" The Old Man of the Sea " is a title shared by several significant literary and mythological figures. The most famous is a character from the tales of , though the phrase is also often confused with Ernest Hemingway's novel The Old Man and the Sea . 1. Sinbad the Sailor (Arabian Nights)
: A herdsman of sea monsters who served Poseidon. He could foretell the future but would change shapes (into fire, lions, or serpents) to avoid answering questions unless captured and held tightly. The Old Man of the Sea
: Known as a trustworthy, honest god and the father of the Nereids. " The Old Man of the Sea "
: Today, the phrase is a metaphor for a lingering burden or a "bore" that one cannot easily shake off. 2. Greek Mythology Sinbad the Sailor (Arabian Nights) : A herdsman
: Sinbad eventually rids himself of the burden by making the Old Man drunk on fermented grapes, causing him to loosen his grip.
In the fifth voyage of Sinbad , he encounters a seemingly frail old man on a deserted island.
While officially titled , many people search for this Pulitzer Prize-winning book under "The Old Man of the Sea". Old Man and the Sea: Hemingway, Ernest: 9780684801223