Sprites, Naiads, and Nymphs: Exploring Water Spirits in Folklore and Mythology

Across ancient folklore and mythology, water sprites have fascinated cultures as mystical guardians of freshwater realms. Known by many names, they are most famously depicted in Greek mythology as Naiads, the nymphs of streams, rivers, and fountains. These beings were seen not just as protectors but as embodiments of the water’s life-giving and destructive powers. Often revered for their beauty and charm, they played pivotal roles in rituals, myths, and daily life, symbolizing the close bond between humanity and nature’s sacred waters. Whether inspiring ancient offerings or passing into cultural memory as alluring yet unpredictable figures, sprites like Naiads reveal humanity’s timeless respect for the elemental forces that sustain life.

Watch a related video on Naiads and their captivating myths

Understanding Water Sprites in Folklore

Water sprites are fascinating entities that have held a place in folklore for centuries. Representing the duality of water—both life-sustaining and treacherous—these supernatural spirits have captivated human imagination across cultures. Below, we’ll explore what water sprites are, how they’re perceived worldwide, and their symbolic importance in myths.

What Are Water Sprites?

Water sprites are mythical spirits tied to aquatic environments like rivers, lakes, and springs. Often described as ethereal and alluring, these beings are typically portrayed with enchanting beauty and a graceful demeanor. In folklore, sprites are often thought to be immortal, with a strong connection to nature that enables them to influence their surroundings.

While their appearances vary depending on the legend, they are generally regarded as protectors or guardians of water, embodying its purity and unpredictability. Some stories suggest that interacting with these spirits could lead to blessings, while others warn of dangerous, seductive qualities. This dual nature mirrors humanity’s experience with water itself—essential, yet capable of destruction.

For more information on their diverse appearances across myths, check this overview of water sprites and their cultural context.

Water Sprites Across Cultures

Water sprites feature prominently in stories from around the world, though they take on different names and characteristics depending on the region. Below are some notable examples:

• Slavic Folklore: Rusalkas are Slavic water spirits associated with lakes and rivers. These figures are often depicted as the restless souls of women who died near water, oscillating between protective and vengeful roles.
• Irish Mythology: Selkies, found in Celtic tales, are shapeshifting sea creatures that transform from seals into humans. These beings are deeply tied to themes of love, longing, and transformation.
• Japanese Legends: Japanese Kappas are water creatures that embody trickery and danger. Unlike the graceful sprites of Europe, Kappas are mischievous entities with a reptilian appearance.

Each iteration of water sprites reflects the broader cultural values and attitudes toward water, illustrating a universal recognition of its power. Read more about their cultural variations here: Water spirit across cultures.

Symbolic Significance of Water Sprites

Water sprites carry rich symbolic meanings that reveal humanity’s complex relationship with water. Purity is one of the most common associations, as these spirits are often linked to clear, life-giving springs and rivers. Many myths cast them as protectors of fertility, ensuring the well-being of crops, animals, and humans alike.

Interestingly, water sprites also embody danger and mystery. Their allure can lead people into treacherous waters or spiritual lessons. This tension between beauty and peril symbolizes the dual role water plays in human life as both a sustainer and destroyer.

These spirits also carry broader metaphysical implications, illustrating how water links the natural, human, and spiritual worlds. To gain a deeper understanding of their layered symbolism, visit this analysis of water sprites and cultural connections.

Water sprites, in their many forms, are a testament to the enduring connection between myth and the environment. By examining their stories, we glimpse how ancient cultures sought to explain and venerate the life-sustaining forces around them.

The Naiads: Freshwater Nymphs of Greek Mythology

In Greek mythology, Naiads are among the most enchanting figures, embodying the essence of freshwater sources. They’re more than mythical beings; they represent the vitality and perils of natural waters that sustain human existence. Their stories span across rivers, lakes, and springs, linking humanity’s relationship with freshwater to divine reverence.

Origins and Taxonomy of Naiads

The Naiads trace their lineage as daughters of the river gods, often springing from Oceanus, the primordial titan of the seas, or individual river deities. These freshwater nymphs were grouped by the specific bodies of water they governed, leading to classifications like:

• Limnades: Nymphs of lakes and marshes.
• Potameides: Guardians of rivers and streams.
• Pegaeae: Spirits of natural springs.
• Crinaeae: Protectors of small fountains and wells.
• Eleionomae: Nymphs linked to wetlands.

