This issue: Learn some of the most amazing myths of sea creatures from around the world!
Mermaids: Berberoka: Read the terrific story of the sea monster tormenting a family in Ilocos Norte
Find here an article on the origin of mermaids and their symbolism around the globe
Kraken and the Rainbow Fish: Check out some original poems on these astoundingcreatures
A narration by the captian of a ship travelling from far away, to reach their destination they most survive the sea of Strait of Messina, where two difficult challenges await
The strange sea carcasses that have been found in beaches around the globe, what are they? How do they look like? And where have they been found?
You’ve probably heard abour Buddhism and its monks, but have you ever heard of the fish that ate Buddha? Check out this poem to learn more about it
A scary looking ogre living in the ponds of the Philippines, a story told from a broken family
One of the most popular sea monsters, the Kraken. A poem inspired by the amazing stories behind it, go and read it now!
An article about the diversity of meanings behind mermaids, their origin and importance
It has been a long way. We have fought, we have laughed and cried. To think this is probably our last week as a complete crew. Mi name is Captain Walton, we are currently one week away from arriving to the Strait of Messina, mainly known for the catastrophic monsters that lay there, Scylla and Charybdis. I know you’ve probably heard of them, if you haven’t, now you will. Scylla, voice sounds like a new born whelp, twelve feet high, six long necks, each one with a horrible face, and three rows of feet. Her mother is Crataeis, her father unknown, although some say is Apollo. Charybdis, well, how can I describe her? Torso of a human female, which makes her scarier, six long necks with toothy mouths and twelve feet high. Some consider Charybdis more dangerous than Scylla; she swallows all the water of the sea and then throws it up, creating a massive whirlpool where no one can be saved.
Things have moved faster than expected, not really sure how to feel about it, we are entering our death bed, the Strait of Messina. Before taking the position as the captain, I knew we would be facing dangerous challenges, I did my research. People from town talk to me about how horrible they were, how mean, how big their heads are, how many people they’ve killed, they are monsters in the eyes of many, except in mine. As we reach to the direction of the rocks, Charybdis comes first to my mind, funny to think about how a beautiful
girl ended up in here. Zeus had his reasons, I mean she did try to stole the cattle that Heracles had taken from Geryon, it was fair to punish her, but humiliate her this way? Apparently, she was known for having quite an appetite, so Zeus send her to the sea and modified her nature so she could drink the whole sea, and then throw it up. And although I know her power can cause more damage for my ship and crew, I believe the most dangerous is the one who is more hurt, Scylla.
As we begin our journey through the rocks that hide the dangers ahead, I can’t help to think about poor Scylla. It was unfair what happened to her, she was a victim of the jealousy of a woman, more specifically, a goddess. It all began because of the sea god Glaucus, who was madly in love with Scylla, but she didn’t return the feeling, in fact, she was disgusted by him. Glaucus in a desperate call asked for Circe’s help, but Circe happened to be in love with Glaucus, so instead of giving Scylla a love potion she poisoned the water in her bath, giving rise to the Scylla we’ll face today.
As we flow with the water I start praying to the gods, praying to keep my crew and myself safe, to let these two creatures feel the empathy that wasn’t given to them, and let us live. I know is too much to ask, but I do hope they can have their happy ending, because I know that even them deserve to have one.
Over the years populations around the world have found a mysterious massive flesh on the shore. It sounds weird, because it is weird. Scientist all over the world have been trying to explain the origin of the faceless marine flesh. It has no eyes, no bones or identified organs. Unusual flesh in diverse locations with altered colors, shapes and textures. They can measure over sixteen meters and some might have tentacles, tusks or bristles, and by the depiction of it, I know you are already picturing it and yes, they do smell badly.
The first globster ever seen was around 1648 in the Mexican beach Santa Maria Del Mar. No further information is given since it has lost track over time, but testimonies match with recent description of globsters. The global mystery began with the St. Agustin globster in Florida. It was
1896 and two young boys were riding their bicycles and found themselves what the citizens liked to call a “sea monster”. “The carcass was pinkish in color and had a silver sheen in the sunlight. Although it looked gelatinous, it was very difficult to cut through. It had four stumps, which appeared to be severed arms.” (Geller, 2017). It is estimated to weight five tons, and not even scientists could tell what they were looking at. It was 1960 when the next globster appeared, this time in the shores of the Hobart Island, Tasmania. Two stockmen found a “giant blob covered in short fur, really terrible odor coming from it, no eyes” as writer and cryptozoologist Thimothy Bull describes it. This time it contained a spine and six “arms” that were found away from its main body.
The name globster was assigned to this discovery and the already mentioned, since the cases presented similarities. Scientist couldn’t relate the globster to any existing animal, therefor, people thought of it as a new species or a sea monster leaving in the 95% of the undiscovered ocean.
