Mermaids are mythical creatures that have fascinated and enchanted people for centuries. They are half-human and half-fish, and they live in the oceans, rivers, and lakes. They are often depicted as beautiful and seductive, but also as dangerous and deceptive. They have appeared in various forms of art and literature, from ancient legends and folklore to modern movies and cartoons.
One of the most popular and beloved mermaids is Ariel, the protagonist of Disney’s animated film The Little Mermaid (1989), based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale from 1837. Ariel is a curious and adventurous mermaid who falls in love with a human prince and makes a deal with a sea witch to become human. She is also known for her iconic red hair and green tail.
However, when Disney announced in 2019 that Halle Bailey, a Black actress, would play Ariel in a live-action remake of the film, some fans were outraged and claimed that Ariel should be white and red-haired, as she was in the original animation. They argued that changing Ariel’s appearance would ruin their childhood nostalgia and betray the source material.
But these fans were wrong, for two reasons. First, Disney’s version of The Little Mermaid is not the original or the only source material. Andersen’s fairy tale is much darker and sadder than the Disney adaptation, and it does not specify Ariel’s physical features. Second, and more importantly, Ariel’s story goes back even further than Andersen’s fairy tale. It goes back to ancient Greece, where mermaids were first conceived and where they could be any colour.
In this article, we will explore the ancient Greek origins of mermaids, and how they evolved and diversified over time and across cultures. We will also show how mermaids are not bound by any fixed or rigid rules of appearance, and how they can reflect the diversity and beauty of humanity.
How Mermaids Were Born in Ancient Greece
The earliest and most influential source of mermaids in Western culture is Greek mythology, which dates back to around the 8th century BCE. According to Greek mythology, mermaids were the offspring of the sea-god Triton and a nymph, or a water spirit. Triton was the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea, and Amphitrite, the goddess of the sea. Triton had the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish, and he carried a conch shell that he used to calm or stir the waves. Triton had many children with various nymphs, and they were called the nereids, or the sea-nymphs. The nereids were female and had the same form as their father, but they were more beautiful and graceful. They lived in the depths of the sea, and they helped sailors and fishermen in distress. They also sang and danced, and played musical instruments, such as the lyre and the flute.
One of the most famous nereids was Thetis, the mother of Achilles, the hero of the Trojan War. Thetis was a powerful and respected sea-nymph, who had the ability to change her shape and to control the elements. She was also very loyal and devoted to her son, and she tried to protect him from his fate. She dipped him in the river Styx, which made him invulnerable, except for his heel, which she held. She also disguised him as a girl, to prevent him from joining the war. She also intervened in the war, to help him defeat his enemies, such as Hector and Agamemnon.
Another famous nereid was Galatea, the lover of Acis, a shepherd. Galatea was a beautiful and gentle sea-nymph, who fell in love with Acis, a mortal. They lived happily together, until Polyphemus, a cyclops, became jealous and killed Acis with a boulder. Galatea was heartbroken, and she turned Acis’s blood into a river, so that he could flow into the sea and be with her forever.
How Mermaids Changed and Spread Across the World
The Greek concept of mermaids was adopted and adapted by other cultures and civilizations, such as the Romans, the Arabs, the Norse, and the Celts. They also influenced the creation of other mythical creatures, such as sirens, selkies, and merrows. Each culture added its own characteristics and variations to the mermaids, making them more diverse and complex.
For example, the Romans called the nereids nereides, and they associated them with Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. They also distinguished them from the sirens, who were originally bird-like creatures in Greek mythology, but became fish-like in Roman mythology. The sirens were evil and malicious, and they lured sailors to their doom with their enchanting songs. The nereides, on the other hand, were benevolent and helpful, and they rescued sailors from the sirens.
The Arabs called the nereids banaat al-bahr, or the daughters of the sea. They believed that they were the descendants of Adam’s first wife, Lilith, who was banished from Eden for disobeying God. They also believed that they had the power to grant wishes and to cure diseases. They also had a more diverse appearance, and they could have different colours of skin, hair, and eyes.
The Norse called the nereids mara, or the sea-maidens. They believed that they were the daughters of Aegir, the god of the sea, and Ran, the goddess of the sea. They also believed that they had the ability to control the weather and the waves. They also had a more animal-like appearance, and they could have scales, fins, claws, and teeth.
The Celts called the nereids muirruhgach, or the sea-nymphs. They believed that they were the spirits of the dead, who returned to the sea after their burial. They also believed that they had the ability to shape-shift and to possess humans. They also had a more human-like appearance, and they could have red hair, green eyes, and fair skin.
Why Mermaids Can Be Any Colour
As we have seen, mermaids are not a fixed or static concept, but a fluid and dynamic one. They have changed and evolved over time and across cultures, and they have acquired different features and meanings. They have also reflected the diversity and beauty of humanity, and they have expressed the hopes and fears, the joys and sorrows, and the dreams and desires of people.
Therefore, mermaids can be any colour, and they can have any physical traits that suit their story and their context. There is no right or wrong way to portray a mermaid, and there is no single or definitive version of a mermaid. Mermaids are mythical and magical, and they can be whatever we want them to be.
This is why Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel is not a problem or a betrayal, but a celebration and a tribute. She is not changing or erasing Ariel’s identity, but enriching and expanding it. She is not taking away or replacing Ariel’s story, but adding and contributing to it. She is not destroying or disrespecting Ariel’s legacy, but honoring and continuing it.
Halle Bailey is a talented and beautiful actress, who will bring her own charm and charisma to the role of Ariel. She will also bring a new perspective and a new voice to the story of The Little Mermaid, and she will inspire and delight a new generation of fans. She will also show that mermaids can be any colour, and that they can reflect the diversity and beauty of humanity.