Their classification reflects the varied freshwater ecosystems they inhabited and safeguarded. Understanding this taxonomy helps in viewing how Greeks personified and honored their environment. Find more details on classifications here.

Roles and Attributes of Naiads

Naiads carried roles that extended beyond myth, deeply impacting how ancient Greeks viewed water. As guardians of freshwater sources, they were believed to maintain the vitality of the waters they embodied. Their attributes reflect their semi-divine nature:

• Beauty: Naiads were described as stunningly beautiful, akin to the pristine clarity of the waters they symbolized. Their allure played a significant role in mythological tales, often leading mortals and gods alike into their realm.
• Immortality: While they were ageless, their lives were intrinsically tied to the health of their waters. Polluted or dried-up sources could lead to their demise.
• Healing and Life-Giving Powers: Beyond their physical allure, the Naiads were also considered powerful healers. Their waters were thought to have restorative properties, making them essential to local rituals.

Their attributes cemented their place in both mythology and communal life. Learn more about their divine essence here.

Cultural Importance of Naiads in Greek Society

Naiads were not mere mythological entities; they held a profound place in ancient Greek life. Local communities worshiped them, attributing the health of their freshwater sources and agricultural prosperity to these nymphs. Offerings were made at their springs, particularly during droughts or agricultural festivals.

Their significance extended beyond worship into cultural expressions:

• Town Names: Many ancient Greek towns and cities were named after prominent Naiads, showcasing their esteem. For example, fountains like Arethusa were central to both myth and local identity.
• Art and Literature: Naiads were frequent subjects in sculptures and frescoes, appearing in flowing forms that mirrored the fluidity of water. Poets such as Hesiod and Homer celebrated their beauty and mystique.

Ultimately, the Naiads shaped a unique interplay between myth and ecology. Dive deeper into their cultural prominence by exploring this article.

Enchanting Yet Complex: Naiads’ Dual Nature

The Naiads’ portrayal in mythology goes beyond idealized beauty, dipping into complexity and contrast. They could be generous, offering blessings like fertility, good health, or even hero guidance. However, their connection to water’s volatility made them unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

Their duality stems from the reality of water itself: it sustains life but can also destroy it. Stories, such as those warning against wandering too close to streams at night, highlight this peril. Naiads, while enchanting, were known to drown those who polluted their waters or arrogance that led them to trespass sacred boundaries.

This dual nature made Naiads a vivid symbol of water’s dichotomy—life-giving and life-taking, depending on how humans interacted with it. For more on their intricate character, read this piece.

Each story and attribute of the Naiads weaves together threads of admiration, respect, and caution. Their enduring presence in Greek mythology underscores the ancients’ acknowledgment of water’s invaluable, yet paradoxical, role in life.

Comparison with Other Water Spirits in Greek Mythology

Greek mythology presents a rich tapestry of deities and spirits, with water nymphs forming a captivating subset. Among them, Naiads, Nereids, and Oceanids stand out as prominent water-associated figures, each with distinct roles and habitats. Understanding their differences and examining their connections to river gods, the Potamoi, sheds light on the depth of ancient Greek beliefs.

Naiads versus Nereids and Oceanids: Distinctions in Habitat, Roles, and Mythology

Naiads, Nereids, and Oceanids are collectively categorized as water nymphs, yet their habitats and mythological narratives set them apart. Each spirit is tied to a specific type of aquatic environment, reflecting the Greeks’ nuanced relationship with water.

