Summary
Overview
In this whimsical episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck dive into mermaid mythology, folklore, and the reality (or lack thereof) behind these legendary sea creatures. From ancient Babylonian gods to modern-day professional mermaids in Florida, they explore historical sightings, cultural significance, and why these half-human, half-fish beings have captivated human imagination for millennia—despite never actually existing.
The Mythology and Origins of Mermaids
The hosts explore ancient mermaid mythology across different cultures, from Babylonian sea gods to Greek and Roman deities. They discuss how the Babylonian god Ea from 4,000 years ago likely inspired Poseidon and Neptune. The Syrian goddess Atargatis provides a particularly interesting origin story—after accidentally killing her human lover, she attempted to transform into a fish but was so beautiful that only her lower half changed, creating the first mermaid.
- Babylonian sea god Ea from 4,000 years ago is considered the predecessor to Poseidon and Neptune
- Syrian goddess Atargatis became a mermaid after trying to turn into a fish—her beauty prevented full transformation
- Pliny the Elder wrote about Nereids (sea nymphs) and mermen in his Natural History
- Mermen actually appeared in literature before mermaids in many mythologies
" She was so beautiful that the human beauty part of her is like, no, I won't be a fish. Just the lower half can be a fish. "
Hans Christian Andersen's Dark Little Mermaid
The hosts revisit the original Little Mermaid tale by Hans Christian Andersen, which differs dramatically from the Disney version. In the darker original, the mermaid is scorned when her prince marries another woman. Her sisters offer her a ritual knife to kill him and regain her mermaid form, but she chooses self-sacrifice instead, throwing herself into the sea and becoming sea foam—ultimately transforming into an air nymph with a chance at heaven after 300 years of helping humans.
- In the original tale, the little mermaid's prince marries another woman after she gave up her tail for him
- Her sisters bring a ritual knife that could restore her mermaid form if she kills the prince
- She refuses to kill him and becomes sea foam, transforming into an air nymph
- The air nymph can reach heaven after 300 years of helping humans
" She can possibly get into heaven if she helps people for 300 years. "
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