Gods, Goddesses, and Marine Superheroes
Throughout the ages, human curiosity and boldness have led to direct encounters with the immense power of the sea. Voyages for trade, war, fishing, pilgrimage, migration, and more placed sailors in life-threatening situations, evoking feelings of helplessness and existential threat.
The desire to ensure the success of these maritime journeys, which demanded significant economic investment, drove scientific and technological breakthroughs that increased the odds of survival at sea. Stronger, more durable ships and advanced navigational tools provided sailors with more confidence.
However, for those out on the open sea who depended on the mercy of the winds, this was often not enough. Sailors sought spiritual means to bolster their faith and self-assurance, attributing control over the sea’s forces to protective deities and supernatural entities. They directed their prayers and offerings to these beings, hoping to return safely after arduous and perilous voyages.
This exhibition presents emblematic figures of gods, goddesses, heroes, and mythical marine creatures from ancient times to the modern era. Maritime trade and seafaring have played a crucial role in shaping cultural exchanges, through which sea-related beliefs and myths evolved and transformed. The vastness of the sea has been an endless source of human imagination - from the mighty gods of the ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans, through the protective saints of Christianity, to the superheroes of the modern age.