Mermaid Origins
Mermaids are often depicted as beautiful entities, whimsically swimming amongst an undersea paradise. They have become a common presence in many modern stories, the roots of the ethereal creatures stemming from ancient Assyrian mythology. A particular story tells of a deity who fell in love with a mortal and caused his demise. She dived into the ocean devastated, in hopes of becoming a fish, but her divine beauty was so overwhelming that she only morphed into half of one.
Recent films and books for children such as The Little Mermaid, portray
mermaids as friendly, benevolent beings that are modestly covered.
However, it's traditional for mermaids to be depicted as nude, as well
as malicious; luring sailors into the depths of the sea with their song.
Sometimes, mermaids have been noted to be beneficiary, such as having
the ability to cure diseases.
Mermaids can be seen in the history of a variety of cultures and nations
all over the world, including China, Syria, Britain, Brazil and many
others. The mythology of mermaids varies among locales accordingly. In
the British Isles, mermaids have taken the form of giants, while in
China, mermaids were said to create pearls from their tears.
In addition to classic mythology, mermaids have also been allegedly
sighted by seafarers and people traveling along the coast. In 2009 a
town in Israel offered a million dollars to anyone who could provide
proof of a real mermaid. No such proof has surfaced, but it's fun to
consider the possibility of alien creatures left undiscovered in the
vast oceans and seas.
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