Tradition / Region: Zimbabwean Mythology
Alternate Names: —
Category: Mermaid
The Myth
In the rivers of Zimbabwe, there are said to dwell dangerous water maidens known as the Mondao.
They are described as pale-skinned beings with long dark hair and sharp, needle-like teeth. From a distance they may appear beautiful, but those who see them closely know they are not human. Their true form is half woman, half fish, and they move swiftly through the deep currents of rivers and pools.
Mondao hide beneath the surface where the water runs dark and deep. Fishermen casting their nets, swimmers crossing the river, or travelers resting near the banks may suddenly feel the water stir beneath them.
Without warning, the Mondao seize their victims and drag them below the surface. Few who are taken ever return.
Because of this, certain stretches of river are feared and treated with caution. People say that when someone vanishes in the water without a trace, it is the work of the Mondao, who guard their hidden domain beneath the currents.
They are remembered as spirits of the river’s depths—
beautiful from afar, deadly when near,
and always waiting beneath the water.
Gallery
Sources
Bestiary.us contributors. (n.d.). Mondao. In Bestiary.us, from https://www.bestiary.us/mondao/
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
- Christian Ascetic Deep Dive
Philosophical Readings
- Nietzschean Deep Dive
Psychological Readings
- Jungian Deep Dive
Esoteric Deep Dive
- Hermetic Deep Dive
Political / Social Readings
- Marxist Deep Dive
Other
- How to Invite The Mondao