Difference between revisions of "Mermaid" - New World Encyclopedia

Latest revision as of 17:04, 16 October 2014

The Mermaid

A mermaid (from the Middle English mere meaning "sea" and maid, meaning "girl") is a legendary aquatic creature with the head and torso of a human female and a fish-like tail. The male version of a mermaid is known as a merman, and the gender-neutral plural is merfolk or merpeople. Merfolk appear in a plethora of cultures worldwide—legends often tell of mermaids singing to sailors, enchanting them, and luring them to their death. The origin of the mermaid legend is often traced to the manatee or dugong, large aquatic mammals that can sometimes have human-like characteristics.

While there have been many who claim merfolk are real, all "evidence" of their existence has thus far proven to be a hoax. Yet the image of a beautiful human-like creature that is at home in the water continues to attract us, reflecting our desire to have dominion over all aspects of the natural world.

Mermaids and Mermen in Myth and Legend

Triton's fountain, by Gianlorenzo Bernini, in Rome

Tales of these half-human, half-fish legendary creatures have circulated for millennia, and many of the oldest can be found in ancient mythology. Although long-lived and possessing supernatural powers, merfolk are generally depicted as mortal and without an eternal soul. Ancient Babylonians worshiped a sea god named Ea, and merpeople feature prominently in Polynesian mythology.^[1] Ancient Syrians worshiped a mermaid moon-goddess called Atargatis, sometimes called Derceto. In the second century, Lucian of Samosata on Syria described Derceto in De Dea Syria (Concerning the Syrian Goddess), saying: "I have seen the semblance of Derceto in Phœnicia, and a wonderful sight it is; one half is a woman, but the part which extends from the thighs to the feet ends in a fish's tail."^[2]

Merpeople were often present in Greek mythology. The sea god Triton, son of the King and Queen of the Sea, Poseidon and Amphitrite, is usually depicted with the upper torso of a man and a fish's tail. The sirens that attempt to lure Odysseus to his death in The Odyssey were originally portrayed as half-female, half-bird, but later depictions portrayed them as mermaids. Another notable merman from Greek mythology is Glaucus. According to legend, Glaucus was born human and lived as a fisherman. One day, while fishing, he noticed that the fish he had caught were reviving and finding their way off the land and back into the sea. He ate some of the grass the fish had been lying on, believing it to have magical properties, and felt an overwhelming desire to be in the sea. He jumped in the ocean, where the sea gods transformed him into a merman. Ovid related the transformation of Glaucus in his Metamorpheses, describing him as a blue-green man with a fishy member where his legs had been.

The Land Baby by John Collier

Merfolk are found in the folklore of most parts of the world. In Japan, it is said that eating the flesh of a mermaid can grant immortality. Icelandic folklore tells of mermen known as Marbendlar, and tales of mermaids and mermen were often found in the folklore and legends of the British Isles.

Mermaids were noted in British folklore as ominous: foretelling disaster as well as provoking it. Some were described as monstrous in size, up to 160 feet.^[3] Mermaids could also swim up rivers to freshwater lakes. As one legend goes, the Laird of Lorntie thought he saw a woman drowning in a lake. As he went to aid her, a servant pulled him back, warning that the woman was actually a mermaid. The mermaid then screamed that she would have killed him if it were not for his servant.^[4]

Mermaid in Clonfert Cathedral, Co. Galway, Ireland

In Irish folklore, tales of mermaids tend to be more romantic. It was believed that mermaids could transform into human form through the removal of a cap or sea-skin. Instead of mermaids who lure men to their death, Irish mermaid legends often tell of men who hide the cap or sea-skin of a mermaid in order to marry them and bring them home. There are several Irish families who claim mermaids as ancestors, and include mermaid images on their family crests and arms.

Mermaids were often featured in the decoration of Medieval churches, particularly in the British Isles. Often shown holding a comb and mirror, mermaids not only embodied the sins of pride and vanity, but were also often used to represent the sin of lust. Images of mermaids holding a fish or starfish were used to represent a Christian soul that had been lost to the deadly sin of lust, and were placed in churches to warn churchgoers not to be seduced by such evils.^[5]

While mermaids are often represented as curious or envious of human life, mermen are most often portrayed as more private and secretive; often they are less attractive than their female counterparts. In Irish legends, for example, mermen are definitively ugly. Stories abound of beautiful mermaids using their enchanting voices to sing to sailors and finding their way close to the world of men, but such stories about mermen are less common.

Manatees as Mermaids?

It has been widely suggested that manatees or dugongs could be behind the myth of the mermaid. These large aquatic mammals are notable for the way in which they carry their young, cradled in their arms much as a human would carry a baby. It is possible that sailors seeing these unfamiliar beasts for the first time would assume that they had in fact stumbled across some sort of humanoid species, and consequently spread their accounts of the sightings through their homelands on their return from their voyages. It has even been suggested that the traditional image of a mermaid with long flowing hair could be attributed to manatees breaking the ocean surface underneath patches of seaweed, giving the unfamiliar observer the impression of long hair.

In 1493, Christopher Columbus recorded a sighting of what was most likely a group of manatees or dugongs, recording in the ship's log that "when the Admiral went to the Rio del Oro he saw three mermaids which rose well out of the sea… they were not as beautiful as they are painted though they have something of a human face."^[6]

Mermaid Hoaxes

Barnum's "Feejee Mermaid"

The most famous mermaid hoax was perpetrated in the mid-nineteenth century by legendary showman P. T. Barnum. The "Feejee Mermaid" was exhibited after Barnum had hired a phony naturalist to support the mermaid's authenticity, and used accomplices to send letters from various cities that spoke of the fake "Dr. Griffin" and his remarkable mermaid. Woodcuts were given to the newspapers, and audiences soon flocked to see the beautiful, seductive creature pictured in the woodcut. Instead, they found that the Feejee Mermaid was a grotesque combination of ape and fish, and not at all what they had expected. In actuality, the Feejee Mermaid was most likely the creation of a Japanese fisherman sometime around 1810. Such half-fish half-ape creatures were a traditional art form, and were often created for use in religious ceremonies.^[7]

Though the Feejee Mermaid was the most famous, "mermaids" have been commonly found in carnivals, traveling circuses and side shows. More recently, in the wake of the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, pictures of "mermaids" were spread through the Internet. It was claimed that the photos were of creatures that had washed up amid the devastation, but the very same photographs had circulated in 2003, and were no more real than Barnum's exhibit.^[8]

The Little Mermaid

The statue of The Little Mermaid, a monument to Hans Christian Andersen, in Copenhagen harbor.