• Habitats:
  • Naiads: These spirits presided over freshwater sources such as springs, rivers, lakes, and fountains. Their existence was deeply tied to the vitality of their waters; a dried-up spring could signify the demise of its Naiad.
  • Nereids: Dwelling in the Mediterranean Sea, Nereids represented the guardianship and fertility of the ocean. They were seen as benevolent spirits aiding sailors and calming storms, highlighting the Greeks’ reliance on the sea for trade and travel.
  • Oceanids: Oceanids hailed from the vast, primordial ocean, embodying its boundlessness and mystery. They were often considered daughters of Oceanus and Tethys, pivotal figures in Greek cosmology.
• Roles in Myths:
  • Naiads often acted as intermediaries, facilitating interactions between mortals and the divine. In some cases, they were known for their influence on fertility and well-being, especially in agricultural contexts.
  • Nereids were celebrated for aiding heroes in great adventures, such as Thetis’ role as mother to Achilles or Galatea’s enduring mythology.
  • Oceanids, like Styx, the spirit of a boundary river, symbolized deeper, universal allegories linked to the cosmos and oaths between gods.
• Cultural Depictions: Naiads were often depicted as serene yet mischievous figures connected to their local environment. On the other hand, Nereids exuded a serene elegance reflective of maritime beauty, while Oceanids presented a more ethereal, celestial quality.

Their distinctions emphasize the Greeks’ recognition of both the specific and universal significance of water. For further exploration of how nymphs like Naiads, Nereids, and Oceanids intertwine in mythology, read this comprehensive guide to water nymphs in Greek mythology.

Connections to the Potamoi: Familial and Symbolic Relationships

Naiads are frequently described as the daughters of the Potamoi, river gods who personified individual rivers in Greek mythology. These familial ties deepen the symbolic relationship between water nymphs and Greek natural landscapes.

The Potamoi themselves were divine sons of Oceanus and Tethys, positioning them as central figures within the aquatic pantheon. Each Potamos governed a specific river, granting it spiritual significance. Examples include Achelous, considered the largest river of Greece, and Scamander, closely tied to the Trojan War.

• Symbolic Connections:
  • Naiads, as progeny of the Potamoi, represented the life-giving potential of rivers. Their presence symbolized the continuation of life, fertility, and abundance.
  • In myths, these familial links often underscored the interconnectedness of waterways, reflecting how rivers nourished distant lands and unified civilizations.
  • The protective qualities of the Naiads were seen as inherited traits, passed on from their Potamoi fathers who embodied the strength and vitality of rivers.
• Cultural Worship: The Potamoi and their Naiad daughters were frequently revered in local practices. Rituals involving offerings at riverbanks sought to appease these spirits, ensuring bountiful harvests and water clarity.

These nymphs’ direct ties to living waterways mirrored the Greeks’ dependency on rivers for agriculture, trade, and sustenance. Ancient Greeks saw rivers and their spirits as both nurturing and temperamental, a delicate balance that had to be respected. Learn more about the Potamoi and their roles as river gods here.

Naiads’ link to the Potamoi and their differences from other nymphs reflect a broader narrative about the natural environment’s spiritual significance in ancient Greece. This contrast and symbolism forge a vivid picture of how water spirits encapsulate both mythology and ecology.

Water Sprites in Modern Interpretations

Water sprites continue to captivate the imagination, evolving beyond folklore and becoming symbols of nature, ecology, and spirituality in modern culture. From literature and media to environmental awareness, these ethereal spirits reflect humanity’s changing perspective on water and its importance.

Water Sprites in Literature and Popular Media

Water sprites have made their way into books, films, and TV series, often transcending their mythological roots to embody new themes. Perhaps the most iconic modern incarnation is Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” which was famously adapted by Disney. While Andersen’s tale features a mermaid rather than a freshwater sprite, it shares characteristics with Naiads through its focus on the relationship between water beings and humanity.

Other works, like Oscar Wilde’s “The Fisherman and His Soul,” put a darker twist on the water-spirit archetype, showcasing the complexities of love and sacrifice. In television, shows like Charmed and The Witcher depict water spirits or nymphs as mystical beings with the power to manipulate water or guide fateful events. These portrayals echo the allure and danger associated with sprites in folklore, drawing obvious parallels with Naiads’ myths.

Modern video games also feature water sprites inspired by mythology, such as the reflective nature spirits found in RPG titles. These interpretations often serve as allegories for environmental wisdom, underscoring the intrinsic link between water and life. Learn more about their role in literature and media here and here.

