Waves of the mystique : a study on the perception of sirens and mermaids over time

Abstract

This study explores the cross-cultural origins of tailed-women and their representations throughout the Age of Exploration, as well as the influences that contributed to the development and dissemination of the mermaid as a prominent maritime motif. The chronological framework of this work spans from the 15th to 18th C. Tracing the repercussions of the mermaid's depiction throughout time and space can shed light on the experiences and interpretations surrounding the thrill of increased maritime travel. This framework is then utilized to investigate the mermaid myth within maritime iconography, including paintings, statues, friezes, maps, figureheads, manuscripts, tattoos, and other artifacts linked or influenced by seafaring. Its manifestation can be used to form connections between geographical expansion and exposure to foreign phenomena. The methodology lays an analytical baseline to approach the literary and iconographic analysis from a multidisciplinary perspective. Finally, this thesis argues that iconographic analysis can be utilized to approach the evolution of mermaid superstition and its impact on the perception of women in a maritime context.