Mermaids, like other mythical creatures, have a large following in popular culture. But are they real, or did they exist previously?
For hundreds of years, these natural wonders that live in huge oceans have been depicted in novels, literature, and movies.
Is it because they were once real, like dinosaurs, or
because they are a dreamy illusion that inspires us to be creative and
imaginative
What Are Mermaids?
Mermaids are gorgeous creatures with a woman's upper torso attached to a beautiful fishtail that have been depicted in books for hundreds of years.
Folklore from Europe, Asia, and Africa has been written about the mysterious beings.
Mermaid legends are based on Merfolk or Merpeople legends.
Mermaids were the moniker for the Merfolk, who were
water-dwelling humans.
Male water dwellers were known as mermen.
There is no evidence that they are genuine, as their
depictions originate in folklore and mythology, but Merfolk may have existed,
albeit not in the form that we see them now.
WHAT DEFINES A MERMAID?
Mermaids have been depicted in a variety of ways throughout history, ranging from seductive malevolent aquatic creatures to lovely, elegant women.
Mermaids are depicted in two different lights. The first is
that they are malevolent temptresses who use their seductive melodies and
gorgeous appearances to tempt mariners into the sea.
The other is that they are sea goddesses who have been drawn
or represented in a lovely, exquisite fashion.
They are shown to be human, lonely, and yearning for a man
or companionship.
These portrayals of virtue and evil have evolved over time,
with Germanic Romantic writers and post-romantic painters having a significant
influence.
They were terrible creatures who enticed seafarers in Greek mythology, and they were known as sirens.
When Was the First Time a Mermaid Was Documented?
The Shanhaijing is a classic Chinese literature about
mythological monsters, mountains, and the region's vast landscape.
The Chinese word "jiorén" means "shark
people," and it is mentioned frequently in medieval Chinese manuscripts.
The “Record of Strange Things,” written in the early sixth
century CE, was the earliest work to mention mermen.
Mermaids first appear in Homer's Odyssey, which was written
around 675–725 BCE, and where their alluring singing is blamed for the deaths
of sailors at sea.
This is the earliest literary text to depict their seductive
tunes luring sailors in, although they manage to avoid harm in this poem.
Around 1,000 BC, mermaids appear in Assyria.
The goddess Atargatis is said to have turned into a mermaid
after falling into a lake because she was embarrassed of slaying her lover.
Because of her beauty, she was unable to take the full shape
of a fish and instead transformed into a mermaid.
In Greek mythology, she is known as the goddess Derketo.
When Was the First Time a Mermaid Was Seen?
He wrote in his logbook on January 9, 1493, that he had experienced something amazing that he had never seen before.
Columbus saw three mermaids that rose above the water's
surface off the coast of Africa.
He described them in a way that was significantly distinct
from folklore stories. They weren't as lovely and mystical as the others, but
they were simpler and fish-like with human faces.
It is claimed that he was mistaken and observed manatees or
other water creatures that, when seen from a distance, may be mistaken for
mermaids.
What was the story of The Little Mermaid?
The Little Mermaid is one of history’s most famous mermaid stories, after being produced into a film by Disney in 1989.
The narrative, which was first published in 1837 by Hans Christian Andersen, spoke of a lonely mermaid who was eager to give up her life in the sea in exchange for a true human soul.
The narrative is arguably the most famous mermaid tale in the world, and it was one of the first when a tragic tale of a mermaid was changed into a fairytale with a happy ending.
Unlike most earlier images of alluring temptresses, this was one of the first legends to show a mermaid as naive and innocent.
In Copenhagen, Denmark, where the story was written, there is a mermaid statue that is a major tourist attraction.
In conclusion
The fascination with mermaids will undoubtedly be passed down from generation to generation.
However, their existence is uncertain, implying that there may have been sightings or texts describing them, but there isn't enough proof to say they exist.
Another argument is that the Merfolk may have existed in legend, but just because they lived near the sea doesn't mean they looked like a half-fish, half-human hybrid.
It's possible that the descriptions were regarded as a mythological creature many years later.
Despite the fact that they exist in folklore tales, there isn't enough evidence to imply they exist in reality.