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Parthenope of Napoli

April 17, 2021 Public Mermaid Sculptures
By Mermaids of Earth

The Fontana della Sirena is Napoli (Naples), Italy, is a statue of Parthenope. She was a mermaid in Greek mythology, who cast herself into the sea after failing to lure Odysseus off his ship with her song.

Fontana della Sirena Sannazaro
Fontana della Sirena Sannazaro. Photo © by Umberto Mancini.

Napoli was originally named after Parthenope, until it was renamed Napoli (New City).

A legend has it that a centaur named Vesuvius was in love with Parthenope, but that Zeus was jealous and turned Vesuvius into a volcano and Parthenope into the city of Napoli.

Visit the page for Parthenope for more data and images of this sculpture.