Mermaids: Myth, Origins, and Societal Impact

Mermaids

Mermaid existence, myth or fact? A myth is a story based on tradition, some with factual origins, while others are completely fictional. They serve to explain the inexplicable. There are many legends about mermaids, however according to researchers, it is safe to say that they are a myth and no one was able to prove their existence. Mermaids have their origin, own characteristics and a huge impact on society.

One way to prove that mermaids are a myth is through the exploration of their origin; they can be found in the beliefs and religions of ancient human civilizations thousands of years ago. The first story appeared in Assyria, 1000 BC. It tells that a goddess jumped into a lake and took a form of a fish after she accidentally

Mermaids are female while mermen are the males. Although some will be described as monstrous and ugly, they are usually beautiful and very attractive in looks, using their famous singing to seduce males, also known as sirens who sang songs to lure ships into rocky shores. An example is "Incredible Mysteries and Legends of the Sea" (Dodd Mead, 1967) described by sea captain off the coast of Newfoundland: "Captain John Smith saw a mermaid 'swimming about with all possible grace.' He pictured her as having large eyes, a finely shaped nose that was 'somewhat short,' and well-formed ears that were rather too long. Smith goes on to say that 'her long green hair imparted to her an original character that was by no means unattractive.'’ There are legends that describe mermaids having power to cure and give immortality while many are associated with destruction and vengeance. There are legends about mermaids appearing seating on rocks looking into mirror and brushing their hair. All those characteristics lead to a huge impact in our society.

Mermaids are very popular in the modern days, with a visible role in our society, from books to movies, and toys they are a constant figure. A good example is the annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade, where hundreds of thousands of spectators dress up to celebrate the beginning of summer. Another good example is the movie The Little Mermaid, which tells the story about a teenager mermaid that fell in love with a human prince, that particular movie is so popular that generated an idea about mermaids. The movie generated thousands of dollars and from it they created mermaid dolls and accessories for kids and