Mermaid is a term given to water creature that has a body from the waist up like a woman while the waist down like a fish. Although we have only ever heard of this creature from a collection of fairy tales, the existence of these creatures can be traced in the literature up to 2,000 years ago.
The word comes from the word Mere Mermaid meaning Sea (in Old English) and the word Maid, which means women. So, a creature called the Mermaid is a creature half-man half-fish are female, while the male is called Merman.In fairy tales, these creatures are called like sitting on a rock near the beach, singing, holding a mirror while admiring her own beauty. Singing contain so-called mystical power so that people who hear it will be charmed to death by drowning.In Cornwall, England, there is a stone called the stone as a Mermaid Mermaid is called once sat on the rock and sing to cause a local fisherman named Matthew Trawella died because of it.Mermaid in the culture of the nationsThe first story about these creatures could be traced to the year 1000 BC in Assyrian mythology. Goddess Atargatis, the mother of Queen Semiramis, called falling in love with a shepherd of the mortal man. One day, accidentally, the goddess killing the shepherd.Because sadly, Atargatis attempted suicide by plunging into the lake to take a way a fish. However, he refused to hide the beauty of the lake owned by the goddess. So he just turned it into the fish from the waist down.
The story of the Assyrian may be the basis of the emergence of a legend about the mermaid in the whole world.In his book Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, published in 1884, folklore expert named S. Baring Gould believes that the story of a mermaid and Merman originated from the story of a half fish god or goddess in ancient religions.God of the Chaldean Oannes and the Philistine god Dagon has such a way as Mermaid. God Coxcox and Teocipactli from Baja also has a half-fish form. American Indian legend says even if they were brought out of Asia by man of fish. Of these, perhaps the most famous is the god Triton and Siren Goddess in ancient Greek legend who also has a body half fish.In addition to Europe and the Middle East, the story of this creature can also be found in the mythology in various countries in Africa and Asia.In Africa, a similar creature called Mami Wata Mermaid is believed to cure the sick and bring good luck to those who followed him.
DUGONG AND MANATEE
Most researchers do consider the existence of creatures such as the Mermaid as a hoax. Others consider it a wrong identification. The main suspect is the animal that comes into the class Sirenian, herbivorous aquatic creature that dwells in rivers and seas.Two creatures that belong to the Sirenian include Dugong and Manatee. These creatures have a remarkable adaptation in the sea. Although it looks fat, but in some poses, these creatures can be mistaken as a Mermaid. For example, when they are nursing a baby, they would carry him in the chest so it can be mistaken for a woman's chest by witnesses who watched from a distance.
Dugong
Manatee
Although it seems many who agree with Manatee or Dugong identity as a mermaid, but, when we examine the historical record, we can find a variety of testimony that seemed to confirm the encounter with a creature who really like mermaid or Merman (not Dugong or Manatee).
MERMAID SIGHTINGS IN HISTORY
In the year 558 AD, mentioned that a mermaid was caught by a fisherman in Ireland. Mermaid was then taken to the village and was baptized by the residents. Not long later, the creature dies.Then, a monk named Ralph Coggeshall never tell if a Merman once caught by the fishermen in Suffolk in 1187. The creature was not able to speak and immediately taken to the village to be examined. Even after being tortured, the creature was still not showing signs that he could speak. Merman was later imprisoned for some time in the castle of Orford. But when the villagers wanted to bathe in the sea, he managed to escape.Still in the 12th century, Speculum Regale of Iceland noted the discovery of a mermaid near Greenland.
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