Origin: French Myth (Christian Mythology)
History: Special Note: There are two variations of this story.
The Count of Anjou was lonely, as he was not married and had no one to care for him. Much to the people's surprise, one day he brought home Melusine, a beautiful woman of wonderful mannerism. They married, and they were happy.
Melusine was the most wonderful countess anyone could ask for. She was kind, noble, beautiful, a good mother, and good-willed. However, people began to ask questions about her. No one knew her background nor who she was.
She was also terrible attendant of Church. This made people very nervous. She seldom attended mass and, when she did, she always seemed to disappear before the Eucharist was consecrated. Upon hearing this, the Count ordered his gaurds to make sure she stayed.
So, it happened. One Sunday when Melusine was at Church, she attempted to excuse herself before the Eucharist was prepared. The guards stopped her, and, as the Priest finished the preparation of the Eucharist, she shrieked. She turned into a dragon and took two of her children with her, away.
It is said that her children went on as Royality in Europe. It was also written that when anyone relating to her dies, she hovers over Melusine's Tower, near the Castle of Lusignan.
The alternative story came about a few hundred years after the one above, perhaps because no royal family member wished to be known as a relative to a dragon.
Melusine had a horrible, horrible father who mistreated his entire family. She locked him up in some type of Mound of Earth within the North Sea. The Queen of the Faeries looked down upon this, as children were not the ones to punish their parents.
Therefore, the Queen of the Faeries punished her. She cursed Melusine by making her change, from the waist down, into a dragon every Saturday. The only way to rid herself of this impediment was to take a magical bath every Saturday. This spell could only be broken if she could find a husband who was willing to not see his wife on a Saturday.
Melusine did find herself a husband, and he did agree to not see her on Saturday. However, as time when on he wondered what his wife was doing, locked in the tower all day. So, he peaked in and saw her half-dragon, half-human body.
With a shriek, Melusine turned into a dragon and flew out the window. She remained a dragon forever.
Symbolism: The first version appears to be a warning for people who marry others without knowing them well first. The second seems to be a reminder of that, as well as a reminder of the fourth commandment. (Honor thy mother and father.)
Physical Description: Melusine was a beautiful woman. In the first story, she was probably of western-serpentile style. In the second she is often depicted as half-sea serpent.
- Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
For more information about these footnotes, please see the bibliography.
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Last updated: 4 October 2009