Environmental Symbolism and Relevance Today

In today’s age of environmental awareness, water sprites have become poignant symbols of humanity’s fragile connection to natural ecosystems. These spirits, rooted in the rivers, springs, and lakes of old folklore, serve as reminders of water’s sacredness—a resource that demands respect and careful stewardship.

Water sprites often embody water’s life-giving and purifying qualities, making them perfect metaphors for ecological balance. They symbolize the interconnectedness of human life and natural cycles, reminding us that pollution or neglect of water sources directly impacts our world. Basia Irland, an environmental artist, even uses water as a central theme in projects addressing water scarcity and ecological preservation. This creative environmental lens transforms the romanticized image of water sprites into a call for action against climate change. Dive deeper into this concept here.

Moreover, water sprites evoke a sense of reverence for the unseen forces in nature, encouraging mindfulness toward how we interact with water sources. By highlighting the dual nature of water—its ability to nurture and destroy—they compel us to develop a sustainable relationship with our environment.

The continued presence of water sprites in modern contexts bridges ancient reverence with present-day ecological consciousness. Explore this intersection of mythology and environmentalism here.

Conclusion

Water sprites, Naiads, and nymphs persist as powerful symbols in folklore, bridging humanity’s ancient reverence for water with modern environmental consciousness. Their mythology captures the dual essence of water—sustainer of life and harbinger of danger—while reflecting cultural values and ecological dependence across eras.

These spirits transcend mythology, resonating through literature, media, and contemporary discussions on conservation. They stand as reminders of our shared responsibility to protect the life-giving waters they embody.

By honoring the lessons embedded in these myths, we both celebrate the cultural heritage they represent and acknowledge the pressing need to safeguard our natural ecosystems.

Brucero Fee a la riviere postcard 2007
https://technotink.net/treasure/?post_type=product&p=10899

Naiads
http://www.naiads.org/well/?p=857

A Fresh water nymph that lives along springs, holy wells, rivers, waterfalls, and fountains known to be a guardian of the waters in her domain. Depicted as an attractive nude bathing woman, they are known to entice and lure men to their waters. Sometimes this is to seductive folly, a love affair, or a dangerous end. Derived from the Greek word ?????, or Naiás, meaning “to flow” or “running water”. The Naiad is a female water nymph or spirit that guard over wells, springs, streams, brooks, fountains, and fresh water pools or lakes. Some say the Undine is the salt water variant while the Naiad is the fresh water variant. They are not to be confused with River God/desses who embody rivers or inhabit still waters of ponds, lagoons, lakes, and marshes such as the pre-Mycenaean Lerna described in the Argolid.
They belong to Greek mythology but have spread throughout the European world-view. Although they are most believed to be associated with fresh water, since the Greeks believed that all of the world’s waters were one, flowing through a cavernous aquifer and inter-connected, they could be in more than one place at the same time. This is also their explanation in relation to Oceanids, Nereids, Undines, and Mer-folk. In the Greek myths about Arethusa, a water nymph of a spring, that could make her way from Peloponnesus to surface on the island of Sicily. They were worshiped by water cults who often made offerings into the waters or along its edges with such things as bins, coins, cloth, clothes, sandals, jewelry, treasures, figurines, flowers, and/or sacrificed animals to the waters in hopes the Naiads would bring them healing, inspiration, gifts, magic, blessings, or passage. In some practices, boys and girls that werre coming-of-age would dedicate their childish locks to the local Naiad of the spring. In Lerna, ritual cleansings utilized the magical waters from the Naiad’s spring or well that were believed to possess certain healing or medicinal properties. In ancient Mythology, Hylas of the Argo’s crew was lost when he was captivated by Naiads who were in awe of his beauty. They are known to be jealous fae folk – as in Theocritus’ tale of a Naiad’s jealousy when the Naiad Nomia or Echenais who was in love with Daphnis, the Shepherd. He was unfaithful to her on numerous accounts and she blinded him out of revenge. Hermaphroditus was forced into sex with the Naiad Salmacis, and when he sought to escape her, she fused with him, giving birth to hermaphrodites. In the mytho of Aristaeus, The Naiad Chlidanope marries Hypseus, the King of the Lapiths and giving birth to Cyrene. Aristaeus also consulted the Naiads when his bees died and his aunt Arethusa invited him below the water’s surface where he was washed with the waters from a perpetual spring and given his advice. Throughout Europe, magical springs and holy wells were at first attributed to various Deities and/or water nymphs before they were converted to wells and springs associated with Saints. It was a very common practice in Celtic cultures.

