Explain to me what exactly mermaids are?

Question

I'm sure they're not like Ariel from the Disney version of The LIttle Mermaid. And I don't think they're real but I'm just curious to know the mannerisms of them and the appearence and how their tales(tails) came to be.

First of all U Wish 21 before you "insult" someone make sure you use spell check. It's Common Sense. And I mean Mythologically and historically what is their story. How are they percieved in classic works? I'm familiar with the gory Anderson version but how did they come to be?

Answer 1

In Greek mythology the mermaids (gorgones in greek) were 3 sisters daughters of Phorkys and Keto. Their names are Stheno, Eyreale and Medusa. The first 2 were immortal but Medusa was mortal (and we know what happend with Perseus...). They were the goddesses of storm clouds. The first 2 were half women and half fish (as we generally know) , Medusa had snakes for hair and we all know about her "bad eye".
If they were angry they could destroy ships with their tails.
In later years they were many mermaids across the sea.

There is a greek myth with Alexander the Great.
Alexander found the "Immortal Water" ("Athanato Nero" in Greek), if someone drink this water he would be immortal . He keeps this water but his sister Thessaloniki (also the name of the capital of Macedonia, a Greek region, and the second bigger city of Greece) drinks the water by curiosity. Alexander was angry with her. She left and fell in the sea and was transformed in mermaid.
Since then , she asks sailors "Is Alexander the Great alive?". If sailors say "No he is dead" , she makes a big storm and destroys the ship. But if the sailors say "He lives and reigns and he conquers the world" she makes the sea safe .

Sorry if my english are bad , i hope you will understand the meaning.

Answer 2

Hello, actually the original Andersen's story is very different that Disney's adaptation. Andersen's is a cruel love story. The mermaid bleed every time she had her legs separated each other and things like that. The way mermaids looks like is very different depending the artist that illustrated the books or made the statues. In Denmark is a statue of a mermaid (the one in the Andersen story) and is very similar to "Ariel". You must understand that mermaids weren't good for humans, they attract men to the sea and drown them, so anciently they must be painted as an awful thing that brings the death to humans.

Answer 3

Mermaids, or sirens, are mythical creatures with the top half of the body of the woman, but from the waist down they have a fish tail.

Some myths portray sirens as wicked, seeking to lure sailors into jumping from their ships to drown while mating with the siren.

Hans Christian Anderson wrote "The Little Mermaid," in which the mermaid gives up her tail to pursue a human man she loves. The human rejects her and she lives her life out in horrible pain from having given up her life in the sea.

Answer 4

Mermaids were mentioned or feature in many tales from all over the world. They were often said to sing such songs of beauty that men would be drawn to them. Some they would even mate with them. Because most people who sailed were men there was very little talk of mermen.
In the british isles they were considered part of the faiere race, and said to have homes and cities under the waves. They were not viewed as evil, but if you caught one you could ask it a wish. They often granted the wish in a twisted way to make the asker of a selfish wish regret his asking.
In Asia they were said to grant eternal life to those who could eat them and survive thier poison. They were immortal themselves, and could change from human form to an ugly fish creature form. They were viewed as monsters, and very hermit like.
Most mermaid stories were originally from the medditeranian and were said to guide ships safely home. Their phisycal description was later merger with dolphins. They were viewed as good by arab countries, but greece turkey and rome created the whole seiren image.
For the most part they were women on top, and one fish tail on the bottom. They were naked, but liked to decorate and wash thier hair. They were intelligent, or just above animals in intelligence, and took great intrest in humans.

Answer 5

Your right they are not like Ariel, They are half human and half fish, their hair is usually made out of seaweed. They are deadly creatures that amuse themselves by singing a song to entice sailors. Mermaids are usually women but there are mermen.

Here is a mermaid site that will give you some history and such
http://northstargallery.com/mermaids/MermaidHistory.htm

Answer 6

There was an article in Realms of Fantasy that offers a more detailed description of mermaids and other kin.

The full article is on the Endicott Studio website here:
http://www.endicott-studio.com/jMA03Summer/theMermaid.html

This essay emcompasses many cultures beyond the beautiful mermaid/siren archetype.

Answer 7

Mermaids lure men that are on the ocean to them by singing and then they eat the men.
That is one legend that I read a while back ago.

Answer 8

So you know that mermaids are not real, but you want me to make them real for you? That's nice, but as you grow up be wary of people who claim to be able to do magical things for you.

Answer 9

they are half human and half fish....and they are like ariel...omg...how can i say they are like this and that....they arent even real....i dont exactly understand ur question....of course they are like ariel...it was about a mermaid...i used to love the Little Mermaid!! =]

Answer 10

1/2 woman and 1/2 fish. Not real.