8. The Coral Cities of Persian Gulf Merfolk
Persian Gulf mythology describes amazing underwater cities built totally from live coral, home to merfolk. Towering coral spires, complex sea fan gardens, and busy markets where merfolk barter in pearls and other oceanic riches, these legendary metropolises are claimed to surpass the magnificence of human civilizations above the waves. The myth goes that an ancient mer-civilization developed these coral cities since it could control and expand coral at will. Using their coral fortresses as bases from which they preserve the equilibrium of marine ecosystems, the merfolk are supposed to be guardians of the sea. Long stories of glimpsing these glittering civilizations in the depths, their coral structures shining with an ethereal brilliance, have been related by the local sailors and pearl divers. Though these tales are obviously mythological, they capture the Persian Gulf’s diverse marine life as well as the historical significance of coral for the region’s trade and culture. Prizeful for their vivid red color, Gulf coral has been collected for generations to be used in jewelry and decorative items. Local conservation initiatives have benefited from the mythology of the coral cities; some environmental groups have used it to underline the need of protecting coral reefs. As artificial coral reefs have been created to support marine life in the Gulf, some have whimsically referred to these efforts as attempts to replicate the legendary mer-cities, fusing modern ecological ideas with age-old folklore.