In ‘Merpeople: A Human History’, the author explores the connections between mermaids as symbols of sin in the context of the early Church, and how the notion of sin increased its power. Within this period, mermaids were transformed from their place as pagan symbols and were then turned into spiritual vessels for sin as a cautionary tale against temptation. Usually, this sin would be in the form of carnal sin; those who didn’t live piously and prioritized indulging in their sexual desires would not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In this time when the early Christian church was the dominant religious and political power, engaging in sin was a very real spiritual and literal threat that hung over the heads of churchgoers. 

However, sin itself is abstract and varies from culture to culture; anything can be considered sin depending on the value system of said culture. Even knowledge can maintain a connection to sin. Within Homer’s Odyssey, a tale promoted by the Church, sirens didn’t promise sex but instead promised infinite knowledge to Odysseus and his men. This knowledge would in turn bring death and destruction unto them (Scribner p. 30). In the eyes of the Church, Ulysses (Odysseus) represented the Son of Virtue while the Sirens were the Incarnate Vice (Scribner p. 35). By being seen as the Incarnate of Vice, the infinite knowledge that they promised was also seen as wicked as well. What about knowledge would be seen as wicked and immoral? Why was Ulysses seen as righteous for rejecting it? Why did the Christian church promote the tale of the Odyssey in the first place? 

The quote “knowledge is power” may shed some light on these questions. The early Church wielded a lot of power, mainly through attempting to convert as many non-Christians as possible. By amassing such a large number of followers, the Church’s power and influence would continue to strengthen. Those in power are always concerned about maintaining it, and they want to keep wielding it through any means necessary. This is why the pursuit of knowledge as whole could be seen as dangerous, it may show alternate ways of existing that are outside of the realm of the church. If people stopped believing in the teachings of the Church, then its influence on society would diminish, leaving them vulnerable to other political and religious factions that may want to control medieval Europe. The story of the Odyssey is important to the Church because it sees itself in Odysseus fighting against a perceived evil. When that evil is paired with knowledge and sin through the form of mermaids, the early Church strengthens the belief that the only way to secure one’s eternal soul is by strictly following the teachings of the Church, further securing its place of power.