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Mermaid Sightings - Why do people believe in mermaids?

Wild World・33 minutes read

Mermaids are a global folklore phenomenon, with various ancient accounts and references in scripture and historical reports, often misrepresented for entertainment purposes, leading to disbelief and skepticism, including sightings in Japan, Hawaii, Israel, and Zimbabwe, as well as fabricated mermaid stories like the Fiji mermaid and fake documentaries like "Mermaids: The Body Found," attempting to deceive viewers for increased ratings.

Insights

  • Mermaids have been a part of global folklore for centuries, with various ancient accounts depicting mermaid-like beings, including sirens in Homer's Odyssey, Nereids in Pliny the Elder's Natural History, and Dagon in scripture, showcasing a diverse range of cultural interpretations and representations.
  • Modern sightings and hoaxes, like the Orang Ikan in Japan, the Kaiwi Point Mermaid in Hawaii, and the fiji mermaid displayed by P.T. Barnum, highlight the enduring fascination with mermaids, blurring the lines between myth and reality while underscoring the entertainment and commercial value associated with these mythical creatures.

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Recent questions

  • What are mermaids?

    Mythical creatures with human torsos and fish tails.

  • Are mermaids real?

    No concrete evidence supports their existence.

  • Where have mermaids been sighted?

    In various locations globally, including the British Isles.

  • What is the origin of mermaid folklore?

    Rooted in ancient mythologies and global storytelling.

  • Why are mermaids depicted as alluring?

    To caution against dangers and temptations of the sea.

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Summary

00:00

Global folklore: Mermaids in history and myth.

  • Mermaids, depicted as human torsos with fish tails, are a global folklore phenomenon.
  • Various ancient accounts, like Oannes from Mesopotamian mythology and Atargatis from Syria, depict mermaid-like beings.
  • The Odyssey by Homer introduces sirens, often depicted as bird women, who entice sailors to their doom.
  • Pliny the Elder's Natural History mentions Nereids, creatures resembling mermaids, with a male version causing ships to sink.
  • References to mermaids in scripture, like Dagon from the book of Samuel, suggest a fish-like deity.
  • Christopher Columbus reported seeing mermaids in 1493, likely manatees or dugongs.
  • Mermaid sightings in the British Isles, like in Wales in 1603, describe creatures with fish-like lower bodies and human upper bodies.
  • Blackbeard, the pirate, allegedly warned his crew of dangerous waters with mermaids, but historical evidence is lacking.
  • A book by Samuel Fallour in 1719 claims to have captured a mermaid, which died without eating and made rat-like sounds.
  • Some mermaid sightings, like those in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie, are fabricated or misrepresented for entertainment.

12:34

Mysterious Mermaid Sightings Around the World

  • In 1943, Japanese soldiers stationed on a remote island in the Kei Islands reported seeing strange creatures resembling humans but with carp-like mouths, standing at approximately 150cm tall with pink skin, spines on their heads, and two legs instead of a fish tail.
  • The locals referred to these creatures as 'Orang Ikan', meaning 'human fish' in Malay, and claimed to have caught them in nets, leading to the discovery of a dead Orang Ikan by Sergeant Taro Horiba, described as 160cm long with red-brown hair, spines, and webbed fingers and toes.
  • Despite Sergeant Horiba's attempts to inform zoologists about the creature, the lack of photographic evidence led to disbelief and dismissal of the sighting.
  • In 1967, a mermaid was sighted on Mayne Island in BC, described as having long, silver-blond hair, topless, and seen with a large fish, possibly a coho salmon, with a passenger on a ferry capturing a photo of her.
  • The sighting of the "Kaiwi Point Mermaid" in 1998 off the coast of Hawaii involved multiple witnesses on a dive boat observing a mermaid with long flowing hair, a beautiful face, swimming alongside dolphins and leaping into the air to reveal scales, with photos taken by Jeff Leicher.
  • The authenticity of the photos of the Kaiwi Point Mermaid has been questioned, with skepticism raised due to the shadowed figure and the source being a tabloid newspaper known for fictional stories.
  • In 2009, multiple mermaid sightings were reported off the coast of Kiryat Yam in Israel, with the town council offering a $1 million reward for a photo of the creature, leading to suspicions of a publicity stunt.
  • Mermaid folklore in Zimbabwe includes stories of mermaids halting irrigation projects near Mutare in 2012, with workers refusing to continue due to sightings, eventually resolved by traditional healers appeasing the water spirits.
  • Mermaids in Zimbabwe are believed to have demonic powers, with a local pastor considering them real and dangerous, leading to the use of traditional methods to cast them out.
  • A recent video purportedly showing a stranded mermaid on a beach, either in South Africa or Kenya, has been debunked by authorities as a likely hoax due to visible inconsistencies like a wig and an unnatural separation between the human and fish parts.

24:26

"Mermaids: The Body Found" sparks mermaid craze

  • Manufactured Ningyo were created using fish and ape parts and were held in certain temples.
  • The fiji mermaid may have originated as a temple relic or a practical joke, sold to a Dutch merchant in the 1810s.
  • Moses Kimball bought the fiji mermaid in the early 1840s and showed it to P.T. Barnum in NYC.
  • P.T. Barnum and Moses Kimball displayed the fiji mermaid at the New York Concert Hall, attracting attention with fake lectures.
  • The fiji mermaid was later displayed at the American museum, tripling museum attendance.
  • The Animal Planet show "Mermaids: The Body Found" aired in 2011, depicting a government cover-up regarding mermaids.
  • The show is a mocumentary, with fake doctors and fabricated content, aiming to deceive viewers.
  • The show led to a surge in belief in mermaids, prompting NOAA to issue a statement denying the existence of aquatic humanoids.
  • The show attempted to push the Aquatic Ape Theory, suggesting human ancestors had a semi-aquatic phase.
  • The show set a ratings record for Animal Planet, leading to the production of more fake documentaries to attract viewers.

37:07

Ocean's cautionary tales for sailors.

  • Mermaid and ghost stories may have originated as cautionary tales to prevent sailors from being consumed by their desires and grief, warning them of the dangers lurking beneath the ocean's surface and advising against being led astray by yearnings.
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