Selkies are a variation on the mermaid concept in Scottish, Irish, Icelandic and Faroese folklore

Selkies are a variation on the mermaid concept in Scottish, Irish, Icelandic and Faroese folklore.

They live in the sea as seals, but can shed their seal hide to become human on land.
If their seal skin is hidden or stolen, they are unable to return to the sea.

Selkie stories are traditionally romantic tragedies
The Selkie in most stories return to the sea after several years as a Seal Wife to a human, leaving behind her husband and children.

One well known story is about a beautiful Selkie trapped by a fisherman on the island of Kalsoy.
He takes her seal skin while she is on land one night, and hides it.

Having her seal fur taken from her, she is forced to become his wife – even though she already has a selkie husband and children.
They end up having two children together.

One day however, he goes fishing, and she finds her seal skin hidden in a chest in their home.

She escapes back to her Selkie family, after ensuring her land children are cared for, until the fisherman’s return.

She leaves behind a message, to not follow her and to not harm her Selkie family.
The fishermen however, ignores the warning and ends up killing both her Selkie husband and Selkie children.

In revenge she curses the men of the island to die in frequent accidents, until as many have perished as can link arms around the whole island.

🧜 This 9 ft bronze and stainless steel statue of Kópakonan, The Seal Wife, was created by Hans Pauli Olsen.
It was installed in the Mikladalur Harbor on Kalsoy, one of the Faroe Islands, on August 1st, 2014.

Photo Credit ~ Esbern Christiansen