Introduction
Mermaids are believed to be creatures of the deep sea, Which have features similar to that of a human being and that of an aquatic being. It is believed that these creatures are half human beings and half fish, where the upper body is made up of human-like features and the lower part is made up of aquatic features similar to that of a fish. The stories of Mermaids have really been captivating, dating for many centuries back. It is, however, important to note that the way they are portrayed has significantly transformed over the centuries, and it reflects the evolving cultural context, the societal beliefs and the religious norms. The purpose of this paper is to look at the difference between mermaids of contemporary popular culture and the mermaids of the water deities of ancient myths and indigenous religions.
From Divine Entities to Alluring Sirens
In ancient myth, an indigenous religion, the water deities, which are now referred to as mermaids, had a lot of power and, most of the time, had powerful positions which are directly linked with the creation, untamed forces of nature and even fertility. Atargatis is a good example of the water deities. She is a Syrian goddess in charge of fertility who came from the sea (Britannica). It water symbolizes the life and the abundance that the goddess has. There was also Sedna, who was a goddess of the sea for the Inuit community (Bacchilega). The goddess was in charge of the hunt and human destiny. In the book The Penguin of Mermaids, the deities are viewed to be creatures of great knowledge and blessings, and that is why their music is wonderful to hear (Bacchilega et al., p.66). It, therefore, showed that the ancient myth and religions had immense respect for the ocean power, and that is why they were given duties which were of great importance. It is also important to note that these gods had a mixture of human and aquatic features.
In contrast, contemporary mermaids are often given a rule which is playful in nature and alluring. A good example is Disney’s Ariel. She is a mermaid who embodies youthful desires and rebellion (Scholing). The movie depicts mermaids As beings that do not have power. Rather, they are related to human beings and, most of the time, share the same characteristics, such as a craving for romance. That is why we see the character Ariel sacrificing her voice so that she can obtain human legs and get an opportunity to find the love of her life. The way the characters are also portrayed shows how it has become a trend of using mermaids to sexualize female characters in popular culture. It, therefore, reduces the superiority that the deities have in the indigenous culture to objects of male desire.
Shifting Context and MediatizationMediati
From the historical and cultural context that portrays mermaids, they have been given a superior role in nature (Britannica). From the ancient myth, these creatures are used to explain the natural phenomena that take place, while for the contemporary, they have been used to serve as entertainment for the people. The creatures were of great importance to the indigenous religions in the sense that these creatures had deeper symbolism and cultural significance. (Britannica) Mass media, like films and social media, has focused only on visual and emotional engagement, disregarding the true meaning that these creatures have and what they symbolize in the society of old.
Nature, Gender and Sexuality
The relationship that exists between mermaids and nature is also another area that has a huge difference between the two perspectives. Ancient water deities depicted the power that the ocean has, while the contemporary mermaids, in many cases, symbolize a romantic version of nature. The contemporary popular culture, therefore, shoes the trend that the current society has, which sees nature as only a giver of leisure and beauty rather than a force which needs to be respected and well understood.
Nevertheless, the way mermaids are portrayed has been greatly influenced by the different ideas about gender and sexuality. In ancient myth, these creatures had binary gender roles, which means that they possessed both masculine and feminine features. Contemporary mermaids are only seen as females who take care of the needs of the male gender, which is to offer beautiful scenery. It, therefore, promotes gender stereotypes.
Conclusion
Conclusively there are very many differences between mummies of contemporary popular culture at the moment of ancient myth and indigenous religion. The evident differences are a result of societal values, which are constantly changing, shifting religious beliefs and the influence that the mass media has on the true nature of mermaids. In as much as the contemporary mermaids are very captivating it is important to understand the rich cultural and religious significance which has been lost as a result of the transformation of the true essence of mermaids as depicted in ancient myths and indigenous religions.
Work Cited
Bacchilega, Cristina, and Marie Alohalani Brown, eds. The Penguin book of mermaids. Penguin, 2019.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Atargatis”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 August 2013, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Atargatis. Accessed 2 February 2024.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “mermaid”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 November 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/mermaid. Accessed 2 February 2024.
Scholing, Sharon. “Under the Pages: An Analysis of The Little Mermaid.” (2020).
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