Perhaps the most famous mermaid in literature is found in Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale The Little Mermaid (1836). Translated into many languages, Anderson's tale tells of a young mermaid who trades her voice for human legs in her quest for the love of a prince and the acquisition of an immortal soul. Anderson's portrayal of mermaids has arguably become the standard, and has influenced most modern Western depictions of mermaids since its publication. The story has been retold in numerous adaptations, the most famous of which is the 1989 Disney movie of the same name, where, unlike the original, the Little Mermaid lives happily ever after with her prince. A famous bronze statue by sculptor Edvard Erichsen was given to the city of Copenhagen in 1913, depicting the famous Little Mermaid sitting on a stone in Copenhagen Harbor.

Merfolk Music

Both mermaids and mermen have long been associated with music, and much like that of Orpheus, the power of a mermaid's singing has the ability to enthrall. Stories abound of mermaids who lure sailors to their death with their beautiful, enchanting songs. Along with their legendary vanity, the hair-combing and mirrors, the association of mermaids with music is coupled with another association of a vocal nature: they are said to be able to confer verbal eloquence, much like the Muses of the ancient Greek myths. Though many claim that mermen also communicate through song, tales of mermen's songs are much rarer, as are tales of mermen in general. Mermen are more often pictured making music with a conch shell than singing. Triton, a Greek sea-god, is often pictured with a conch shell trumpet.

Mermaids in the Arts and Heraldry

A Mermaid by John William Waterhouse.

Images of mermaids can be found in ancient Greek pottery and mosaic. Many of these mermaids have a split tail; a feature commonly found in ancient concepts of a mermaid's appearance. Mermaids have long been a popular subject with painters. One of the best known mermaid paintings, A Mermaid, was painted by John William Waterhouse from 1895 to 1905. An example of late British Academy style artwork, the piece debuted to considerable acclaim (and secured Waterhouse's place as a member of the Royal Academy).

Mermaids are also popular in both literature and film. In addition to Andersen's famous fairytale, The Little Mermaid, mermaids have appeared in the novel The Sea Fairies, by L. Frank Baum, James Barrie's Peter Pan, and numerous other works of children's literature and fantasy fiction. In film, mermaids have been the subject of many comedies such as Miranda (1948) and Splash (1984), as well as the famous animated adaptation of The Little Mermaid by Walt Disney.

File:POL Warszawa COA 1.svg In heraldry, the charge of a mermaid is commonly represented with a comb and a mirror, and blazoned as a "mermaid in her vanity." Merfolk were used to symbolize eloquence in speech.

The official coat of arms of Warsaw, the capital of Poland, features a mermaid wielding a sword and shield. Numerous legends tell the origin of the Warsaw mermaid; the best known describes a mermaid who would tangle the nets of the fishermen. Because of her enchanting singing, the fishermen did not harm her, but a wealthy merchant captured her to display her at fairs. Rescued by one of the town's young men, the mermaid was grateful and vowed to defend the city in time of need.^[9]

Notes

↑ Victoria University of Wellington, The Origin of the Coconut–A Legend of Manahiki Island Retrieved May 17, 2007.
↑ Lucian of Samosata, The Syrian Goddess.Sacred Texts Retrieved May 17, 2007.
↑ Katharine Briggs. An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures. "Mermaids," (New York: Pantheon Books, 1976. ISBN 039473467X), 287.
↑ K. M. Briggs. The Fairies in English Tradition and Literature. (University of Chicago Press, 1967), 57.
↑ Patricia Radford, Lusty Ladies: Mermaids in the Medieval Irish Church Retrieved May 17, 2007.
↑ Thor Janson, Discovering the Mermaids Retrieved May 17, 2007.
↑ Alex Boese, The Feejee Mermaid.museumofhoaxes.com. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
↑ Barbara and David Mikkelson, Mermaid to Order.snopes.com. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
↑ The City of Warsaw, History of Warsaw's Coat of Arms. Retrieved May 17, 2007.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Briggs, K. M. The Fairies in English Tradition and Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1967.
Briggs, Katharine. "Mermaids," An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures. New York: Pantheon Books, 1976. ISBN 039473467X
Colburn, Kerry. Mermaids: Sirens of the Sea. Running Press Book Publishers. 2003. ISBN 978-0762416325
Conway, D. J. Magickal Mermaids and Water Creatures: Invoke The Magick of the Waters. New Page Books, 2005. ISBN 1564147843
Ratisseau, Elizabeth. Mermaids (Magical Beings). Laughing Elephant. 1999. ISBN 978-1883211141

Credits

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History of "Mermaid"

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[1] Victoria University of Wellington, The Origin of the Coconut–A Legend of Manahiki Island Retrieved May 17, 2007.

[2] Lucian of Samosata, The Syrian Goddess.Sacred Texts Retrieved May 17, 2007.

[3] Katharine Briggs. An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures. "Mermaids," (New York: Pantheon Books, 1976. ISBN 039473467X), 287.

[4] K. M. Briggs. The Fairies in English Tradition and Literature. (University of Chicago Press, 1967), 57.

[5] Patricia Radford, Lusty Ladies: Mermaids in the Medieval Irish Church Retrieved May 17, 2007.

[6] Thor Janson, Discovering the Mermaids Retrieved May 17, 2007.

[7] Alex Boese, The Feejee Mermaid.museumofhoaxes.com. Retrieved May 17, 2007.

[8] Barbara and David Mikkelson, Mermaid to Order.snopes.com. Retrieved May 17, 2007.