At first local scientists in St. Agustin assumed it to be a giant squid or a previously undiscovered octopus, which the first two tests made in 1971 and 1986 supported, but after running a third test in 1995 they acknowledge it as a massive blubber coming from a sperm whale.
Zoologist Addison Emerly Verill backs the idea by asserting it to be a whale’s remaining. These conclusions are driven from the understanding of the tissue being too tough to be blubber and the amino acids and filaments tests are re-
sembled as whale collagen rather than whale blubber. So, it is contemplated as a tough whale’s outer skin.
Marine biologist Ben Roesch says "they often turn out to be basking sharks, whales, oarfish, or some other known creature.” After examining globsters specimen with electron microscopes and molecular and DNA analysis, scientist have reassured the so called globsters are only whale carcasses and decomposed animal skin. Although, citizens still refer to them as monsters, some of them even talk about a conspiracy around scientists to hide the mystical creatures that lie in the depths of the sea. Is it really just a closet reset of a whale? Or is there a super natural creature scientist doesn’t want us to see?
Big as a whale, Scary to some extent. The fish who ate Buddha Is in everyone’s stomach ache
Four elements in his scales he designates, Blue made of ice, Represents water or Jal. Green made of grass, Stands for earth or Prithvi. Yellow out of light, Air or vaju, And red of flames, Fire or agil, Buddhism in an artless skin.
Buddha instills the mistaken law, A God in their religion does not exist, But neither does the believe, that the universe has no creator to believe in. For his teachings he was punished, Swallowed by the rainbow fish was he. A space for reflection was given
Lying on the sticky gut
He was saved by a fisherman four days after the fish’s lunch.
Tom and Luana have lived 40 years in the village near the pond. Ilocos Norte was the homeland of both, they fell in love and created a family there, it’s a fond place for both. As Tom is getting ready for his Sunday fishing Luana prepares breakfast. The air is tense since they’ve just got into a fight, the Sunday fight, same each week. Luana doesn’t want Tom near the pond, “you never know what you find there” she says. Tom says it’s nonsense, he will still go, but the argument is not in vain, deep down he is scared, he understands his wife’s fear, I mean who wouldn’t, with the ugly ogre hanging around ready to get you.
Berberoka, they call it, the green rocky beast living in their pond. “Be aware” they say, “if you see floating fish lying around, don’t be too naïve to think it’s just a lucky day”. Berberoka’s favorite victims are fisherman, she pulls fish to the top of the water to attract them, then grabs them, drowns them, and finishes them for lunch. There is only one thing she is afraid of, crabs. The clingy animals get their way with the Berberoka for being annoying, if you want to scape form it, just throw one in its face.
Tom finishing his breakfast puts his hat on remembering old times, Sunday fishing with his children. Overwhelmed with nostalgia he kisses his wife goodbye and walks out the door. Luana is as well informed as Tom on the Berberoka. It can change size, and looks just like an ogre. Luana knows what the Berberoka is capable of doing, she fears for her husband’s life, the cruel beast has no mercy, it has killed millions of innocent people going on the lake, Luana hates the beast, she more than anyone in the world, after all, she believes that in all Ilocos Norte her lost was the biggest. Nothing compares to the lost of children, everything changed for her, and she blames it on the scary sea monster, and she would not be able to forgive or forget, only to regret letting her children go to the
It can devour in one bite, Destroy a crew and a ship in the close of an eye. The biggest every seen in the eye of man, And the greatest fear of fishermen.
It swims in the company of many fish, In the sea of Norway he sleeps, It’s favorite hobby is to harass ship, Grab them with its big tentacles and make them twist. If the hugging doesn’t work it’ll use another technique, Swimming around the ship and drown it in a whirlpool, The biggest ever seen.
Down its pocket ammonium you’ll find, Less dense than the water it is, Which allows it to fly underneath the sea. Largest ever seen, eight tentacles at least, Ladies and gentlemen, The kraken it is
“The mermaid’s song inevitably calls us to the unknown, to the impassionate world of change and possibility. Ultimately mermaids persist in the imagination because they represent a primal human need. to dive deep into the mystery of our un-lived life” - Sue Monk
Brought to this world by Greek god Achelous, the mother of the mermaids is uncertain, but Calliope is the best guess till now. Usually found near Italy around rocky habitats. Numerous cultures have tried to explain the existence of sirens, Irish mythology says the women that were chased by St. Patrick in the transition in Ireland from Old Religion to Christianity later became mermaids. Romans believe that the wood of Trojan’s defeated ship transformed into sea goddesses, or what they call “green daughters of sea”. Every culture has its own theory, but
mermaids come from the Greek mythology, which conveys that mermaids used to be the maidens of Persephone. When Persephone was taken away by Hades, Demeter turned them into half bird, with no wings. As they looked endlessly for her and didn't find her, they were given wings to optimize the search, some say they asked for them, others say it was a punishment.
