Rannamaari, the Demon from the Sea
Maldivian legend says a demon rose from the sea each month, lit up like a ship covered in lamps, until a traveller stayed up all night reading to it.
What was reported
In the best-known story of the Maldives, a sea demon called Rannamaari rose from the ocean once a month, appearing as a glowing ship covered in lights. To appease it, the people of Malé left a young girl in a temple on the shore each time, and she was found dead in the morning.
A traveller, Abu al-Barakat, took the place of one girl and spent the night reciting the Quran. The demon came, listened and fled back into the sea, and never returned. The king is said to have become a Muslim as a result, in 1153.
Explanations offered
The legend explains how the Maldives converted to Islam, a real event of the 12th century. Historians debate who the traveller was. The glowing lights at sea may recall bioluminescence, which can make Maldivian waves shine at night.
- When
- Told of the 1100s
- Where
- Malé, Maldives
- Witnesses
- Maldivian tradition
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.