A Seed Talks Touring Lecture
The History of
Mermaids
Sirens, selkies and sea-spirits. A dive beneath the surface of mermaid lore — from The Little Mermaid back through Mami Wata, rusalki and Melusine.
Get TicketsDeeper than Disney
Mermaids have drifted through centuries of myth, art and pop culture, shifting shape with our fears and desires.
Sirens & Selkies
The dangerous singers of antiquity and the shape-shifting seal-women of the Scottish isles.
Mami Wata & Melusine
West African water spirits, medieval European legends, and the mermaids sailors swore they saw at sea.
The Modern Mermaid
From colonial critique to queer and trans symbolism — why the mermaid's spell endures.
About the Talk
Why do mermaids continue to enchant us? From ancient sea-spirits to Disney princesses, the mermaid drifts through centuries of myth, art and pop culture — shifting shape with our fears and desires.
We begin with Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid and its Disney transformations, then swim back through time to meet her many watery sisters: the sirens of antiquity, medieval Melusine, selkies, rusalki, Mami Wata, and the curious “mermaids” sailors swore they saw at sea.
Together we'll explore what mermaids reveal about how societies imagine women, bodies, and outsiders — and pick apart the strange opposition between the mermaid and the sailor.
Followed by a Q&A.
What to expect
Meet the Speakers
Prof. Diane Purkiss
Historian, Author & Folklorist
Based at the University of Oxford, Professor Purkiss is a leading authority on folklore, mythology and the cultural history of magic and belief.
Dr Natalie Lawrence
Historian of Science & Monster Expert
Author of Enchanted Creatures (W&N, 2024). A Cambridge-trained historian and regular on the TEDx and podcast circuit.
From our guests
“Truly riveting talks, always enjoy these — a great way to spend an evening with some pals.”
“Expertly run, talks are always super informative and a lot of fun! Couldn't recommend these enough.”
“Super interesting. An enjoyable evening — the talks make for stimulating conversation.”