Marbendill, the threefold laugh of the merman
By Ralf Ittermann · last reviewed on
Marbendill is a spirit of the Germanic/Nordic tradition.
Once caught, he laughs three times and reveals hidden truth. Marbendill is known from Icelandic sagas as a merman who laughs three times when caught.
As an Icelandic water spirit, the Marbendill is merman and soothsayer at once. Fishermen pull him from the sea; whoever sets him free is richly rewarded.
He is known for his threefold laugh, which each time brings a hidden truth to light.
Type: prophesying merman
Origin: Iceland
Texts: Landnámabók, Jón Árnason
Period: 12th century to today
Appearance: bearded merman
Source context
Period of the Texts
12th century (Landnámabók) to today.
Area of Diffusion
Iceland.
Sources
Landnámabók and Jón Árnason.
Name and variants
Language: Old Norse mar-mennill, sea-manikin, from marr, sea, and a diminutive form of man.
Appearance and behaviour
Appearance
Bearded merman, drawn from the sea, at first noticeable only by his laugh.
Effect
His laugh reveals appearance and reality; setting him free brings seven sea-grey cows and prosperity.
Profile: Marbendill
The key aspects of the prophesying merman at a glance.
Icelandic legend since the Landnámabók (12th century).
Fishermen and farmers who pull him from the sea.
Bearded merman with a puzzling, threefold laugh.
Prophecy and prosperity for whoever sets him free.
No warding rite: what matters is the given word.
The catch, the laugh and the reward
The Landnámabók of the 12th century tells of a caught, prophesying marmennill. Jón Árnason collected the best-known version: a farmer carries a captured Marbendill homeward, who laughs three times, when the dog is struck, when he stumbles over the cursed hill, and when he embraces his wife. Only after the promise of release does he name the reasons: joy, treasure, infidelity.
From proverb to legend motif
That the Marbendill laughed became proverbial in Iceland for a sudden, mocking burst of laughter. He belongs to the type of the captured being who grants a blessing in exchange for release, a tale about insight and self-deception.
Broken promise instead of banishing spell
Mermen and word relatives of Northern Europe
Frequently asked questions about Marbendill
Why does the merman laugh three times?
He sees hidden truth: genuine joy, a treasure, false affection.
Is the Marbendill dangerous?
No, he is a bearer of knowledge; what matters is releasing him as promised.
Literature (selection)
Further standard works in the bibliography.
As an Icelandic water spirit, the Marbendill remains merman and soothsayer at once: to whoever keeps their word, he gives thanks with prosperity from the sea rather than with violence.