[9] The City of Warsaw, History of Warsaw's Coat of Arms. Retrieved May 17, 2007.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Started}}{{Claimed}}
+{{ebcompleted}}{{2Copyedited}}{{Paid}}{{Approved}}{{Images OK}}{{Submitted}} {{copyedited}}
-[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
+[[Category:Mythical creatures]]
-[[Category:Anthropology]]
-[[Image:1921MermaidLegs.jpg|thumb| Cartoon "A mermaid looks up at the legs of a swimmer"]]
+[[Image:Edmund Dulac - The Mermaid - bright liquid.jpg|250 px|thumb|''The Mermaid'']]
-A '''mermaid''' (from the [[Middle English]] ''mere'' in the obsolete sense 'sea' + ''maid(en)'') is a [[legendary creature|legendary]] aquatic creature with the head and torso of human female and the tail of a fish. The male version of a mermaid is called a [[merman]]; the gender-neutral plural is ''merfolk''. Various cultures throughout the world have similar figures.  They were known to sing to sailors and enchant them, distracting them from their work and either causing the sailors to walk off the deck, or crash the boat, like the [[Siren]], or squeeze the life out of drowning men, while trying to rescue them. They are also known to take them down to their kingdom. In [[Hans Christian Andersen]]'s ''[[The Little Mermaid]]'' it is told that they forget that humans can't breathe underwater while others say they do it out of pure spite.
+A '''mermaid''' (from the [[Middle English]] ''mere'' meaning "sea" and ''maid'', meaning "girl") is a [[legendary creature|legendary]] aquatic creature with the head and torso of a human female and a [[fish]]-like tail. The male version of a mermaid is known as a merman, and the gender-neutral plural is merfolk or merpeople. Merfolk appear in a plethora of cultures worldwide—[[legend]]s often tell of mermaids singing to sailors, enchanting them, and luring them to their death. The origin of the mermaid legend is often traced to the [[manatee]] or [[dugong]], large aquatic [[mammal]]s that can sometimes have human-like characteristics.
+{{toc}}
-The [[Siren]]s of [[Greek mythology]] are sometimes portrayed in later [[folklore]] as mermaids; in fact in some languages the name ''sirena'' is used interchangeably for both creatures. Other related types of [[mythology|mythical]] or [[legend]]ary creature are [[water fairies]] (e.g. various [[Nymph|water nymphs]]) and [[selkie]]s.
+While there have been many who claim merfolk are real, all "evidence" of their existence has thus far proven to be a hoax. Yet the image of a beautiful human-like creature that is at home in the water continues to attract us, reflecting our desire to have dominion over all aspects of the natural world.
-==Legend and myth==
-Legends of these half-human, half-fish humanoids have circulated for millennia, even as far back as 5,000 B.C.E.[http://www.americanmonsters.com/monsters/aquatic/index.php?detail=article&idarticle=24]
-It has been widely suggested or implied that [[manatee]]s or [[dugong]]s could be behind the myth of the mermaid. These large aquatic [[mammal]]s are notable for the way in which they carry their young, cradled in their arms much as a human would carry a baby. It is possible that sailors seeing these unfamiliar beasts for the first time, would assume that they had in fact stumbled across some sort of [[humanoid]] species, and consequently spread their accounts of the sightings through their homelands on their return from voyages. It has even been posited that the traditional image of a mermaid with long flowing hair could be attributed to manatees breaking the ocean surface underneath patches of [[seaweed]], and giving the unfamiliar observer the impression of having long hair.
- [[Image:Waterhouse_a_mermaid.jpg|thumb|right|300px|''A Mermaid'' by [[John William Waterhouse]].]]
-=== Ancient Near East ===
-Tales of mermaids are nearly universal. The first known mermaid [[folklore|stories]] appeared in [[Assyria]], ca. [[1000s B.C.E.|1000 B.C.E.]]. [[Atargatis]], the mother of Assyrian queen [[Semiramis]], was a goddess who loved a mortal shepherd and in the process killed him. Ashamed, she jumped into a lake to take the form of a fish, but the waters would not conceal her divine nature. Thereafter, she took the form of a mermaid &mdash; human above the waist, fish below &mdash; though the earliest representations of Atargatis showed her as being a fish with a human head and legs, similar to the [[Babylonia|Babylonian]] [[Enki|Ea]]. The Greeks recognized Atargatis under the name Derketo, where she was often [[wiktionary:conflate|conflated]] with [[Aphrodite]].
-Prior to 546 B.C.E., the Milesian philosopher [[Anaximander]] proposed that mankind had sprung from an aquatic species of animal. He thought that man with his extended [[infancy]] could not have survived, originally, in the manner he does presently. This idea does not appear to have survived Anaximander's death.
-A popular Greek legend has [[Alexander the Great]]'s sister, [[Thessalonice of Macedon|Thessalonike]], turn into a mermaid after her death.<ref> [http://www.mpt.org/programsinterests/mpt/alexander/guide/teachers_guide.pdf Teacher's Guide]</ref> She lived, it was said, in the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]] and when sailors would encounter her, she would ask them only one question: ''"Is Alexander the king alive?"'' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Ζει ο βασιλιάς Αλέξανδρος''), to which the correct answer would be ''"He lives and still rules"'' (Greek: ''Ζει και βασιλεύει''). Any other answer would spur her into a rage, where she transformed into a [[Gorgon]] and meant doom for the ship and every sailor onboard.
-[[Lucian|Lucian of Samosata]] in [[Syria]] (2nd century CE) in ''De Dea Syria'' ("Concerning the Syrian Goddess") wrote of the Syrian temples he had visited:
-:"Among them - Now that is the traditional story among them concerning the temple. But other men swear that Semiramis of [[Babylonia]], whose deeds are many in Asia, also founded this site, and not for Hera [[Atargatis]] but for her own Mother, whose name was [[Atargatis|Derketo]]"
-:"I saw the likeness of Derketo in [[Phoenicia]], a strange marvel. It is woman for half its length, but the other half, from thighs to feet, stretched out in a fish's tail. But the image in [[Jerusalem|the Holy City]] is entirely a woman, and the grounds for their account are not very clear. They consider fishes to be sacred, and they never eat them; and though they eat all other fowls, they do not eat the dove, for she is holy so they believe. And these things are done, they believe, because of Derketo and [[Semiramis]], the first because Derketo has the shape of a fish, and the other because ultimately Semiramis turned into a [[dove]]. Well, I may grant that the temple was a work of Semiramis perhaps; but that it belongs to Derketo I do not believe in any way. For among the [[Egyptians]], some people do not eat fish, and that is not done to honor Derketo." <ref>Lucian of Samosata, ''De Dea Syria'' Part 2, Chapter 14</ref>
-===British===
