Magical Magic Creature Spotlight: Merpeople

[sweettalkeress.livejournal.com]

So, in honor of the Second Task in GoF, we get to look at these guys!

Merpeople

MOM Classification: XXXX

For the record, merpeople have that classification for the same reason Centaurs do; it's not that they're unduly aggressive but rather because they should be treated with great respect, since they've got human intelligence.

In fact, merpeople are quite like humans, and those who speak their language report of highly-organized communities. Like Centaurs merpeople would rather be considered beasts so they don't have to be subjected to the wizarding world's legal system.

It turns out that the beautiful mermaids we're used to are found in Greece, where they were apparently known as “Sirens”--this despite the fact that the original Sirens were NOT MERMAIDS!! Anyway, there's also Selkies and Merrows, who are Scottish and Irish respectively—except that I'm pretty sure only Merrows have always been merpeople; Selkies were not mermaids in the traditional sense but could turn themselves into seals, if memory serves. Anyway, the merpeople living in northern Europe are described as being “less beautiful” than the ones from the Mediterranean, but Harry, true to form, has crossed that out and replaced it with “ugly.” How racially sensitive!

Also, all merpeople apparently love music.

I wasn't quite sure how to draw merpeople; I ended up drawing one that looks like the Greek version and one that looks like the British Isles version, according to Rowling.

Comments

[nx74defiant.livejournal.com]

the original Sirens were NOT MERMAIDS!

What JK doesn't know the history of something she included in her story? I'm shocked.

:)

[oryx_leucoryx]

Despite the fact that her degree is supposed to be in the classics. Not that it matters. if one writes about something one can be bothered to do the research.