The sound of the gurgling water echoes off the rocks which line the shores of the Rhine giving this section of the river an enchanted feeling. The gurgling river creates a humming sound which when heard can be mistaken for that of a soft ghostly voice softly singing from the cliffs above the river. It is an essential part of the mystery behind the legend of the Loreley (Lorelei). She is often depicted as a ghostly siren or mermaid and her tale with the passing of time has grown into a legend. It is the story of a ghostly woman of the Rhine river who beckons sailors to come closer to her and to the rocks on which sits. If they do they are doomed to lose their ship to the craggy coast and also their lives to the cold waters that surround it.
Clemens Brentano's Zu Bacharach am Rheine told a poetic tale of the river Rhine involving a woman named Lore Ley. Lore Ley is a beautiful woman who when betrayed by her lover extracts her revenge on all men. She is accused by the clergy of bewitching and murdering men and as such she is sentenced to death.
Her tale is one of enchantment, romance, disappointment, and heartbreak. The sound of the waters of the Rhine echoing throughout the gorge increase the romantic mystical theme of the lovely siren Lore Ley who's singing is now forever heard in this section of the river's cliffs.
Heinrich Heine Poem: Die Loreley. Heinrich Heine brings the image of Lorelei to life even further within his poem Die Loreley. In her death Loreley becomes a ghostly siren and within her death brings the demise of many sea going men.
She sits high upon the cliff softly singing a song which lures passing seamen toward her and into the unyielding rock upon which she sits. Siren, ghost, or mermaid, the Loreley through time becomes a legend which flows as deep as the Rhine itself.
The Haunting Song of the Loreley
I remember him looking at me and my heart dropped deep in my chest knowing what was to follow. His steadfast look in my direction let me know in no uncertain terms that he was going to focus all his attention directly on me. He asked if my name was Lorelei and when I nodded, he asked if I had heard the legend of the Loreley. I shook my head no and he began to tell myself and my fellow students the magical tale of the river Rhine and of a beautiful woman who would later transform into a ghostly siren there. It is funny because I do not recall the teacher's name or exactly what grade I was in at the time. I was however quite impressed with the tale and loved the thought that I might somehow have a magical ghostly mermaid lady connected to me.
The rock hill known as the Loreley sits on the east shore of the Rhine river within the Rhine Gorge. This is a section of the river which is historically recognized as a treacherous waterway to maneuver through. The channel is lined with rocky hills and the waters hide dangerous rocks and strong undercurrents.
The Rhine's history of luring men to their death by capsizing their ships may have remained nothing more than a tragic event brought on by the river's geography but it was to be globally recognized when in 1801 Clemens Brentano wrote "Zu Bacharach am Rheine" the ballad of the Lore Ley. The River Rhine became forever romanticized by the image of a siren destined for all eternity to call out from the bluffs to passing ships.
Her name is now destined to remain connected to this river and the rock which bears her name. From the barren cliff of Loreley the image of a woman is formed. From the haunted waters where ships of yesteryear pass her voice rings out into the sky over the river Rhine.
Heinrich Heine: The Poem of Loreley Translated
Her portrayal is one of beauty seduction and sorrow. Enticing as a creature of the deep oceans can be the folklore behind the Loreley lives on today. The tale of this legendary siren has also remained with me since I first heard of her.
The Rhine River and the Loreley cliffs are quite a popular destination for tourists. A simple Google search will bear you more information on travel and tours to this destination.
As a child I lived within walking distance to a lake so my siblings and I would often go there to swim throughout the summer months. After learning the tale of the siren of the River Rhine I would pretend to be a mermaid as we swam at that local beach. A mermaid seemed a friendlier image than that of a woman who fell to her death into a watery grave. Now with childhood long behind me I see Loreley's image as that of the ghostly girl the legend sadly portrays.
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