Prompt Cast
The Myth and History of Mermaids
TLDR Mermaids, although not real, have a long history in mythology and folklore, often associated with bad luck and harm to sailors. Eyewitness accounts of mermaids throughout history are likely cases of mistaken identity, and professional mermaids exist as a real job promoting ecological efforts.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The hosts of the podcast discuss the movie "Splash" and mention some of the actors in it.
04:26
Mermaids are not real and there is no evidence to support their existence, despite various attempts to profit off of the myth.
08:43
Mermaids have a long history in mythology and folklore, often rooted in misogyny, and there are various ancient texts that mention mermaid-like creatures such as sea nymphs and mermen.
13:55
Mermaids are often seen as omens of bad luck or directly cause harm to sailors and coastal dwelling people, and they are typically described as beautiful and alluring creatures with the head and torso of a human woman and the lower body of a fish.
19:14
Mermaids have been depicted in various mythologies throughout history, including in Syria where a goddess accidentally kills a human man and transforms into a mermaid, and in Germany where river-dwelling mermaids called Nix's lure men into the water to drown them.
24:05
Eyewitness accounts of encountering mermaids have been reported throughout history, including during World War II in Japan and Indonesia, and by explorers like John Smith and Christopher Columbus, who may have mistaken manatees for mermaids.
28:41
Eyewitness accounts of mermaids are likely cases of mistaken identity, and there was even a tongue-in-cheek article published in the Journal of Limnology and Oceanography about an extinct species of mermaids.
33:14
Eyewitness accounts from 1830 in Scotland describe a town that swore they saw a mermaid, threw a rock at it, and found it dead on shore two days later, and a researcher named Bantz suggests that mermaids may have become extinct due to jellyfish stings.
37:41
Professional mermaids are a real job that requires swimming skills, breath-holding abilities, and practice, and they can be hired for parties and events.
41:57
Professional mermaids often use their status as a soapbox for ecology and efforts to keep the oceans clean.
Categories:
Society & Culture
