2007-01-18 23:27:35 · 7 answers · asked by Narayan 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
A mermaid (from the Middle English mere in the obsolete sense 'sea' + maid(en)) is a 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 collective noun is merfolk. Various cultures throughout the world have similar figures. They were known to sing sailors to their deaths, like the Siren, or squeeze the life out of drowning men, while trying to rescue them.
The Sirens 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 mythical or legendary creature are water fairies (e.g. various water nymphs) and selkies.
2007-01-18 23:36:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mermaids are one of the most famous creatures of popular culture, and are depicted regularly in literature and film
A mermaid (from the Middle English mere in the obsolete sense 'sea' + maid(en)) is a 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 collective noun is merfolk. Various cultures throughout the world have similar figures. They were known to sing sailors to their deaths, like the Siren, or squeeze the life out of drowning men, while trying to rescue them.
The Sirens 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 mythical or legendary creature are water fairies (e.g. various water nymphs) and selkies.
It is used in tale
2007-01-18 23:41:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a very old myth that existed in many civilizations , sometimes the water people were considered nice , sometimes evil.
But never has it been scientifically proven that such race existed.
2007-01-18 23:37:24 · answer #3 · answered by Wondering 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is evidence of strange things like that. I don't think they exist today. They might have existed though
2007-01-22 05:36:16 · answer #4 · answered by allpossible 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well ,it is not clear wether they were or they weren't ,but today mostly we think the are tales
2007-01-18 23:36:09 · answer #5 · answered by Julies 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
really? I hope thsi isn't a real question
2007-01-18 23:35:49 · answer #6 · answered by Trac2100 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh man..........its just a tale
2007-01-18 23:33:03 · answer #7 · answered by sowmi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