Mermaids are still described as beautiful creatures. At first, they were half bird and half woman, wings and lower body of a bird but torso of a regular woman. They developed the beautiful singing of a bird, and started using it as their main weapon against sailors, they realized their singing was mesmerizing to men, it drove them so obsessed they threw themselves to the sea looking for the astonishing singer.
Vanity grew upon them, and they challenged the muses to a singing duel, which they lost for obvious reasons. As a punishment, they were transformed into half fish and half human. They kept their mesmerizing singing and pride. Some of their most outstanding features include having a third eyelid, sharp teeth, hands webbed, no fingernails, slim and gracious.
Even though they sound attractive, one of the first testimonies given of mermaids states the contrary. In 1493 Christopher Columbus, discoverer of America, wrote in his journal about spotting three mermaids playing in the Caribbean, apparently, they were “not half as beautiful as they are painted”. But, in 1614 traveler John Smith, famously know for the story of Pocahontas, declares to have seen a green haired and “by no means unattractive” mermaid in the coast of Massachusetts. A simple explanation to these statements given by scientist is the delusion of man sailing for straight days or months without good rest, and/or the simple effects of alcohol, specifically the rum that has a tendency to be consumed in ship crews.
Another resolution is the confusion that manatees can bring. Scientist have demonstrated a similarity between mermaids and other creatures such as the manatee, dugong, or the already extinct Steller’s Sea cows. Scientists claim that in long distance they can be confused with the beautiful mermaids because of their related human like face and eyes. But mermaids became more than just a disguised manatee. As the stories began to be told cultural changes and new political laws turned mermaids into icons of representation.
Mermaids represented a lot during the Victorian period, they where these beautiful and sexy creatures that produce madness in man, but still, they couldn’t sexually engage with human men because of their tail. Mermaids were often used as inspiration to paint, they were portrayed covering their breasts with their long hair. Hair became an image of sensuality and femininity. In times where social norms repressed sex, mermaid paintings were the perfect fit for gentleman to stare at naked women, since it was so popular back then. The mermaid hair and tail became a depiction of sensuality and repressed sex.
In 1917 Catholic women started covering their hair. Following, Buddhist nuns joined and began shaving their heads. Hair became a feminine charm, a distraction to men, and back then it was a reason for women to stop showing it. Author of The Woman’s Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects, Barbara Walker, speaks of the mermaid’s hair as representing strength, “the mermaid’s act of attending to her long, lustrous hair signi fies her efforts to nurture and enhance her personal power”. Nowadays most of the Muslim countries still have a law over women hair, and they have to cover it. It has become vastly controversial, feminist women are currently fighting to take away the hijab, it has become an obligatory code of dress.
Mermaids have not only influenced the world of feminism, they have also become a market-
ing strategy to some compa nies, one of the best examples is Starbucks. In 1971 Starbucks featured their first mermaid logo with a two tailed mermaid showing her breast. Over time this image altered and now we only get to see her head, hair and some of the tail if you pay attention. The two tailed mermaid is a representation of siren and human sex, and this emblem started with Sheila-na-gig, a figurative sculpture of a woman squatting to show an exagger ated vulva. In 1989 a Sheila-na-gig sculpture was made in a church, this time it was a mermaid splitting her tail in two, ex plicitly making possible human and mermaid sexual inter course. In Christianity the two tailed mermaid became a visual reminder to avoid temptation that would lead to falling in the “mermaids clutches”. It embodies the sins of vanity and lust.
Mermaids sure have a variation of meanings in women, men, and religions, but there also exists a theory from the science field that proposes the idea of mermaids representing something different to each one of us.
Science states that life began in the sea, human embryos are formed in fish like forms to swim through the salty amniotic acid of our mother’s womb. Hence, mermaids can be seen as a reflection of ourselves, and maybe that’s the explanation for our attachment to them, they show us our most inner self.
Psychoanalysts reveal a theory for the justification of only men spotting mermaids. Analyst Carl G. Jung came up with the concept of anima. Anima consists in the inner masculine and feminine side that each human has regardless of their gender. Men are taught to repress their feelings or inner female since child-
hood. Psychoanalysts display mermaids as a projection of the fear and repression of femininity inside a men’s head. They’ve also been said to represent the complexity of a woman. Dreadful and frightening sometimes, but they can also be playful, beautiful and kind. Mermaids shows us “the light and dark of the human psyche” (Alexander, 2012).
On the whole, mermaids have several meanings, from a religious perspective, from a feminist perspective, a sailor’s perspective, a Muslim woman perspective, and even for you and me is different. Over time these scenic creatures have evolved with us, and have become a part of a new global mythology. They’ll never end surprising us. They’ve become more than just a cryptozoological animal; they are worldwide icons.
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