-Mermaids were noted in British folklore as both omnious, foretelling disaster, and provoking it.  Some were described as monstrous in size, up to 160 feet.<ref>Katharine Briggs, ''An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures'', "Mermaids", p 287. ISBN 0-394-73467-X</ref>
-Mermaids could also swim up rivers to freshwater lakes.  One day, in a lake near his house, the Laird of Lorntie saw, as he thought, a woman drowning, and went to aid her; a servant of his pulled him back, warning that it was a mermaid, and the mermaid screamed after that she would have killed him if it were not for his servant.<ref>K. M. Briggs, ''The Fairies in English Tradition and Literature'', p 57 University of Chicago Press, London, 1967</ref>
-On occasion, mermaids could be more beneficient, giving humans means of cure.<ref>Katharine Briggs, ''An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures'', "Mermaids", p 288. ISBN 0-394-73467-X</ref>
-Some tales raised the question of whether mermaids had immortal souls to answer it in the negative.<ref>Katharine Briggs, ''An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures'', "Mermaids", p 289. ISBN 0-394-73467-X</ref>  The figure of Liban appears as a sanctified mermaid, but she was originally a human being transformed into a mermaid; after three centuries, when Christianity had come to Ireland, she came to be baptized.<ref>Katharine Briggs, ''An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures'', "Liban", p 266-7. ISBN 0-394-73467-X</ref>
-Mermen were also noted, as wilder and uglier than mermaids, but they were described as having little interest in humans.<ref>Katharine Briggs,
-In yhe gemara of the jews it says tha mermaid exist they call them sirena
-''An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures'', "Mermen", p 290. ISBN 0-394-73467-X</ref>
-=== Other ===
-Among the [[Neo-Taíno nations]] of the Caribbean the mermaid is called [[Aycayía]].<ref>http://www.conexioncubana.net/tradiciones/diccionario/a.htm</ref> Her attributes relate to the goddess [[Jagua]], and the hibiscus flower of the majagua tree [[Hibiscus tiliaceous]].<ref>http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/thumbnails/html/hibiscus_tiliaceus.htm</ref> Examples from other cultures are the [[Mami Wata]] of [[West Africa|West]] and [[Central Africa]], the [[Jengu]] of [[Cameroon]], the [[Merrow]] of [[Ireland]] and [[Scotland]], the Russalki of [[Russia]] and [[Ukraine]], and the Greek [[Oceanid]]s, [[Nereid]]s, and [[Naiad]]s. One freshwater mermaid-like creature from European folklore is [[Melusine]], who is sometimes depicted with two fish tails, and other times with the lower body of a [[Serpent (symbolism)|serpent]].  It is said in [[Japan]] that eating the flesh of a mermaid can grant unaging [[immortality]]. In some [[European]] legends mermaids are said to grant wishes.
-Also, some people claim they have seen dead or living mermaids in places like [[Scotland]], [[Malaysia]] and [[British Columbia]]. Two most recent Canadian sightings took place in the [[Straight of Georgia]]. [http://www.tourismvictoria.com/Content/EN/747.asp],
-[http://www.folklore.bc.ca/Folkexamples.htm]
-==Entertainment==
-<!-- Items in this section are ordered by their first media of appearance —>
-===Literature===
-[[Image:The_Little_Mermaid_4.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The statue of [[The Little Mermaid]], a monument to [[Hans Christian Andersen]], in [[Copenhagen]] harbour.]]
-Mermaids are one of the most famous creatures of [[popular culture]], and are depicted regularly in literature and film. This is likely due to the influence of [[Hans Christian Andersen]]'s [[fairytale]] ''[[The Little Mermaid]]'' ([[1836]]), which has been translated into many languages.  Andersen's portrayal, immortalized with a famous bronze sculpture in [[Copenhagen]] harbour, has arguably become the standard and has influenced most modern Western depictions of mermaids since it was published.  The story has been retold in other films and television programs, and regularly features in collections of fairytales.  It has been adapted into various media, the most famous of which is the [[1989]] [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] [[The Little Mermaid (1989 film)|movie of the same name]].
-[[L. Frank Baum]] (creator of [[Land of Oz|Oz]]) wrote a novel about merfolk, ''[[The Sea Fairies]]''.
-Mermaids appear in the [[Peter Pan]] novel and in adaptations of it (such as the film ''[[Hook (film)|Hook]]'') and the [[Harry Potter]] series, specifically in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''.
-Many mermaids appear in works of fantasy fiction, including [[Poul Anderson]]'s ''The Merman's Children''.<ref>John Grant and John Clute, ''The Encyclopedia of Fantasy'', "Mermaids" p 639 ISBN 0-312-19869-8</ref>
-The [[comic book]] [[superhero]] ''[[Superman]]'' had a romantic love interest with a mermaid named [[Lori Lemaris]]. The name Lori Lemaris was probably drawn from [[Lorelei]] rock in the [[Rhine]] added to ''maris'', from the [[Latin]] ''mare'', meaning ocean.
-''[[Aquamarine (film)|Aquamarine]]'', a novel by [[Alice Hoffman]], is about two 13 year old girls who discover a sassy teenage mermaid.  The novel was popular among teen and preteen girls.  The novel was made in to a film released in [[2006]] by Twentieth Century Fox and starred [[Sara Paxton]], [[Emma Roberts]] and [[JoJo]].
+==Mermaids and Mermen in Myth and Legend==
+[[Image:RomaBerniniFontanaTritone.JPG|right|thumb|200 px|Triton's fountain, by Gianlorenzo Bernini, in Rome]]
+Tales of these half-human, half-[[fish]] [[legendary creature]]s have circulated for millennia, and many of the oldest can be found in ancient [[mythology]]. Although long-lived and possessing supernatural powers, merfolk are generally depicted as mortal and without an eternal [[soul]]. Ancient [[Babylon]]ians worshiped a sea god named Ea, and merpeople feature prominently in [[Polynesia]]n mythology.<ref>Victoria University of Wellington, [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-Pom02Lege-t1-body-d2.html The Origin of the Coconut–A Legend of Manahiki Island] Retrieved May 17, 2007. </ref> Ancient [[Syria]]ns worshiped a mermaid moon-goddess called Atargatis, sometimes called Derceto. In the second century, [[Lucian|Lucian of Samosata]] on Syria described Derceto in ''De Dea Syria'' ''(Concerning the Syrian Goddess),'' saying: "I have seen the semblance of Derceto in Phœnicia, and a wonderful sight it is; one half is a woman, but the part which extends from the thighs to the feet ends in a fish's tail."<ref>Lucian of Samosata, [http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/luc/tsg/tsg07.htm The Syrian Goddess].''Sacred Texts'' Retrieved May 17, 2007.</ref>
-As with many other mythological creatures, mermaids appear in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' games (see [[Merfolk (Dungeons & Dragons)]]).
