Story Lab, Week 10

Mermaids
animal planet

I found some incredible information while researching potential stories for my storybook. The Ten Labors of Herazle, the name of my story, mimics The Ten Labors of Hercules, only my hero’s labors all occur with sea monsters or beings within the sea or water. My research found several stories of Melusina. Melusina stories have roots in Albania, France, Luxembourg, and Germany. One involved the fairy Pressina and the king who had three daughters together, one named Melusina. Melusina fell in love and had an odd condition for her husband - he must not look upon her on a Saturday. Of course, he did and found that from the waist down she was a serpent, with silvery scales, tipped with white. He sent her away and she hovered about the Fountain of Thirst forever. Melusina (Melusine, Mélusine)

On the same website, were some excellent articles on “Water Spirit Legends.” These legends are from England, Scotland, Germany, Ireland, and Russa. The stories include a water demon, the origin story of how Holy Lake got its name, the story of Lorelei, a story about the water-man and his water-wife who tempt and drown anyone who baths and whose deaths involve nixes, and lastly, a Water Snake. Water Spirit Legends 1

The Njugl is a legend from the Shetland Islands. It resembles a horse and sometimes has a head like a human. Appearing tame and docile, if ridden it runs to the nearest source of water and drowns its rider. The legend is connected to bluish flame and causing things to break especially water mills. The Njugl.

The website Man, Myth and Magic Man, Myth and Magic also has some potential in terms of a blog archive that has “Creatures of the Deep: Sea Serpents” - Part One & Two and “Creatures From the Deep: Mermaids” - Part One & Two. I would love to add a mermaid story to my storybook, perhaps my hero, Herazale, may find love and marry a mermaid.