HOME | DD

GENZOMAN β€” Merrow

Published: 2009-03-28 19:33:22 +0000 UTC; Views: 297154; Favourites: 8786; Downloads: 21395
Redirect to original
Description Merrow (from Gaelic murΓΊch) or Murrough (Galloway) is the Scottish and Irish Gaelic equivalent of the mermaid and mermen of other cultures. These beings are said to appear as human from the waist up but have the body of a fish from the waist down. They have a gentle, modest, affectionate and benevolent disposition.

Merrow-maidens are reputed to lure young men to follow them beneath the waves where afterwards they live in an enchanted state. Merrows wear a special hat called a cohuleen druith which enables them to dive beneath the waves. If they lose this cap, it is said they have no power to return beneath the water. Sometimes they are said to leave their outer skins behind, to assume others more magical and beautiful. The merrow has soft white webs between her fingers, she is often seen with a comb parting her long green hair on either side. Merrow music is often heard coming from beneath the waves.

Most of the stories are about female beings; however, there are some about mer-men who capture the souls of drowned sailors and keep them in soul cages under the sea. Female Merrows were considered very beautiful, but the mermen were basically ugly, another reason why Merrow women sought out human men. In most cases, the female Merrow had a cap or cape, normally red, and if a human could capture and hide either so the Merrow never found it, then she would remain on land without a fuss. But if the Merrow should ever find her cap or cape, she would feel compelled to return forever to the ocean, leaving entire families behind.

A old work again, june or july of 2007. I was doing researching some myths about the sea, and i found a wonderful tale about the Merrows and their the soul cages:

THE SOUL CAGES
by
T. CROFTON CROKER
[link]

after read this tale, this pic come to my mind, I LOVE Irish/Scottish culture and myths

photshopCS/Grapphire 3/6 hours/Music: Lost message by Ambeon (Arjen Lucassen is a Genius and the voice of Astrid van der Veen is just delicious )
[link]
Related content
Comments: 379

wozzmeyer [2015-11-26 07:11:03 +0000 UTC]

uh...i've been known that these versions of mermaids masturbate...A LOT.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Wally-Waffles [2015-10-24 06:01:19 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful illustration; it looks absolutely incredible. ^_^

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

MotherKosm [2014-04-30 00:52:27 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful<3

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Digitallee [2014-03-03 05:13:03 +0000 UTC]

This is stunning!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

hobbitshire [2013-08-08 14:12:27 +0000 UTC]

Another first rate image, especially the contrasts between the colors and texture of the fish tail to the rest of her form.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

maironmatos [2013-07-17 03:27:58 +0000 UTC]

Very nice job!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Aiedle [2013-03-19 03:24:08 +0000 UTC]

*clap* *clap* Congratulations on having the ONLY (atleast what I could find from the hours of scroling through searches) mythologically accurate drawing of a merrow on the web.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

maidofmer [2012-05-17 10:14:21 +0000 UTC]

i read something on that a long time ago. its very beautiful.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

PinkoPrint [2012-05-10 17:17:56 +0000 UTC]

whoa I really like this. It's so so cool!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

heidernn [2012-04-21 05:19:31 +0000 UTC]

HERMOSA

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Paperplanes95 [2012-04-05 22:15:48 +0000 UTC]

This is really beautiful, and I adore your drawing style. But her fish tail wouldn't have a joint. I thought it would curve, considering fish don't have joints...

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

digitaltoadphotos [2012-03-28 03:52:11 +0000 UTC]

Very cool. Thanks for giving the history behind it!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

GokuMartin [2012-03-17 09:42:00 +0000 UTC]

[link]

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

GokuMartin [2012-02-29 10:06:18 +0000 UTC]

Reading all of this, I think Ariel was actually a merrow instead of a mermaid.

Merrows are "gentle, modest, affectionate and benevolent", while mermaids are evil and cruel. Since Ariel herself is gentle, modest, affectionate and benevolent, then it stands to reason that she is a merrow.

Good thing Ariel doesn't wear a cape, though, I wouldn't want her to leave Eric and Melody behind...

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

GoldenFirePhoenix In reply to GokuMartin [2012-08-26 20:12:22 +0000 UTC]

and... she's a red haired, there's a lot of red haired people in scotland

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Yumenokokoro123 [2012-01-02 08:14:18 +0000 UTC]

wish i can draw like you!!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

whirlwind-watch [2011-12-01 02:14:14 +0000 UTC]

Your work is just so beautiful.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

saishadow [2011-10-11 16:23:15 +0000 UTC]

wow thats a cool story

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Ganbatte36 [2011-09-23 15:25:23 +0000 UTC]

I really love mermaids. Especially this one.
Attention wordplay: "I would marry a merrow". Ok that was bad. :-D

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

macker33 [2011-09-12 02:44:58 +0000 UTC]

this may be of interest to you. [link] its an irish song about a sailor who was taken away by mermaids

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

fumbles1990 [2011-08-31 03:07:27 +0000 UTC]

cool work

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

kid-with-hat [2011-08-30 11:13:13 +0000 UTC]

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow.
That's pretty much all I can say. I love the hat, cape thingy. feels so "Red mage".

