Ondine (mythology)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ondine was a water nymph in German mythology. She was very beautiful and (like all nymphs) immortal. The only threat to a nymph's eternal happiness is if she falls in love with a mortal and bears his child - she will lose her gift of everlasting life.
Ondine fell in love with a dashing knight - Sir Lawrence - and they were married. When they exchanged vows, Sir Lawrence said, "My every waking breath shall be my pledge of love and faithfulness to you." A year after their marriage Ondine gave birth to Lawrence’s son. From that moment on she began to age. As Ondine’s physical attractiveness diminished, Lawrence lost interest in his wife.
One afternoon Ondine was walking near the stables when she heard the familiar snoring of her husband. When she entered the stable, however, she saw Sir Lawrence lying in the arms of another woman. Ondine kicked her husband awake, pointed her finger at him, and uttered her curse: "You swore faithfulness to me with every waking breath, and I accepted your oath. So be it. As long as you are awake, you shall have your breath, but should you ever fall asleep, then that breath will be taken from you and you will die!"
According to a theory advanced by Paracelsus, an Undine is a water nymph or water spirit, the elemental of water. They are usually found in forest pools and waterfalls. They have beautiful voices, which are sometimes heard over the sound of water. According to some legends, undines cannot get a soul unless they marry a human man. This aspect has led them to be a popular motif in romantic and tragic literature.
Contents |
[edit] Cultural reproductions
- Ondine in the arts:
- Undine, a novella by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué
- The Little Mermaid, a story by Hans Christian Andersen
- Jean Giraudoux's play.
- Claude Debussy's Prelude for Piano, Book 2 Number 8.
- Ondine, the first part of Maurice Ravel's composition for piano "Gaspard de la Nuit" (1908), is based on Aloysius Bertrand's poem.
- Undine is a title for Gondolier in the anime and manga series ARIA.
- Undine is the Summon Spirit/Elemental of Water from the Tales and Secret of Mana/Seiken Densetsu series.
- Undine is the name of the angelic spirit inhabiting one of the wings of the character Dizzy from the Guilty Gear series of video games.
- In Battletech, the Undine is a battle armor specifically designed for aquatic warfare.
- Undine is Monster in My Pocket #71.
[edit] Ondine's curse
Ondine's curse is now a medical term applied to a rare syndrome where the involuntary control of breathing is lost, resulting in the need to initiate every breath consciously. Untreated, patients with Ondine's curse supposedly will - like Ondine's unfaithful spouse - die if they fall asleep.