+Merpeople were often present in [[Greek mythology]]. The sea god [[Triton]], son of the King and Queen of the Sea, [[Poseidon]] and [[Amphitrite]], is usually depicted with the upper torso of a man and a fish's tail. The [[siren]]s that attempt to lure [[Odysseus]] to his death in ''The Odyssey'' were originally portrayed as half-female, half-[[bird]], but later depictions portrayed them as mermaids. Another notable merman from Greek mythology is Glaucus. According to legend, Glaucus was born human and lived as a fisherman. One day, while fishing, he noticed that the fish he had caught were reviving and finding their way off the land and back into the sea. He ate some of the grass the fish had been lying on, believing it to have magical properties, and felt an overwhelming desire to be in the sea. He jumped in the ocean, where the sea gods transformed him into a merman. [[Ovid]] related the transformation of Glaucus in his ''Metamorpheses,'' describing him as a blue-green man with a fishy member where his legs had been.
+[[Image:John Collier - The Land Baby.jpg|thumb|left| ''The Land Baby'' by John Collier]]
+Merfolk are found in the [[folklore]] of most parts of the world. In [[Japan]], it is said that eating the flesh of a mermaid can grant [[immortality]]. [[Iceland]]ic folklore tells of mermen known as ''Marbendlar,'' and tales of mermaids and mermen were often found in the folklore and legends of the [[British Isles]].
-===Film===
+Mermaids were noted in British folklore as ominous: foretelling disaster as well as provoking it. Some were described as monstrous in size, up to 160 feet.<ref>Katharine Briggs. ''An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures.'' "Mermaids," (New York: Pantheon Books, 1976. ISBN 039473467X), 287. </ref> Mermaids could also swim up rivers to freshwater lakes. As one legend goes, the Laird of Lorntie thought he saw a woman drowning in a lake. As he went to aid her, a servant pulled him back, warning that the woman was actually a mermaid. The mermaid then screamed that she would have killed him if it were not for his servant.<ref>K. M. Briggs. ''The Fairies in English Tradition and Literature.'' (University of Chicago Press, 1967), 57.</ref>
-* ''[[Miranda (1948 film)|Miranda]]'' ([[1948 in film|1948]]), starring [[Glynis Johns]], is another popular film to feature a mermaid. This film was followed by a sequel, ''Mad About Men'' (1954).
+[[Image:Clonfert Cathedral Detail Meerjungfrau.JPG|thumb| Mermaid in Clonfert Cathedral, Co. Galway, Ireland]]
-* ''[[Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid]]'' (1948) starring [[Ann Blyth]], was another variation on the theme.
+In [[Ireland|Irish]] folklore, tales of mermaids tend to be more romantic. It was believed that mermaids could transform into human form through the removal of a cap or sea-skin. Instead of mermaids who lure men to their death, Irish mermaid legends often tell of men who hide the cap or sea-skin of a mermaid in order to marry them and bring them home. There are several Irish families who claim mermaids as ancestors, and include mermaid images on their family crests and arms.
-* ''[[The Mermaids of Tiburon]]''(1962) - starring Diane Webber, George Rowe, and [[Timothy Carey]].
+Mermaids were often featured in the decoration of [[Middle Ages|Medieval]] churches, particularly in the British Isles. Often shown holding a comb and mirror, mermaids not only embodied the [[sin]]s of pride and vanity, but were also often used to represent the sin of lust. Images of mermaids holding a fish or [[starfish]] were used to represent a Christian soul that had been lost to the deadly sin of lust, and were placed in churches to warn churchgoers not to be seduced by such evils.<ref>Patricia Radford, [http://homepage.eircom.net/~archaeology/three/mermaid.htm Lusty Ladies: Mermaids in the Medieval Irish Church] Retrieved May 17, 2007.</ref>
-* ''[[Beach Blanket Bingo]]'' (1965) - beach movie starring [[Frankie Avalon]] and [[Annette Funicello]] followed a sup-plot of the character, Bonehead ([[Jody McCrea]]), falling for a mermaid portrayed by ''[[Lost in Space]]'''s [[Marta Kristen]].
+While mermaids are often represented as curious or envious of human life, mermen are most often portrayed as more private and secretive; often they are less attractive than their female counterparts. In Irish legends, for example, mermen are definitively ugly. Stories abound of beautiful mermaids using their enchanting voices to sing to sailors and finding their way close to the world of men, but such stories about mermen are less common.
-* ''[[Head]]'' (1968) - starring [[The Monkees]] briefly featured two mermaids in the opening "Porpoise Song" sequence, surrounded by psychedelic effects.
+==Manatees as Mermaids?==
+It has been widely suggested that [[manatee]]s or [[dugong]]s could be behind the [[myth]] of the mermaid. These large aquatic [[mammal]]s are notable for the way in which they carry their young, cradled in their arms much as a human would carry a baby. It is possible that sailors seeing these unfamiliar beasts for the first time would assume that they had in fact stumbled across some sort of humanoid species, and consequently spread their accounts of the sightings through their homelands on their return from their voyages. It has even been suggested that the traditional image of a mermaid with long flowing hair could be attributed to manatees breaking the ocean surface underneath patches of [[seaweed]], giving the unfamiliar observer the impression of long hair.
-* In ''[[Splash (film)|Splash]]'' ([[1984]]), starring [[Daryl Hannah]] and [[Tom Hanks]], Hannah played a mermaid who fell in love with a man. She could walk dry land as a human female, but whenever water touched her legs they changed into a fish-tail. Much of the movie revolves around her humorous attempts to conceal her true identity from her lover. A made-for-television sequel, ''[[Splash, Too]]''<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096159/</ref> followed in [[1988]]. It starred [[Amy Yasbeck]] and [[Todd Waring]].
+In 1493, [[Christopher Columbus]] recorded a sighting of what was most likely a group of manatees or dugongs, recording in the ship's log that "when the Admiral went to the Rio del Oro he saw three mermaids which rose well out of the sea… they were not as beautiful as they are painted though they have something of a human face."<ref>Thor Janson, [http://www.mayaparadise.com/dugonge.htm Discovering the Mermaids] Retrieved May 17, 2007.</ref>
-* In ''[[Local Hero]]'' (1984), Marina ([[Jenny Seagrove]]) is suspected by her love interest of being a mermaid.
+==Mermaid Hoaxes==
+[[Image:Barnum.fidschi.meerjungfrau.jpg|thumb|left| Barnum's "Feejee Mermaid"]]
+The most famous mermaid hoax was perpetrated in the mid-nineteenth century by legendary showman [[P. T. Barnum]]. The "Feejee Mermaid" was exhibited after Barnum had hired a phony naturalist to support the mermaid's authenticity, and used accomplices to send letters from various cities that spoke of the fake "Dr. Griffin" and his remarkable mermaid. Woodcuts were given to the [[newspaper]]s, and audiences soon flocked to see the beautiful, seductive creature pictured in the woodcut. Instead, they found that the Feejee Mermaid was a grotesque combination of [[ape]] and [[fish]], and not at all what they had expected. In actuality, the Feejee Mermaid was most likely the creation of a [[Japan]]ese fisherman sometime around 1810. Such half-fish half-ape creatures were a traditional art form, and were often created for use in religious ceremonies.<ref>Alex Boese, [http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/fj_mermaid.html The Feejee Mermaid].''museumofhoaxes.com''. Retrieved May 17, 2007.</ref>
