The Mermaid’s Tale: A Blog About the History and Origin of Mermaids
The mermaid is one of the world’s most enduring and iconic mythical creatures. Every culture around the world has their own variations of the mermaid legend, but all of them share a number of common characteristics. So where did these stories come from?
The most enduring theory about where mermaid legends originated is that they are based on sightings of manatees and dugongs. Manatees and dugongs are large, aquatic mammals that live in tropical waters near Africa, Asia, and Australia. They can grow up to 12 feet long and weigh as much as 1,300 pounds.
Manatees have no dorsal fin, but they do have a rounded tail like a fish. Dugongs don’t have dorsal fins either, but their tails are fluked like whales or dolphins. The face of both animals looks vaguely human-like, especially when viewed at a distance or when in water with choppy waves or poor visibility. This gives them both an uncanny resemblance to mermaids.
Manatees and dugongs were known to ancient mariners who traveled throughout the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean regions. These sailors would have been extremely familiar with these creatures
The Mermaid’s Tale is a blog about the history and origin of mermaids, their existence and where we find them today. It’s a fascinating topic, which includes folklore stories, art, and different types of mermaid costumes.
The word mermaid first appeared in English in 1250 A.D.. The word comes from two old English words: mere (sea) and maid (girl). They were described as having the head and torso of a human female and the tail of a fish. In ancient times, they were often called Sirens or Lorelei. The Greek equivalent is “Nereids.”
Some people believe that mermaids are real. In 2009, Animal Planet premiered a fake documentary called “Mermaids: The Body Found” that claimed that scientists had found video footage of real mermaids swimming near Antarctica. It was so convincing that many people believed it to be true. But this documentary was all fiction.
Mermaids have been talked about for thousands of years, mentioned by Homer and also seen in Botticelli paintings. There are many other legends about these mythical creatures too. People living near water have always imagined what kind of creatures live in the depths below the surface. Mermaids appear to be one example
The Mermaid’s Tale is a blog about the history and origin of mermaids.
Mermaids have been appearing in folklore for centuries, across almost every culture. They have appeared in mythology, literature, art, film and TV shows. In recent years there has also been a surge in sightings of mermaids by people all over the world.
When I was researching this book, I couldn’t find a complete source of information about mermaids. I found bits and pieces scattered throughout dozens of books on mythology and folklore. So I decided to create this site as a resource that would include everything I’d discovered through my research.
This site is a work in progress and will be expanded as new material is added. If you have any information, photos or videos to contribute to this site, please contact me at mermaid@mermaidstale.com.
I hope you enjoy the site!
The myth of the mermaid has been spread around the world in many different cultures. Some of the stories are quite similar, others are very different, but the mermaid has always captured our imagination. The mermaid is a mysterious creature and perhaps this is why she has become such a popular mythological character.
Over time, the myth of the mermaid has undergone many changes and interpretations, from a dangerous and alluring seductress to a symbol of environmental conservation. She has even been used as a symbol for feminism!
The Mermaid’s Tale will explore all these aspects and more, so if you want to discover more about the history of mermaids and where they came from, please read on…
The history of mermaids, popularly known as sirens, is nothing but a myth. Mermaids were the daughters of Phorcys and Ceto, who were children of Gaia or Mother Earth and Pontus, the Sea. According to Hesiod, Gaia gave birth to four monsters. These monsters were the Graeae (Grey Ones), Echidna (Half woman-half snake), Gorgons (Medusa and her sisters) and the sea deities Phorcys and Ceto. This last couple had two children: Echidna and Thoosa. The latter was the mother of Polyphemus by Poseidon.
The mermaids are one of the most popular mythological creatures in history. They are linked to Greek mythology and sailors’ legends. Their name comes from a Greek creature called mormo which was described as a terrifying shape-shifting monster capable of turning itself into anything it wanted, including a beautiful woman.
The earliest records of mermaids date back to Assyria, around 1000 BC. In these records they were described as having the upper body of a woman with long hair, and the bottom half of a fish. These creatures were also referred to as “the handmaidens of Atargatis”.
In the ocean a mermaid is far from her home and she longs to be back with her family. She decides to make a bargain with the prince who saved her life. The mermaid gives up her fins and gains human legs in order to get back home. The mermaid warns the prince that she will feel as if she is walking on knives.
The prince and the mermaid fall in love, but the prince marries another girl. The mermaid throws herself into the ocean and turns into sea foam.
What Is A Mermaid?
We think of mermaids as beautiful women who live under the sea with their fish tails, but there are many different kinds of mermaids. In different cultures, they can have different attributes such as having wings or having two legs instead of a fish tail. Some are vicious and some are kind, some are beautiful and some are frightening.
Mermaids were originally thought to be magical creatures that lived in lakes, rivers, ponds, streams and oceans. They were also thought to inhabit other bodies of water such as marshlands and swamps. Sometimes they would move from one body of water to another by using rainwater puddles or other temporary sources of water like rivers during the rainy season when they
A mermaid is a mythical sea creature with the head, torso and arms of a woman and the tail of a fish. Mermaids are said to live primarily in the Atlantic Ocean, although sightings are reported worldwide.
The term “mermaid” is sometimes also used to describe aquatic humanoids more generally, such as Tritons, Nixies and Selkies, as well as actual humans who may live their lives entirely beneath the ocean’s surface.
Mermaids have been a popular fixture in literature and art for thousands of years. The best-known mermaid story is that of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen.
The word “mermaid” itself comes from the Old English words mere (sea) and maid (young woman). Mermaids have been depicted in various ways throughout history. The earliest known depictions of mermaids were found in Assyria, where they were associated with goddesses. In Greek mythology and Roman mythology, mermaids were sometimes associated with dangerous events such as floods, storms and drownings. However, they are most often depicted as benevolent creatures that help sailors who get lost at sea or whose ships sink or crash.
In Medieval Europe, mermaids were often associated with lustful seductresses or sirens