Ineo (인어)
Description
Korean merfolk whose tears become pearls and whose flesh grants immortality. Wearing ineo-woven cloth prevents rain. Recorded in Samguk Yusa and various Joseon coastal legends
Origin & Background
The stories about mermaids exist in various forms around the world. The earliest known legend about mermaids that has survived to this day dates back to around 1000 BC in Assyria. Atargatis, the mother of the Assyrian queen Semiramis, was a goddess who loved a mortal shepherd but ended up killing him. Feeling ashamed, she jumped into the water and transformed into a fish. However, her beauty did not fade away. Subsequently, she took on a form with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish. This is also similar to the appearance of the Babylonian god Ea. The Greeks recognized Atargatis by the name Derketo.
The Legend
A mermaid is a legendary creature that lives in the sea, with the upper body of a young woman and the tail of a fish. In legends, mermaids often sing enchanting songs to sailors, luring them and distracting their attention, causing them to fall from the deck or lead to shipwrecks. In other stories, mermaids attempt to save drowning men but simultaneously drain their lives. In Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale 'The Little Mermaid,' the mermaid is depicted as drawing humans into the water without malice, but as a being that forgets that humans cannot breathe underwater.
Variants
In British folklore, mermaids are portrayed as ominous beings that foreshadow misfortune and actually bring it. Through various variants of folk songs, Sir Patrick Spens is said to have mentioned that mermaids approach ill-fated ships, telling them they will never see land again. Additionally, in the Caribbean nation of Taino, mermaids are called Aikani, and various forms of mermaid legends exist, such as Mami Wata in Central and West Africa, Zengu in Cameroon, Merrow in Ireland and Scotland, and Rusalka in Russia and Ukraine.
In Popular Culture
Mermaids often appear in popular media beyond myths and legends. Notable examples include the character of the Little Mermaid created by Walt Disney based on Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid' and the logo of the Starbucks coffee chain. In Disney's works, the attributes of mermaids are depicted in two ways: living as a 'child' in the water and becoming an adult who 'stands on two legs' outside of the water. In 2023, Disney produced a live-action film 'The Little Mermaid' based on the animated version.
This article is based on the Wikipedia article "인어" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia
Abilities
- 불명
Sources
- Samguk Yusa