Liban
Also called Lí Ban.
In Irish tradition, Liban is a woman swept into an underwater cavern by a catastrophic flood who prayed her way into a mermaid's body and was later venerated as a saint.
At a glance
- Tradition
- Irish folklore
- Region
- Ireland (place of origin)
Symbols
Judged against the description by a model. Meanings are our own paraphrase.
- Fish is Fish denote aquatic life, fertility, renewal, divine nourishment, and resurrection, while specific traditions also treat them as offerings, taboos, ghosts’ food, or oracles.
why
Unable to endure her confinement any longer, Liban is said to have prayed to become a fish so that she might move freely through the water that had swallowed her home.
- Mermaid is image-domain The mermaid denotes alluring danger risen from the depths, woman above and fish below, whose song and sensual promise draw a mortal toward the water.
why
In Irish tradition, Liban is a woman swept into an underwater cavern by a catastrophic flood who prayed her way into a mermaid's body and was later venerated as a saint.
- Salmon is Salmon signifies fecundity, wisdom, and otherworldly knowledge in Celtic lore, while North American traditions center on its release by Coyote as sustaining food.
why
Her prayer was granted in a partial and striking form: her lower body became that of a salmon while her upper body stayed human, making her a mermaid in the literal sense of the word, and her dog was transformed alongside her into an otter.
Traits
Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.
Form
- Woman transformed into half fish sea being
why
Her prayer was granted in a partial and striking form: her lower body became that of a salmon while her upper body stayed human, making her a mermaid in the literal sense of the word, and her dog was transformed alongside her into an otter.
Behaviour
- Speaks and sings-like human
why
She is described as living on in this state for some three hundred years, free within the lake but still cut off from human company, until her singing was heard from the water and arrangements were made to bring her to land.
Roles
Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.
- Father meets
5 citations
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Liban."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Liban."
- Katharine Briggs, An Encyclopedia of Fairies, s.v. "Liban."
- Lady Gregory, Gods and Fighting Men, p. 124.
- Patricia Monaghan, The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore, p. 288.
- Threshold meets
5 citations
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Liban."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Liban."
- Katharine Briggs, An Encyclopedia of Fairies, s.v. "Liban."
- Lady Gregory, Gods and Fighting Men, p. 124.
- Patricia Monaghan, The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore, p. 288.
- Water meets
5 citations
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Liban."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Liban."
- Katharine Briggs, An Encyclopedia of Fairies, s.v. "Liban."
- Lady Gregory, Gods and Fighting Men, p. 124.
- Patricia Monaghan, The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore, p. 288.