Middle English example mereman in a bestiary (c. 1220?; [3] MS. now dated to 1275–1300 [4]) is indeed 'mermaid', part maiden, [3] part fish-like. [5] [a] [6] The ningyo's flesh was purported to be an elixir, and consuming its flesh said to bestow remarkable longevity. Note that these are not of a specific gender, so they are not really conducive to being called "mermaids", though some English (European) writers might use "mermaid" as shorthand. The authority in question, Cascudo sees the influence of Gonçalves Dias's "romantic indigenization".

The Western concept of mermaids as beautiful, seductive singers may have been influenced by the sirens of Greek mythology, which were originally half-birdlike, but came to be pictured as half-fishlike in the Christian era. Historical accounts of mermaids, such as those reported by Christopher Columbus during his exploration of the Caribbean, may have been sightings of manatees or similar aquatic mammals. While there is no evidence that mermaids exist outside folklore, reports of mermaid sightings continue to the present day. Musical depictions of mermaids include those by Felix Mendelssohn in his Fair Melusina overture and the three " Rhine daughters" in Richard Wagner's opera Der Ring des Nibelungen. Lorelei, the name of a Rhine mermaid immortalized in the Heinrich Heine poem of that name, has become a synonym for a siren. The Weeping Mermaid is an orchestral piece by Taiwanese composer Fan-Long Ko. [354] Motion pictures

More than one kind of mermaid

In his Natural History 9.4.9–11, Pliny the Elder, remarked that a triton (merman) was seen off the coast of Olisipo (present-day Lisbon, Portugal), [244] and it bore the physical appearance in accordance with common notion of the triton, according to a deputation from Lisbon who reported it to Emperor Tiberus. One nereid was sighted earlier on the same (Lisbon) coast. Pliny remarks that contrary to popular notion, the true nereids are not smooth-skinned in their human-like portions, but covered with scales all over the body. [247] Their mournful songs at death have also been heard by the coastal inhabitants. Also, multiple nereids had washed up on the shore according to the legatus/governor of Gaul, who informed the late Emperor Augustus about it in a letter. [244] [249] [246] [ac] The anecdote is set in Donghai or "Eastern Sea" which designates " East China Sea" on a modern atlas (and this is given in Magnani's translation), but is "Eastern Sea" given by Groot translating this passage. [203] Historically, the name could apply to the Sea of Japan. [204] While the siren holding a fish was a commonplace theme, [60] the siren in bestiaries were also sometimes depicted holding the comb, [61] [63] or the mirror. [65]

A merfolk race called the Di people [ zh] are described as populating its own nation in the Shanhaijing ( Classic of Mountains and Seas) compilation of Chinese geography and mythology, dating from the 4th century BC. [197] [198] The ancient work also included several types of human-headed fish, such as the chiru [ zh] or "red ru fish"; [199] [198] as well as creature with some humanlike qualities like the renyu ( 人魚) or "human-fish". [200] [198] The prince is betrothed to a princess, who turns out to be the girl he mistakenly believed to be his rescuer (due to the mermaid's concealment). Thus the saga is an early source which associates a famed clan of merfolk with a place in Denmark, i.e., Sjælland. Sjælland was the divided portion of Villcina-land inherited by the bastard prince Vaði/Wade according to the saga. [114] The Swedish epilogue transposed the locations concerning the battle (from Italy to Germany), and claimed the rescued Viðga/Witige was brought to Sjælland. That is to say, the crucial battle had been in Ravenna, Northern Italy in the German epic Rabenschlacht), but the battle spot was changed to Gronsport, somewhere on the Moselle, in Northern Germany in the Swedish version. [115] [116] [16] Folklore of Britain and Ireland Join my “Virtual Fairy Ring” workshop as a part of the @fairy.congress online monthly workshops. I will be “Opening the Door to the Fairy World” during a magical manifestation workshop TODAY Saturday 15th May Yay!!!!Although the exhibitors called it "mermaid", the gender (as to the monkey port or fish part used) is probably unclear, and one newspaper renames it "Barnum's merman". [320] [321] [322] The second and last buff is Dehydrated (+50 uncomfortable), where the sim will almost nearly die. They will have a “very dried” skin and will be unable to use the pool. The terms margýgur or havgýgur as aliases for mermaid were apparently current among the populace in modern-age Iceland, according to Jón Árnason [157] [149] [150] alongside the marbendill (modern Icelandic for ON marmennill) [158] a b Schade, Oskar (1866). "meremanni ahd. st. M. mhd. mereminne / merewîp, merwîp". Altdeutsches Wörterbuch (in German). Vol.II. Halle: Verlag der Buchhandlung des Waisenhauses. p.394.

Winter is coming! ❄️☃️ And with it shorter days and colder weather (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) but wherever you are in the world, the energy of hunkering down in a hibernation-like way is universal.

I will be hosting a Christmas Day with Karen Kay online event in aid of Refuge a leading provider of domestic abuse services in the UK. 100% of proceeds from this event will be donated to Refuge to help them continue to support thousands of women and their children experiencing domestic abuse on any given day.” ~ Karen Kay. Take a light-hearted journey into the watery realms of the mermaids with practical tips for embarking upon your own journey with them. Scantily clad women placed in watertanks and impersonating mermaids performed at the 1939 New York World's Fair. It was part of the "Dream of Venus" installation by Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. The mermaid interacted with Oscar the Obscene Octopus, and the ongoings were portrayed in E. L. Doctorow's novel World's Fair. [335] They have 1 new interaction, that is “I Can Fly!” (Interaction [not animation] from the Sims 3 Supernatural) where they’ll fly around increasing the fun need.