The sea is a creature. The beginning of everything, a living God. It gives life and nourishment but sometimes it takes away something. It commands respect and teaches humility and those who do not learn that will pay dearly for it. To reign over it is an exceptional thing. Just think, the Persian King Xerxes was extremely reckless and, of course, proud and blind, when he had the courage to whip a true living God, namely the sea! Ironically, the battle of Thermopylae ultimately proved him right.
The sea is always, without exception, a female and as the source of life she is just like a woman. Velvety and caressing her bosom covers man but if necessary, she is harsh and angry. In ancient times, superstitious reverence made men fear the sea, which of course has a rational explanation. Typical offshore sailors travelled far and few people ventured out into open water. These sailors could not swim, which was still common up to modern times. Beached animals sometimes provoked terror, such as the giant squid corpse that impressed everyone who saw it.
It is known that the sea cures, people living alongside salt water are much less likely to be affected by diseases such as respiratory or thyroid conditions. At the same time the sea can kill, the tsunami and the devastating storms are evidence of the sea’s ’wrath’. The sea gives wealth, with salt ponds lucky nations gained unprecedented power and influence. According to bedtime books the sea is a symbol of love and the yearning after love.
It is a mysterious and mystical place whose limit, the horizon, fades away in shadows. For a long time the huge expanses of water, so to speak, ’locked up’ man. The ancient world came to an end at the Straits of Gibraltar (if we ignore the other side of the ocean reaching up to the Vikings of course). In tales the sea (according to some the Mediterranean Sea or the Atlantic Ocean may have been the equivalent) is filled with secrets and is a dangerous pla