Related to Undines, Oceanids (salt water), Nereids (Mediterranean), Water Nymphs, and Mermaids and Mermen.

Written, researched, and Copyrighted (© 2013) by Leaf McGowan, Thomas Baurley, Technogypsie Productions: www.technogypsie.com ~ http://www.naiads.org/well/?p=857.

Bibliography, References, and Recommended Reading:
• Burkert, Walter 1985 “Greek Religion”. Harvard University Press.
• Graves, Robert 1955 “The Greek Myths”.
• Homer “Odyssey” and “Iliad”
• Poe, Edgar Allen 1829 “Sonnet to Science”.
• Silver, Carole B. Silver “Strange and Secret Peoples: Fairies and Victorian Consciousness”. ISBN 0-19-512199-6.
• Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. undated “Naiads”, “Undines”. Web site referenced on March 8, 2014.

Undines
http://www.naiads.org/well/?p=853

Ondines or Undines is the modern English term for Water elementals, spirits or nymphs. The term is derived from the Latin term “Unda” meaning “a wave”. Undines are seen as the true essence or spirit manifestation of waves in water. It is believed to first have derived from the Greek alchemical works of Paracelsus as the elemental spirits of water. It also is descriptive in some meanings and works for the focus of attention for water magic, whose course and function the undines control. They are believed to exist within the waters themselves and not usually able to be seen with normal human vision, unless the human has an artifact, charm, or spell to allow them to see faerie folk or unless blessed by the undine to be revealed. Some believe that they live in the coral caves along lakes or on the banks of rivers. Smaller Victorian imagery of the undines depict them living under lily pads. When seen, they resemble human beings, except for those of Victorian description living in smaller streams and ponds fit more with the “Disney”-esque Tinker bell humanoid forms. Their clothing is usually described as being shimmery and green in color though reflective of all the shades and colors found in water. Undines are also centered in European folklore, as a type of water nymphs that become human when they fall in love with a human male and is doomed to die if he is unfaithful to her. Her essence is believed to have come from the Nereids, the attendants of Poseidon, the Sea god. Paracelsus first wrote about them, calling them spirits who inhabit the element of water. They are believed to dwell within every body of water in existence from streams, ponds, rocky pools, marshes, rivers, lakes, rivers, and ocean waves. Every waterfall, fountain, or well is believed to have an undine living within its waters. These also describe the Naiad, a female water nymph or spirit that guard over wells, springs, streams, brooks, fountains, and fresh water pools or lakes. Some say the Undine is the salt water variant while the Naiad is the fresh water variant. Sometimes they are confused with Mermaids and Mermen. They are also sometimes confused or entwined with Oceanids. Most mythology places Undines in salt water environments like the Oceanids and these creatures overlap and combine in folk tales around the world as either Nereids, Mermaids, Oceanids, Naiads, Undines, Ondines, or Water Nymphs. Some say they have interbred and there exists combinations, half-breeds, and mutations of these in watery realms. Since the Greeks thought of all the world’s waters as one biological system (blood stream and veins of Gaia, the Earth mother – Gaia Hypothesis) which perculates in from the sea through the cavernous aquifers within the earth, the waters would mix and inter-lap. They explain this in tales of such nymphs like Arethusa, the spring nymph, that could make her way from her spring through the subterranean flows from Peloponnesus to surface on the island of Sicily. It is through this manner that Undines and Naiads often get confused. They became objects of local water cults and worshiped in various ways with requests for healing, blessings, magic, or passage. Sometimes people would offer them pins, charms, cloth, clouties, flowers, plants, or ritually drowned animals into their waters. In hopes that they might communicate prophesy, oracles were situated by ancient springs or wells. As they were seen to be a jealous lot, they could endanger seamen, explorers, or boats passing within their realms.

Related to Naiads.

