Christopher Columbus And Mermaids

Upon seeing three creatures he stated that they were not as pretty as they are depicted for somehow in the face they look like men what were these mermaid like creatures columbus stumbled across.

Christopher columbus and mermaids. Unfortunately columbus log his daily account of his seven month first voyage to the new world is lost. A picture of a mermaid by john william waterhouse painted in 1901. The mermaid and columbus when columbus thought he saw a mermaid the truth of the matter turned out to be far more hilarious. To be completely fair columbus isn t exactly alone in his confusion.

Therefore we don t get to read columbus first hand account of the event. In his journal he described the encounter with three mermaids that elevated themselves above the suface of the sea. On january 9 1493 explorer christopher columbus sailing near the dominican republic sees three mermaids in reality manatees and describes them as not half as beautiful as they are. The article continues after the ad on january 09 1493 the famous italian explorer was sailing near the dominican republic.

Well today we look at yet another story of this kind. But in one thing alone beachcombing confesses to green eyed rabid jealousy. It is thought that manatees as well as dugongs and the now extinct steller s sea cows were quite often mistaken for mermaids in the days of yore to the point that encyclopedia britannica notes they re commonly known as sirenians how art and legend managed to turn these blobby 1 200 pound creatures with wacky snouts. It was columbus second voyage.

All that salt water and all those incipient rebellions must have wreaked havoc on the good navigator s blood pressure. The time christopher columbus saw three mermaids. Here s the bizarre story. Manatees which are also known as sea cows.

Christopher columbus encountered three mermaids on january 8 1493 somewhere in the caribbean sea. During an 1493 exploration christopher columbus reported a mermaid sighting. Many sightings of and experiences with mermaids and mermen include christopher columbus william shakespeare and pliny the elder. On january 9 1493 christopher columbus is sailing off the coast of the dominican republic when he sees what he believes are three mermaids.