U is for Ukranian mermaids and Undine and a giveaway for the A to Z Blog Challenge.
Off the shore of the Crimean Sea town of Miskhot in the Ukraine, there is a exquisite statue of a mermaid holding a baby. As the legend goes, there was a beautiful girl named Arzy who lived in Miskor. On her wedding day, she was kidnapped by Ali-Baba and sold to be part of a Turkish sultan’s harem. Arzy did not want to be held captive in Istanbul so she jumped into the water to escape. She transformed into a mermaid who appeared on the shore of Miskhot with a child.
Undines are mythological water nymphs who are said to live in streams, lakes, and rivers in Europe. An Undine has no soul but can become human when she and a man fall in love. But, she is doomed to die if he becomes unfaithful to her. In one story, Undine discovers her husband in the arms of another woman. Knowing that she will now die, she puts a curse on him that will cause him to die if he falls asleep.
In 1811, Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué wrote a novella called Undine in which a water spirit marries a knight in order to gain a soul. Undine was adapted into an opera by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1814.
Arthur Rackham illustrated the 1909 edition.
There is actually a medical condition known as Undine’s (or Ondine’s) curse in which the sufferer is unable to breathe while sleeping and as a result, suffers from cardiac arrest.
Undine was a female superhero who appeared in DC Comics for a short while as one of the Elementals.
Undine was in actuality a famous writer named Crystal Marrs who happened to be a good friend of Bruce Wayne. She was kidnapped by Sandor Fane (AKA the evil Overlord.) The Overlord summoned the spirit of an Undine and transferred it into Crystal’s body giving her the super power of control over water. The Overlord tricked her into attacking Aquaman, but when she realized that Aquaman was not a villain, she became his ally.
Unfortunately, Undine and the other Elementals were only featured in four issues of DC Comics in 1978.
Have you ever read any of the DC Comics featuring Undine and the other Elementals?
Actually I think I did see one of those issues. My brother used to read comics and I would borrow the more interesting ones. Excellent series–again thanks for the research and inspiring mythology.
I would love to get one of these comics featuring Undine.
Great post. I particulalry like the legend of Undine. That makes for a good (if tragic) story.
@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter – Jazz Age Jazz
Thanks – many of these mermaid legends are tragic. I guess that’s what happens when one is part human and part fish!
Oh this post resonates with me. First because for once this is a country where I have been. Then I’m familar with “ondines” the French version of “Undines.” In fact my dad had a book he received when he was a child and passed to me, which is the French version of the book you showcase in your post. My dad got it as an academic prize when he was himself a little school boy.
You are doing a fabulous job with this challenge, Claire ,and you must be quite relieved to be almost at the end of the trail. Although, it’s a weird feeling to wake up on the first day of May and realize that this challenge that seemed endless is over. Best to you for the last five letters.
I am sure you treasure your copy of Undine, Evelyne. What a great gift your father passed on to you. Thank you for your kind words. I can’t believe how much mermaid lore is out there.
Yes – it will be strange on May 1st but I’ll need to catch up on all the things I’ve neglected this month.
The Ukrainian statue really is fascinating!
It was extra interesting reading about this area because of the situation between the Ukraine and Russia.
What a great theme! I never knew mermaids were so varied and interesting. A fellow A to Zer just stopping by.
Hi Tracey – Thanks for stopping by! I learned a lot about mermaids during the a to z challenge. I actually gathered far more information than I could use.