Doug Anderson, The Ballad of the Mermaid

Hannah, the storm being done, took down her shawl,
And softly, mindful of her husband's snore,
Stole with her basket down the moonlit path,
To see in secret what had washed ashore.

Three days of wind had stripped the trellis bare
Of trumpet-vine; autumn was cold and late.
A bird's nest on the path forlornly seemed
A summer frippery, quite out of date.

She set a decent rubber on it; then
Easing her body, with rheumatic twinge,
Came to the beach, nor saw, behind, the moon
Make ribald shadow of her, shawl and fringe.

"It's time to pile the punkins. There'll be frost
Before tomorrow morning, I misdoubt.
If I'd have known how cold a night it is,
I'd have thought twice before a-venturing out."

The sea far out withdrawn, the stricken beach
Left lonely to the moon, the whispered stir
Of sucker-shells moved something in her mind.
Bits of inspired gossip came to her;

Unthought of ways of circumventing folk;
A penny saved; the sucking pig grown fat;
"That pan I'll solder; and that tennis ball,
Some youngone, now, will pay a dime for that."

Sure-footed as a cat, but not so light,
She plodded gravely on to where the beach
Ended in ledges and great rows of foam
The shrieking sea had left. Beyond her reach

She saw a gleaming; grunted; peered; and there
Stark in the moonlight, shining silverly,
Beauty forever kept from mortal eyes
Lay in a pool for Hannah's eyes to see.

She saw bright hair afloat on starlit shell,
A frightened hand that beat the hollowed ledge,
White, blood-stained breasts, a torn and delicate fin,
Scales, spattered out like jewels at the edge;

And for a moment, while a thin voice cried
A piercing word she could not understand,
Her mind slipped sideways, seemed to spill itself,
And tumble, with her basket, to the sand.

How had the old wives talked, who, dying late.
Had said a bitter name for what must be
In wait beyond unknown, unearthly foam,
To keep their sailor-men so long at sea?

And after all, 'twas so! She felt the blood
Move in her veins again; she caught her breath
And crushed the terror rising in her throat.
"You hussy! Scaring decent folks to death!"

She stooped and peered, remembering her God.
"You! With your finny tail and yaller hair!
And not a rag to hide you! How'd I be
Flat in a puddle, with my bosom bare?"

There was one thing for decent folks to do,
When devil's spawn like this should drift ashore.
"It ain't a human woman, it's a fish.
It's half a fish; and I've kilt fish before."

The clasp-like knife from her pocket...then, she chilled,
For as she leaned above the white and gold
And shuddering thing, it watched her, in its eyes
Something as veiled as starlight, and as cold.

No, it was not a fish. She struck and fled.
Clumping across the rocks and up the hill,
Leaving her knife to glisten by the pool,
Her basket for the rising tide to fill.

_________________________________________

Ruth Moore, "The Ballad of the Mermaid," excerpt from Cold as a Dog and the Wind Northeast, illustrations by Doug Anderson, Timberhead Ink, 1986.

Custom Tote Bag Giveaway from Vision Bedding

Custom Tote Bag Logo

Custom Pillow Logo

I recently discovered Vision Bedding, an online retailer which creates custom-printed pillows, blankets, tote bags and more. I decided to give them a try.

I've ordered a pillow and a tote bag. They'll have the above images on them. When they arrive I'll be sure to post pics.

And... there will be a giveaway of these same items! I'll post more information on how you can win soon.

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

I recently read the middle-grade fantasy adventure Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly, the first book in the Waterfire Saga. It's about a mermaid world just below the surface of our world, so I'd been curious about it for a while.

It was a fun read that moved very quickly. I thought the characters were engaging, and the author fashioned a rich world with its own Atlantean mythology and history. 

I was also drawn in by the cover which was created using a combination of underwater photography and digital effects.

Here's a short video about how they created the cover:

I'm planning to check out the other books in the series, Rogue Wave and Dark Tide soon, too.