Mermaid
A mermaid is a mythical creature characterized by a human female upper body and a fish-like tail. This enchanting figure has appeared in the folklore and legends of various cultures worldwide, spanning regions such as Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Mermaids are often depicted with dual attributes, embodying both benevolent and malevolent traits, which reflects the diverse narratives associated with them. Historically, mermaids are thought to have originated from ancient depictions of the Syrian goddess Atargatis, linking them to themes of fertility and protection.
The fascination with mermaids continued through centuries, with notable references in literature, such as Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid," which has influenced modern portrayals. Despite their mythical status, some historical accounts from famous explorers, including Christopher Columbus, include alleged sightings of mermaids, though these claims have often been debunked as possible misidentifications of marine animals. In contemporary culture, the allure of mermaids persists, fueled by television specials and social media trends, leading to a resurgence of interest in these captivating figures. This ongoing fascination highlights the enduring appeal and complexity of mermaid mythology across different societies.
Mermaid
A mermaid is a mythical, ocean-dwelling creature whose upper body is a human female but whose lower body resembles the tail of a fish. Mermaids populate the legends and folklore of cultures around the world, from Europe and Asia to Africa and the Americas. However, tales of "mermaid" sightings also have been preserved in the historical record in the words of famed seafarers. In the twenty-first century, a few television specials about mermaids have led millions of gullible viewers to mistakenly believe that mermaids are real.
Mermaids of Myth
Mermaids have existed in world mythology since ancient times. Tales of mermaids and their role in humans’ lives are as varied as the cultures that produced them. They are at turns helpful and harmful, lucky and unlucky, merciful and vengeful, innocent and seductive. Native American legends feature mermaid-like water spirits; stories from Africa describe a female figure with the tale of a fish or serpent; an epic Indian poem called Ramayana features a mermaid princess.
Most myths, stories, and artworks represent mermaids as beautiful creatures with long, flowing hair, though a few suggest that mermaids are unattractive. From the waist up, they look like human females, but from the waist down, they resemble fish. In some tales, they lack a soul and long to obtain one. Often they possess a beautiful singing voice capable of enchanting sailors on the high seas. In some tales, they wield or are controlled by magical powers.
Mermaids of History
Scholars trace the origins of mermaid stories to an ancient Syrian fertility goddess called Atargatis (or Derceto). Ancient Syrians depicted Atargatis with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish. The Syrians believed that the mermaid-like goddess watched over them and protected them from harm. Other ancient cultures associated mermaids with death and destruction. In ancient Greek mythology, mermaids are often linked to or confused with Sirens, despite obvious differences in appearance and habitat—scales and water for the former, feathers and land for the latter. Homer writes of the Sirens in his epic poem The Odyssey. These feathered femme fatales inhabited an island surrounded by cliffs and rocks. Their beautiful songs so enchanted sailors on passing ships that the mariners could not help but steer toward the island, where the craggy coast wrecked their vessels and plunged them into the sea. This powerful sway over sailors likely led to the Siren-mermaid connection that developed over time.
The ancient Romans also wrote about mermaids. In his book Natural History, first-century Roman scholar Pliny the Elder described creatures called Nereids, the daughters of a sea-god, who had both human- and fish-like characteristics, much like mermaids. Despite its inaccuracies, Natural History remained a tome of science "fact" for many centuries following its publication and likely contributed to the belief in mermaids that persisted into the Middle Ages.
Mermaids cemented their place in the historical record when esteemed seafaring explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Captain John Smith described sightings of the mythical creatures. In 1493, Columbus wrote of female forms—presumably mermaids—he spied in the ocean. He remarked that the creatures were not as beautiful as he expected. However, Smith, who reportedly saw a mermaid with "long green hair" in 1614, claimed that she "was by no means unattractive."
In 1837, Danish author Hans Christian Andersen published what is among the most well-known mermaid stories, "The Little Mermaid." The fairy tale focuses on a young mermaid who sacrifices everything for a chance at love and an eternal human soul only to have her heart broken and her life end as she dissolves into sea foam. The Andersen story and its modern adaptations, such as Disney’s animated film The Little Mermaid (1989), have helped to perpetuate elements of mermaid mythology (beautiful voice, magic) into modern times.
Mermaids of Today
In the twenty-first century, interest in mermaids has experienced somewhat of a renaissance. In the 2010s, two "docufiction" or "mockumentary" television specials led many to believe that mermaids are real. Filmed in the style of a serious documentary, the 2012 TV special Mermaids: The Body Found and its 2013 sequel Mermaids: The New Evidence focus on scientists (played by actors) who uncover evidence that points to the existence of real mermaids. Despite containing disclaimers that they were fictional, the films tricked millions of viewers into thinking that mermaids were real. Following the broadcast of Mermaids: The Body Found, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration received such an influx of queries about the existence of mermaids that officials felt compelled to issue the following statement: "No evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found."
If mermaids are not real, then how can mermaid sightings by esteemed mariners such as Columbus and Smith be explained? Some have suggested that sailors may have mistaken manatees or dugongs for mermaids. Sailors on long voyages lacked basic necessities of life, such as adequate food, water, and heat, as well as human contact and intimacy. After weeks or even months on the water, this deprivation easily could have caused them to see creatures that were not really there—or to mistake portly sea cows for voluptuous mermaids.
Even present-day scientists who know that mermaids are not real have remarked that a shadow or the way light hits the water can sometimes make a surfacing manatee or dugong look like a human head. With just the right flick of a tail fin, a person may be fooled into thinking that they saw a mermaid.
In the 2020s, the public's continued interest in mermaids was reflected in the Disney remake of The Little Mermaid (2023), the Netflix documentary MerPeople (2023), and events such as Fairgrounds St. Pete's month-long Mystical Mermaid March. "Finfluencers," humans portraying mermaids and mermen, trended on social media.
Bibliography
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