-*[[The Little Mermaid (1989 film)]] is a movie produced by [[Walt Disney Studios]] which portrays a variant of the story by [[Hans Christian Anderson]] about the mermaid that wished for legs. This film was followed by a sequel, ''[[The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea]]''
+Though the Feejee Mermaid was the most famous, "mermaids" have been commonly found in carnivals, traveling [[circus]]es and side shows. More recently, in the wake of the 2004 [[tsunami]] in the [[Indian Ocean]], pictures of "mermaids" were spread through the [[Internet]]. It was claimed that the photos were of creatures that had washed up amid the devastation, but the very same photographs had circulated in 2003, and were no more real than Barnum's exhibit.<ref>Barbara and David Mikkelson, [http://www.snopes.com/photos/tsunami/mermaid.asp Mermaid to Order].''snopes.com''. Retrieved May 17, 2007.</ref>
-*''[[Magic Island]]'' (1995) featured a character named Lily, a young mermaid who befriends a group of buckaneers (and [[Zachary Ty Bryan]]) and joins them on their quest for Blackbeard's treasure.
+==The Little Mermaid==
-* In the original cut of ''[[Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie]]'' (1997), a mermaid named Mandika was briefly featured, and was intended to help the rangers on thier journey to the island of Muranthias. Due to timing restraints, her scenes were cut from the final film. The edited scenes included helping the rangers find the Ghost Galleon ship, rescuing Kimberly, Bulk, and Skull from drowning, & being saved from Divatox's torpedoes by Adam on a bungee rope.
+[[Image:Den lille Havfrue.jpg|thumb|200px|The statue of The Little Mermaid, a monument to Hans Christian Andersen, in Copenhagen harbor.]]
+Perhaps the most famous mermaid in literature is found in [[Hans Christian Andersen]]'s [[fairytale]] ''The Little Mermaid'' (1836). Translated into many languages, Anderson's tale tells of a young mermaid who trades her voice for human legs in her quest for the love of a prince and the acquisition of an immortal [[soul]]. Anderson's portrayal of mermaids has arguably become the standard, and has influenced most modern Western depictions of mermaids since its publication. The story has been retold in numerous adaptations, the most famous of which is the 1989 [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] movie of the same name, where, unlike the original, the Little Mermaid lives happily ever after with her prince. A famous bronze statue by sculptor Edvard Erichsen was given to the city of [[Copenhagen]] in 1913, depicting the famous Little Mermaid sitting on a stone in Copenhagen Harbor.
-* ''[[She Creature]]'' (2001) featured a villainous mermaid who seemed to have a taste for human flesh and [[lesbian]] tendencies.
+==Merfolk Music==
-* [http://www.maddogz.com.au Maddogz Productions] produced the 2006 short film [http://heartsatlantis.maddogz.com.au/ "Heart's Atlantis"] which features a beautiful mermaid. It tells the story of a grieving young boy who finds solitude in a mermaid in his backyard pool. Hannahh Fraser plays the mermaid, with Sam Wallis and Ty Hungerford also starring in the film. The tail in the film was created by ''H2O Just Add Water'' and ''Aquamarine'' prosthetic designer Jason Baird of [http://www.jmbfxstudio.com.au JMB FX Studio].
+Both mermaids and mermen have long been associated with [[music]], and much like that of [[Orpheus]], the power of a mermaid's singing has the ability to enthrall. Stories abound of mermaids who lure sailors to their death with their beautiful, enchanting songs. Along with their legendary vanity, the hair-combing and mirrors, the association of mermaids with music is coupled with another association of a vocal nature: they are said to be able to confer verbal eloquence, much like the [[Muse]]s of the ancient [[Greek mythology|Greek myths]]. Though many claim that mermen also communicate through song, tales of mermen's songs are much rarer, as are tales of mermen in general. Mermen are more often pictured making music with a [[conch]] shell than singing. [[Triton]], a Greek sea-god, is often pictured with a conch shell trumpet.
-* In "[[Aquamarine (film)]]" (2006), two young girls (13), Claire and Hailey, befriend a mermaid by the name of Aquamarine. They soon begin a quest to help her win a boy working at Claire's Grandparents' beach club, Raymond.
+==Mermaids in the Arts and Heraldry==
-== Music ==
+[[Image:Waterhouse_a_mermaid.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''A Mermaid'' by John William Waterhouse.]]
-'''Mermaid Music'''
+Images of mermaids can be found in ancient Greek [[pottery]] and [[mosaic]]. Many of these mermaids have a split tail; a feature commonly found in ancient concepts of a mermaid's appearance. Mermaids have long been a popular subject with painters. One of the best known mermaid paintings, ''A Mermaid,'' was painted by [[John William Waterhouse]] from 1895 to 1905. An example of late British Academy style artwork, the piece debuted to considerable acclaim (and secured Waterhouse's place as a member of the Royal Academy).
-Mermaids have long been associated with [[music]], and much like that of [[Orpheus]], the power of their singing voices had the ability to enthrall.
-Along with their legendary vanity, the hair-combing and mirrors, the association of mermaids with music is coupled with another association of a vocal nature: they are said to be able to confer verbal eloquence, much like the Muses of the ancient [[Greek myths]].
-Mermaids and other mers are associated with many attributes and assigned different themes around the world, of course, but of the half-human, half-other type of animal creations of lore, the mermaid seems to have survived at least in the West, more ably than other chimerical mythic beings.
-The fact that the mers have fish tails is significant, and points to our ancient origins as denizens of the deep, and the nature of the mystical and mysterious fathoms have given rise to symbolism of these sea people in our concept of the subconscious realms.
-Standing in usually for the mysteries of female sexuality and for the libertine behavior most myths ascribed to the wild women of the seas, so, too, was the music made by mermaids seen as somewhat depraved as well as dangerous.
-Forever our imaginations will be stirred by the love and death themes implied by the music of the mers in all their pitiless, heart-breaking vanity.
-[[Mermaid Music]] is a CD by the singer-songwriter, [[Ocean (Singer)]]. [[The Little Mermaid]]music by [[Disney]]
