Chimerical Appearances of Substance as Common Elements in Myths and Legends Relating to Water Sprites
Chimerical Appearances of Substance as Common Elements in Myths and Legends Relating to Water Sprites

Summary/Abstract: Water sprites feature prominently in the myths of many countries. What these mythical tales have in common is the pivotal function of illusion in the structure of the narrative. The typical form of the narrative is that of a serpent or a water sprite materialized in the guise of a beautiful, irresistibly seductive young woman that makes a pact with a human partner. The latter, naturally violates the pact, thus provoking the wrath of the water sprite. In the end he learns the hard way that the whole experience of a blissful relationship with a beautiful female was an illusion and that he was a victim of a cruel deception: the beautiful maiden was really a serpent, and the wealth was nothing but a semblance of substance. This paper explores myths of the people of the sea (selkies), the water sprites (fairies, umamlambo, the Karina) and their illusionistic practices.

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