Peje Nicolao

Peje Nicolao

Peje Nicolao is a fish-man, a folkloric creation taken up by various authors in their literary works. Walter Map, an English author writing toward the end of the twelfth century who had spent some time in Italy, recounts the story of a certain Nicola Pesce, a renowned diver who, so accustomed was he to the sea, was brought to the court of the King of Sicily and allowed himself to die of grief at being separated from his natural element. Other authors added further details to the legend: Peje Nicolao was capable of remaining underwater for an hour without breathing, had abandoned human customs, his face was covered in scales, and his limbs had transformed into fins.