+Mermaids are also popular in both [[literature]] and [[film]]. In addition to [[Hans Christian Andersen|Andersen]]'s famous fairytale, ''The Little Mermaid,'' mermaids have appeared in the novel ''The Sea Fairies,'' by [[L. Frank Baum]], [[James Barrie]]'s ''Peter Pan,'' and numerous other works of children's literature and fantasy fiction. In film, mermaids have been the subject of many comedies such as ''Miranda'' (1948) and ''Splash'' (1984), as well as the famous [[animation|animated]] adaptation of ''The Little Mermaid'' by [[Walt Disney]].
-===Television===
-* In the fifth season of [[Charmed]], there is a two-parter concerning mermaids; [[A Witch's Tail (Part 1)]] and [[A Witch's Tail (Part 2)]]. The Charmed Ones are drawn to an innocent mermaid who must elicit a proclamation of love from her mortal boyfriend or lose her immortality to a water demon known as the Sea Hag. Determined to save the mermaid, the Charmed Ones cast a spell, unfortunately turning [[Phoebe Halliwell|Pheobe]] into a mermaid. Confused and surprised by [[Cole Turner|Cole's]] unexpected return from the Underworld, Phoebe finds a new sense of independence in the sea and refuses to return to land. Fearing for the life of their sister, [[Paige Matthews|Paige]] seeks out Cole to aid her in returning to normal while [[Piper Halliwell|Piper]] and [[Leo Wyatt|Leo]] try to vanquish both the Sea Hag and the Skeleton Demon.
-* The television show [[Fantasy Island]] had a mermaid character named Naya, played by [[Michelle Phillips]] of [[The Mamas & the Papas]] in three episodes.
-* In the [[Futurama]] episode [[The Deep South (Futurama)|The Deep South]], the crew encounters Mermaids (which evolved from humans) who inhabit the fabled lost city of Atlanta in the year 3000. The concept of mermaids not having the same reproductive functions as humans in the show is a reference to the [[mermaid problem]].
-* In a 1971 episode of ''[[Bewitched]]'' entitled "Samantha and the Loch Ness Monster", an old flame of Samantha's cousin Serena puts a spell on her - temporarily turning her into a mermaid.
-* There was an adaption made of the classic story "The Little Mermaid" in a 1987 episode of [[Faerie Tale Theatre]], starring ''[[Mork and Mindy]]'''s [[Pam Dawber]] as Pearl.
-* In 1991, manga artist [[Rumiko Takahashi]], creator of ''[[Ranma 1/2]]'', created a three-volume horror manga series called ''[[Mermaid Saga]]'', which was based on the Japanese myth that eating mermaid's flesh can grant immortality.
-* Anime [[Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch]] and its sequel, [[Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure]] focuses on mermaid princess and their adventures in the human world trying to protect both land and sea creatures.
-* In 1999, a made-for-television movie ''Sabrina, Down Under '' (a spin-off special from the TV series ''[[Sabrina, the Teenage Witch]]'') finds Sabrina ([[Melissa Joan Hart]]) traveling to Australia's Great Barrier Reef with her best friend Gwen ([[Tara Strong]]), a fellow witch from England, for a week-long vacation where they try to help protect a hidden mermaid/mermen colony whose habitat is threatened by ocean pollution, and by a local marine biologist, Dr. Julian Martin ([[Peter O'Brien]]), determined to find the colony as his claim to fame. While Sabrina finds romance with Barnaby (played by [[Scott Michaelson]]), a [[merman]] from the mermaid colony, his mermaid sister Fin (played by [[Lindsay Sloane]]), upset at Barnaby's interacting with the humans, tries her best to keep the secrets of the location of the merpeople colony safe from the humans. Barnaby in this story, is suffering from the effects of pollution, but is cured after meeting Dr. Martin. Sabrina eventually must save his mermaid sister, their mer-colony, and the Great Barrier Reef of Australia from the pollution as well.
-* In [[2003]] the television movie [[Mermaids (2003 film)|Mermaids]] was released. This TV movie starred Sarah Laine, Nikita Ager, and Australian model Erika Heynatz as a trio of mermaid sisters who band together to avenge their father's death.
+[[Image:POL Warszawa COA 1.svg|thumb|right|150px|Coat of arms of Warsaw]]
+In [[heraldry]], the charge of a mermaid is commonly represented with a comb and a mirror, and blazoned as a "mermaid in her vanity." Merfolk were used to symbolize eloquence in speech.
-* [[Marina (TV series)|Marina]] was a 2004 TV show from the [[Philippines]] which starred Teleserye Queen (as the mermaid Marina) and Filipino superstar [[Claudine Barretto]].  It was the first fantasy teleserye on [[ABS-CBN]] and became very popular. It first aired in February and ended in November.
+The official coat of arms of [[Warsaw]], the capital of [[Poland]], features a mermaid wielding a sword and shield. Numerous legends tell the origin of the Warsaw mermaid; the best known describes a mermaid who would tangle the nets of the fishermen. Because of her enchanting singing, the fishermen did not harm her, but a wealthy merchant captured her to display her at fairs. Rescued by one of the town's young men, the mermaid was grateful and vowed to defend the city in time of need.<ref>The City of Warsaw, [http://www.e-warsaw.pl/miasto/herb-1.htm History of Warsaw's Coat of Arms]. Retrieved May 17, 2007.</ref>
-* The Canadian TV series ''[[Seriously Weird]]'' featured a mermaid in an episode entitled "Harris and the Mermaid", in which the main character (Harris) was desperate to learn to swim. The mermaid (Muriel) offered to teach him, but in the end, fooled him into switching places with him - leaving him with a tail, and her with legs.
+==Notes==
+<references/>
-* In 2004, [[The Backyardigans]] was a chapter (''Viking Voyage'') where Tasha was a mermaid, and she sings "The Mermaid Song", inspired in the song "The Yellow Rose Of Texas".
+==References==
+* Briggs, K. M. ''The Fairies in English Tradition and Literature.'' Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1967.
+* Briggs, Katharine. "Mermaids," ''An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures.'' New York: Pantheon Books, 1976. ISBN 039473467X
+* Colburn, Kerry. ''Mermaids: Sirens of the Sea.'' Running Press Book Publishers. 2003. ISBN 978-0762416325
+* Conway, D. J. ''Magickal Mermaids and Water Creatures: Invoke The Magick of the Waters.'' New Page Books, 2005. ISBN 1564147843
+* Ratisseau, Elizabeth. ''Mermaids (Magical Beings).'' Laughing Elephant. 1999. ISBN 978-1883211141
-* Australian television series, ''[[H2O: Just Add Water]]'' (2006), involves 3 teenage girls who, after encountering a mysterious island grotto, transform into mermaids whenever water touches any part of their bodies.
-* In [[Power Rangers Mystic Force]] (2006), Madison (the Blue Ranger) turns into the Mermaid Titan.  This is based upon MagiMermaid, the Majin form of MagiBlue in [[Mahō Sentai Magiranger]]
-* In [[Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue]] (2000), Chad (the blue ranger) finds a love interest in a mermaid named Marina, who had saved his life from an underwater rockslide. She appeared in 2 episodes entitled "Ocean Blue" and "Neptune's Daughter".
-* The 1985 Japanese TV show, [[Dengeki Sentai Changeman]], Change Mermaid symbolizes a mermaid.