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Beebee1916 [2011-08-10 01:49:26 +0000 UTC]

she's beautiful

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

haihailittlebunny [2011-07-31 21:08:56 +0000 UTC]

Lovely work. The cage and lamp, and the red hood are my favourite parts.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

CanIRegisterNow [2011-07-01 03:28:42 +0000 UTC]

Wow

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

tutifruti41 [2011-06-16 21:13:24 +0000 UTC]

I've read about them in a book. Only there they were called 'seal-women'

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

LilithRealm [2011-06-11 21:41:59 +0000 UTC]

Little red riding hood meets little mermaid!
...She also looks like a wizard! but I love your Illos.. So addicting!!!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

SonicWolvelina99 [2011-05-12 20:03:27 +0000 UTC]

It looks beautiful!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Rosae94 [2011-04-13 13:55:22 +0000 UTC]

so gorgeous!!! that's amazing!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Shadowulf1 [2011-04-13 02:12:39 +0000 UTC]

Gotta love the wonders of Photoshop...Oh my

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Greenigon [2011-04-01 15:01:30 +0000 UTC]

AMAZING!!!!!!!!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Windy-kun [2011-03-20 21:24:30 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful!!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

DSkehan2004 [2011-02-09 00:38:36 +0000 UTC]

She almost looked like little red riding hood lol

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

ThatFaceGuy [2010-10-05 22:14:47 +0000 UTC]

Print please?

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

gugorrak [2010-09-10 00:52:01 +0000 UTC]

Master!
Do You Speak Spanish?
Because I'm not good for English

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

MizuWolf [2010-08-25 02:12:28 +0000 UTC]

this would make a good comic...

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

macker33 [2010-08-18 23:26:23 +0000 UTC]

The pictures are great but i like the stories that go with them too.,,you should look up the death of Conor mac nessa,,,there are a few different versions so you should look around.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Pug-In-The-Mug [2010-07-06 02:56:48 +0000 UTC]

i know a creature who look like that.The name is Selkie.when they go under water they dress themselv in a seal skin and when they go ack on earth they turn back in naked and beautifull won=men(with big boobs T_T...)When a man take the seal skin the selkie gonna stay with the man, and she can maried the man and even ave kids with he. but if she find back the seal skin she will take it back and run to the sea to find her old live....Without re-bites she will leave behind her his children and her husband just to re-take her old freedome.thats why when a man take tghe seal skin, he have to burn it or hide it.Hope you like Selkie

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

zencasto [2010-03-08 16:22:55 +0000 UTC]

I've got nothing to say.Seeing your whole art makes my eyes ans mouth wide open. Thats all.


Fantastic

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

DreamTiger [2010-02-04 18:42:56 +0000 UTC]

Genzoman, you have one the finest art galleries of the whole site. I find your myth summaries of special note, but all in all, you are a pretty good inspiration on a downer day, swear to God.

Keep it up.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

flowerluv [2009-12-07 02:55:45 +0000 UTC]

This work has been featured here [link]

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

kosha21 [2009-11-13 20:05:53 +0000 UTC]

amazing!!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

sirenofthestorm [2009-11-12 00:59:27 +0000 UTC]

"..the mermen were basically ugly, another reason why Merrow women sought out human men..."

that made me lol ^^
I am so in love with your work... words can't begin to describe...

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Dieffi [2009-10-04 15:27:13 +0000 UTC]

I have featured this beautyful picture in my mermaid-feature!
[link]
I hope you will agreed!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

DyingMano8 [2009-09-29 00:59:49 +0000 UTC]

Woow!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Preseas88 [2009-09-22 00:52:02 +0000 UTC]

thats so incredibly cool! How long i=did it take to make??? I really love it, you have a great eye for colors!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

TracyLankolins [2009-09-14 06:48:37 +0000 UTC]

I probably couldn't tell you how much I love your pictures. Their always so amazing.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Lilith40 [2009-09-02 01:20:12 +0000 UTC]

How nice. You just gave me an idea for novel as it is about merfolk who love tormenting human beings. The story was a nice addition to the picture as always.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Shyanne-Kai [2009-08-30 17:19:20 +0000 UTC]

First of all, wonderful artwork: beautiful angles and lighting.
This freaked me out, as my novel is about a type of merman, who takes souls. I never realised they did this in the Scottish myths, but perhaps my subconcious did...
Again, I love the colour, texture and style of this piece. Beautiful.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

darkdraik [2009-08-20 12:14:14 +0000 UTC]

simply amazing

Merrows are so much nicer then mermaids ^^
i love the detail, especially on the bottom part of the tail, and the fabric of the hood. ^^ good job!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0


| Next =>