Mermen in Lore and History

If I asked you to name a famous mermaid from literature or film, I bet you could tell me the name and story of several famous mermaids. If I asked you to name a famous Merman, could you? Most, I am sure would say King Triton, Ariel’s Father from the Little Mermaid. 

 But can anyone tell the story of the Foss Grim or The Blue Men of the Muir or the Manx Dinny Mara. Names like Hoori, Ea or Oannes, Tangaroa, and Glaucus are all but lost to the modern Merfolk. I am storyteller and a believer that nothing dies until it is forgotten, these names and stories are of the Merman who are part of our History and Lore. I will keep their legends alive and now you can too.

The Legends

Foss Grim ~ Found in Germanic Lore, the name Foss Grim means “river horse” in Old Norse. The Foss Grim is a water spirit, with the body of a man and not that of a merman. He is said to be strikingly handsome, seen near rivers and bodies or water, barely clothed, and playing haunting music from his violin. His music would lure Women and Children into his watery home and their final resting place. However, it is believed that if properly approached, the Foss Grim will teach a musician to play so adeptly "that the trees dance and waterfalls stop at his music"

The Blue Men of the Muir ~ Dangerous, Cruel and Dark, The Blue Men of Muir (Scottish Gaelic word for “Sea”) are no strangers to the harsh ways of the sea. They are called blue men because their skin is a blue gray color and they live in the Minch Channel off the coast of Northern Scotland. It is said that the Blue Men will swim up to passing ships and ask the mariners a question or riddle, if he could not answer correctly the Blue Men would wreck the sailor’s ship and drag them down to the depths.  They are also known to cause turbulent tides and sea storms.

The Manx Dinny Mara (Man of the Sea) ~ Manx are the people and language spoken on the Isle of Man off the coast of the Irish Sea. The Dinny Mara is similar in appearance to mermaids, with the upper half of the body of a man and the lower half the tail of a fish. However, the Dinny Mara is quit ugly! They are believed to have pig snouts for noses that are red from drinking the brandy from shipwrecks and wrinkled foreheads, it is also said that you will know a Dinny Mara by his red cap. Though the Dinny Mara is an ugly creature, they are wonderful Fathers and quite helpful and friendly to sailors. They warn the sailors of coming storms or bring them fish to eat if the sailor’s food supply runs low. The fastest way to get on the bad side of a Dinny Mara is to whistle while aboard a ship at sea. The whistling will awaken and anger the Dinny Mara, which will cause him to seek revenge upon the sailor who disturbed his rest.

Hoori ~ In Ancient Japan lived two brothers Hoderi, a great fisherman and Hoori, a great Hunter.  One day Hoderi loaned his lucky fishing hook to his brother, with the hopes that it would enable him to be a successful fishermen. Unfortunately Hoori did not catch any fish;

in fact he lost his brother’s lucky hook. Hoderi demanded that Hoori return to the sea to find his lucky hook. Hoori descend to the bottom of the sea, but instead of his brothers hook, he found Toyotama (rich Jewel) the daughter of the Sea God. They fell in love, the Sea God granted Hoori a tail and gills, so he may live underwater with new bride. As always the day came when Hoori longed for his home on the land and the Sea God beginning of a gentle heart, gave Hoori the missing hook so he may return to his brother and home.  Before leaving their home in the sea Toyotama, made Hoori promise to build a home for them on land where she could deliver their child. The night of the birth Toyotama told Hoori he must not look at while she was in labor, curiosity got the best of him and when he spied on his wife he saw her in her true form…a dragon. Toyotama found out that Hoori spied on her and she returned to the sea, living her Husband and child behind. Toyotama’s sister raised the baby and when he was of age, they were married. It is said that one of their children grew up to Japan’s first emperor, Jimmu Tenno. An emperor with Merfolk and Dragon blood!

Ea or Oannes ~ One of the most ancient water deities, the Babylonian god Ea, known as Oannes the Merman who taught early man the art of agriculture and architecture  . God of wisdom, art, farming, building and of course he was the primal ruler of water.

 

Tangaroa ~ In Polynesian mythology Tangaroa rules the seas and all the creatures of the seas. It is believed that Tangaroa is so big he breathes only once per day

with each breath it causes the tides to raise and to fall. He is the God of fertility and the Oceans and he is considered to be one of the Great Creator Spirits. Tangaroa’s mother is the Creator, Earth Goddess known as Papatuanuku.

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Did you know that Tangaroa is at Disneyland? That's right our own water God can be found at the Tikki Room! So next time you are at Disney, stop by and say Hi to a hidden Merman of the Islands! 


Glaucus ~ In Greek legend, a fisherman named Glaucus turned into a merman after eating what he believed to be enchanted sea grass. Feeling drawn to the ocean, Glaucus dove in; the sea deities turned his human legs into a fish’s tail. He is said to have green hair and a Metamorphose.

green beard and skin of a blue-green color.  The Roman poet Ovid wrote stories of Glaucus in his work









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                                                                                         Glaucus Atlanticus is a species of blue sea slug!                                                                                                    

And of course a little Lore on Triton, the Titonesse and Poseidon….

Triton the son of the Greek God Poseidon (ruler of the sea) and Husband to Aphrodite the Goddess of Love and Beauty, bestowed upon his wife The Tritons. The Tritons were said to have evolved from Triton himself, they served as personal bodyguards and entourage for Aphrodite. The Tritons where described as having green hair, small hard scales, sea green eyes, and rough hands, a dolphin like tail, and gills behind their ears. The female, Triteness’s’ were of course beautiful but dangerous, they are often depicted as twin tailed mermaids.

Merman tales are few and far between, but they are out there. In every culture since the beginning of man’s time here on Earth there have been tales and sightings of Merfolk.  Stories that have been past down, names that have been kept alive and now I give these stories to you.  It is important that we keep our own legends alive and strong and it is even more important to have these Mermen to look to for strength and masculinity in a world that is so dominated by women. Even in this modern day, we must look to the past and our ancestors. 

Love, Peace, & Mermaids,

 Meridian

Make sure you stop by Merman Minerals.com to check out all the products from shave creams to shampoos, this stuff isn’t for the Mermaids! Merman of the Month Contest in now in full swing, swim on over to Merman Minerals Facebook page to vote for your favorite Hunky Merman or Sultry Pirate.

 

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~My Stories are dedicated to my dear friends David and Chris DuFour ~

~Thanks for making my life CHOICE~