-* In 2006, NBC's [[soap opera]] ''[[Passions]]'' added a mermaid character named Siren, brought to life by the toddler witch Endora to keep her half-brother's fiance from leaving him.
-===Hoaxes===
-In the [[19th century]], [[P. T. Barnum]] displayed in his museum a [[taxidermy|taxidermal]] hoax called the ''[[Fiji mermaid|Feejee [''sic''] Mermaid]].'' Others have perpetrated similar hoaxes, which are usually [[papier-mâché]] fabrications or parts of deceased creatures, usually monkeys and fish, stitched together for the appearance of a grotesque mermaid. In the wake of the [[2004 tsunami]], pictures of Fiji "mermaids" were passed around on the internet as something that had washed up amid the devastation, though they were no more real than Barnum's exhibit.<ref>http://www.snopes.com/photos/tsunami/mermaid.asp</ref>
-==Artwork==
-Perhaps one of the most famous mermaid paintings in the world was created by [[John William Waterhouse]], painted from 1895 to 1905, entitled ''A Mermaid'', (see the top of this article). An example of late British Academy style artwork, the piece debuted to considerable acclaim (and secured Waterhouse's place as a member of the [[Royal Academy]]), but disappeared into a private collection and didn't resurface until the 1970s. It is currently in the collection of [[Lord Lloyd-Webber|Andrew Lloyd Weber]].
-===Heraldry===
-[[Image:POL Warszawa COA 1.svg|thumb|right|100px|Coat of arms of Warsaw]]
-In [[heraldry]], the charge of a mermaid is commonly represented with a comb and a mirror, and blazoned as a 'mermaid in her vanity.' Merfolk were used to symbolize eloquence in speech.
-A shield and sword-wielding mermaid (''Syrenka'') is on the official [[Coat of arms of Warsaw]], the capital of [[Poland]].
-The personal coat of arms of [[Michaëlle Jean]], Canada's [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]], features two [[Simbi]], mermaid-like spirits from [[Haiti]]an [[vodun]], as [[supporters]].
-==Sirenomelia==
-[[Sirenomelia]], also called "mermaid syndrome", is a rare [[congenital]] [[disease|disorder]] in which a child is born with his or her legs fused together and the [[Sex organ|genitalia]] reduced. This condition is about as rare as [[conjoined twins]] and is usually fatal within a day or two of birth because of [[kidney]] and [[Urinary bladder|bladder]] complications, though there are three known survivors of this disorder alive today.
-==Symbolism==
-According to [[Dorothy Dinnerstein]]’s book, ''The Mermaid and the Minotaur'', human-animal hybrids such as the minotaur and the mermaid convey the emergent understanding of the ancients that human beings were both one with and different from animals and that, as such, humans' "nature is internally inconsistent, that our continuities with, and our differences from, the earth's other animals are mysterious and profound; and in these continuities, and these differences, lie both a sense of strangeness on earth and the possible key to a way of feeling at home here".<ref name=Dinnerstein>
-[[Dorothy Dinnerstein]], ''The Mermaid and the Minotaur''. New York: Harper and Row, 1963. Cited by [http://northstargallery.com/mermaids/MermaidHistory2.htm Northstar Gallery]</ref>
-==Merman==
-[[Image:Merman.jpg|160px|right|thumb|Merman (17th century)]]
-'''Mermen''' are mythical [[male]] [[legendary creature]]s who are [[human]] from the [[waist]] up and [[fish]]-like from the waist down, whose [[wikt:consort|consort]]s were their [[female]] counterparts, the more commonly known [[mermaid]]s. In [[Greek mythology]], mermen were often illustrated to have green [[seaweed]]-like hair, a beard, and a [[trident]].
-The actions and behavior of mermen can vary wildly depending on the source and time period of the stories. They have been said to sink ships by summoning great storms, but also said to be wise teachers, according to earlier mythology.  A merman, like a mermaid, attracts humans with singing and tones.
-==Notable mermen==
-*The most well-known merman was probably [[Triton (mythology)|Triton]], son of [[Poseidon]] and [[Amphitrite]].  Although Amphitrite gave birth to a merman, neither Poseidon nor Amphitrite were [[merfolk]], although both were able to live under water as easily as on land. Triton was also known as the ''Trumpeter of the Sea'' for his usage of a [[conch shell]].
-*Other noteworthy mermen were the [[Babylonia]]n [[Oannes]] and [[Ea]] and the [[Sumer]]ian [[Enki]].
-*Another notable merman from Greek mythology was [[Glaucus]].  He was born a human and lived his early life as a fisherman.  One day, while fishing, he saw that the fish he caught would jump from the grass and into the sea.  He ate some of the grass, believing it to have magical properties, and felt an overwhelming desire to be in the sea.  He jumped in the ocean and refused to go back on land.  The sea gods nearby heard his prayers and transformed him into a sea god.  Ovid describes the transformation of Glaucus in the Metamorpheses, describing him as a blue-green man with a fishy member where his legs had been.
-*Norse mythology, in particular Icelandic folklore has mermen, known as [[Marbendlar]].
-==Trivia==
-*In [[UFOlogy]], the alien race called [[Nommo]]s are mermen from [[Sirius]] who, according to some authors, visited [[Ancient Egypt]].
-*In the movie [[Zoolander]], the miners at the bar are all laughing at Zoolander's "mermaid" commercial. At the mention of Derek's mother's death, his father quips "I just thank the lord she didn't live to see her son as a friggin' mermaid!"  Derek, hurt, responds, "Merman... Merman!"
-*[[Erotica]] author Megan Hussey has written several romantic e-books pertaining to the merman legend, including "A Good Catch" and "Prince of the Seas," released through Silk's Vault publishing, as well as "Azure Masquerade" and the upcoming story "Passion Storm" through Midnight Showcase (in print, audio and e-book versions).
-==External links==
-* [http://www.americanmonsters.com/ American Monsters]
-* [http://www.newanimal.org/ The Cryptid Zoo]
-*[http://www.beautiful-mermaid-art.com/ Beautiful Mermaid Art] Collections of mermaid art, folk tales and myths.
-*[http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/mermaids/ Mermaids on the Web] annotated directory of 400 websites and 1,250 images
-*[http://www.endicott-studio.com/jMA03Summer/theMermaid.html "The Mermaid"] by Heinz Insu Fenkl, from the mermaid-themed [http://www.endicott-studio.com/jMA03Summer/index.html Summer 2003 issue] of the ''Journal of Mythic Arts''
-*[http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/2938/deasyria1.html The mermaid goddess Derketo] from Lucian of Samosata's ''On the Syrian God'' (2c. AD)
-*[http://northstargallery.com/pages/MermaidHome.htm Coney Island Mermaid Parade] mermaids on parade
-*[http://www.snopes.com/photos/odd/mermaid.asp Mermaid picture hoax]
-*[http://www.thedollpalace.com/dollz/dolls-all.php/Mermaid-Dolls-gr109.html The Doll Palace : Mermaids for kids] provides mermaid images in pixel-art (Mermaid Dolls)
+[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
+[[Category:Anthropology]]
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