Undine, a water spirit, who marries a knight to get a soul, just to be betrayed and became an Avenger, inspired hundreds of popular works since her story was published for the first time. She is a representative of a natural force, one of the first feminists and an ultimate femme fatale with significant red hair and many different superpowers.
George MacDonald, Hans Christian Andersen, Paul Gauguin, Antonin Dvorak, and other important artists found it irresistible and her spell is today stronger as ever. Shall we spend a few minutes to learn more about her? Who was Undine? Why is her story so special? What is a mythology behind her name? Here are ten mind-boggling facts about Undine!
Have you already read Undine?
Thanks, DerdriuMarriner, for your additional info. Red heads truly have very special status in history.
Tolovaj, Thank you for the images and information.
Did you know that the Dukes of Burgundy and the Houses of Lusignan, Luxembourg and Plantagenet claim descent from Melusine? Tyler Tichelaar has an interesting article on "Melusine's Possible Lusignan, Luxembourg, and Plantegenet Descendants" on his Children of Arthur WordPress blog March 9, 2015.
It's interesting that redheaded mermaids suggest anger, evil and excess emotion since David and Jesus have been portrayed as red-haired and since red is the color of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks, Mira, for your comment. Undine by de la Motte Fouque is definitely a classic read. It's especially interesting to compare it with Andersen's Little Mermaid.
I saw Jean Giraudoux's play Ondine a long time ago, and really enjoyed it. Now you have inspired me to read the play as well as some of the other works about Ondine/Undine that you mention. I have read several fairytales about water spirits like Undine, and I think the symbolism is worth exploring.
Thanks, katiem2, for stopping by. The pleasure was all mine:)
What an interesting wealth of information. You had me at Star Trek and yet hooked me with a lot of new knowledge and reading material. Thanks