Many mythologies feature mermaids, mysterious half-fish, half-human beings. Various cultures worshiped or feared them as deities or spirits. Most have been female, hence the name mermaids. Their male counterparts make rarer appearances in folklore, but there were a few. One of them, Oannes, actually predates the first recorded mermaid – Atargatis, the Assyrian goddess – […]
Five Endangered Marine Species – Can We Save Them?
Earth is still the only place we humans have confirmed as supporting life. Of the millions of species on our planet, the oceans contain several million, many as yet undiscovered. Despite Earth’s surface being 70% covered by water, the oceans are the most unexplored parts of it. Yet oceans are massively important to climate and […]
Three Famous Mermaids from History
Human history is filled with mermaid legends. Men and women from just about every corner of the earth have spun yarns, written literature, and created art about creatures and spirits from the water. Some mermaid tales have revolved around spiritual beliefs, some have been about explaining the unexplainable, while others have acted as warnings about […]
The Best Mermaid Shows
Would you like to see mermaids? Who wouldn’t? After thousands of years and multiple legends about them in many different cultures, mermaids continue to charm and even educate humanity. Their stories have blurred the lines between fact and fiction, inspired countless voyages, and mesmerized men and women with their enchanted ways. Images of them reveal […]
Who Was Amphitrite and Why is Her Statue Off Grand Cayman Island?
There is no shortage of beautiful sights in the Caribbean, but there is one that only so many can see… because it is in 55 feet of water off Grand Cayman Island. It is this magnificent mermaid statue named Amphitrite. Thousands of divers flock to Grand Cayman to see Amphitrite every year. Amphitrite is a […]
The Legend and Mystery of Selkies
Just about every corner of the world has lore and legends about mermaids. For the most part, they are depicted as mean-spirited tricksters who often lured people to their deaths. This may come as a surprise to anyone who knows only the romantic stereotype of mermaids. However, there are some myths about creatures from the […]
A Dip Into the Story of Melusine
Unless you know your mythology, you might be thinking, “Who or what is Melusine? A medication? A monster from Harry Potter?” Melusine is a mythical creature that everyone has seen hundreds of times and yet few people have known what they were looking at or have given it a second thought. The next time you […]
The Cultural Significance of Mermaids Around the World – Part 2
So many cultures have amazing myths and stories about mermaids or creatures like them. The form and interpretation you probably know best comes from Hans Christian Andersen’s tale The Little Mermaid, which is immortalized in the world’s most famous mermaid statue in Copenhagen Harbor. But the history of mermaids runs deep and wide. Greek mythology […]
The Cultural Significance of Mermaids Around the World – Part 1
For thousands of years, in just about every culture spanning the globe, humankind has told tales that blur the line between what’s real and what’s magical. Often these stories have been told in hopes of explaining the unexplainable, or to teach a lesson, or simply to delight and entertain the ears of all who heard […]
Yokohama’s Scandia Little Mermaid
The Scandia restaurant in the Yokohama harbor just outside Tokyo very appropriately installed a replica of Denmark’s Little Mermaid statue outside their restaurant. map The statue is inset into a section of the wall on the corner of the building. More info at the official page for this sculpture.
