Mermaid
A mermaid is a legendary creature whose upper body resembles a human woman, while the lower body resembles that of a scaly fish.
According to folklore, mermaids are ocean-dwelling beings with upper bodies of human women and fish tails. The male version is called a “merman”. They are often described as exceptionally beautiful.
Mermaid legends are common across many cultures from Europe, Asia and Africa. The most common depiction in Western folklore is usually based on the siren of Greek mythology. Sirens were said to lure sailors to a watery grave with their beautiful songs. Originally they were half bird, half woman, but later accounts reimagined them with fish features.
Some believe the mermaid legends originated from sightings of manatees, or their cousin the dugong. While it may seem unlikely that the rotund sea mammal could be mistaken for a beautiful woman, a long time at sea can make people see all kinds of things that might not exactly be there.
While mermaids are mythical beings, there are still reported sightings throughout the world. Many hoaxes have been perpetrated, such as the “Fiji Mermaid”, a mummified specimen that was exhibited by P. T. Barnum in the mid-1800s. It turned out to be made from the remains of a monkey and a fish sewn together.
The myth of the mermaid remains popular in culture and media. The 1989 Disney animated film The Little Mermaid, based on a fairy tale from 1837 by Hans Christian Andersen, was so enduring that it was remade as a live-action film by Disney in 2023.
Mermaid shows are a popular attraction in many resorts and tourist spots, with trained divers donning elaborate mermaid tails and performing in underwater displays.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mermaid
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiji_mermaid
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Mermaid
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