Written, researched, and Copyrighted (© 2013) by Leaf McGowan, Thomas Baurley, Technogypsie Productions: www.technogypsie.com ~ http://www.naiads.org/well/?p=853.

Bibliography, References, and Recommended Reading:
• Burkert, Walter 1985 “Greek Religion”. Harvard University Press.
• Graves, Robert 1955 “The Greek Myths”.
• Homer “Odyssey” and “Iliad”
• Poe, Edgar Allen 1829 “Sonnet to Science”.
• Silver, Carole B. Silver “Strange and Secret Peoples: Fairies and Victorian Consciousness”. ISBN 0-19-512199-6.
• Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. undated “naiads”, “undines”. Website referenced 3/8/2014.

Rhine Maidens

Common Names: Rhine Maidens, Rhine Maidens, naiads, river spirits, nymphs, sirens, nixies, nixen

Habitat: – Found in Germanic fairy lore. Attributed to the Rhine River of Germany.

Description: Rhine Maidens are water spirits known along rivers, especially the Rhine River in Germany, that protect children. The most popular myths depicts them as three sisters – water nymphs known as the “Rheintöchter” or “Rhine Daughters” most classically famous from the Richard Wagner’s opera cycle called “Der Ring des Nibelungen”. These sisters are named Woglinde, Wellgunde, and Floßhilde (Flosshilde) which were inspired by Wagner from myths and legends of the Nibelungenlied involving water nymphs, sprites, nixies, and mermaids. The tale tells that these river guardians along the Rhine were in charge of the golden treasures and through the renunciation of love had their gold stolen from them leading to world domination. Much of the myth today is influenced by Wagner’s works. They appear in the beginning and towards the end of his four opera cycle beginning in Das Rheingold and then in Götterdämmerung.

These German Nixen (Nixies) or Water Sprites were known to appear very innocent but with a range of sophisticated emotions. They are seductive, elusive, flirty, and enchanting. No one seems to know of their origin. Unlike much of the mythos they appear in, they do not originate from the Prose Edda (Iceland’s source for Norse Mythology), but rather from much older European based folklore. Sometimes they are described with siren and selchie traits, similarities to mermaids and naiads, but otherwise as shape-shifting seductive wise women found bathing and basking along the Rhine River or the Danube River nude. Much drama and trickery is mixed in the tales surrounding their stories which led to the creation of the modern day opera. Some say their existence was influenced by the German legend of Loreli – the lovelorn maiden who drowns herself in a river and becomes a siren luring fishermen to their deaths. Other similarities to Greek myths of the nymphs and naiads. Parallels of the Rhinemaidens of Das Rheingold to the Hesperides myth are extraordinary relating to three females guarding a golden treasure that ends up stolen. Most attribute them as daughters of the Rhine River. In the story telling they are however not destroyed by the fires at the end of Götterdämmerung but rather just swim away joyously in the river with their found treasure. They are said to have the good nature of the Oceanids (being helpful) and the austerity of the daughters of Ægir (willing to drown people). A mystical ring that belongs to the treasure was supposedly imbued with the powers to allow its wearer the ability to rule the world – but was cursed until the stolen gold was returned to the Rhine’s Maidens. In 1933 they were depicted on a postage stamp designed by Alois Kolb for use in the Third Reich. From the 19th-20th century they have been a highlight in Opera, theater, and the arts.

Folklore/Mythology:

Sightings:

For more German Faeries, visit our German Faeries page.

Article by Leaf McGowan, Thomas Baurley, Technogypsie Productions: http://www.technogypsie.com
© 2013 All Rights Reserved. If you enjoy this article, please consider treating the author to a drink or meal, and/or donating to ensure that this article stays preserved on the internet. You can do this by going to our Donation Page or sending the treat to the author at [email protected].

Bibliography/Recommended Reading:

• Terreno, Bella 2006-2008 “Mystical Myth: Germanic Faeries”. Website referenced 1/25/2014 at http://www.bellaterreno.com/art/german/germanfairies.aspx.
• Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia undated “The Rhine Maidens”. Website referenced 1/20/14 at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinemaidens.

Mermaids and Mermen

A rich realm of characters in faerie lore, mermaids, and mermen have consumed popular myth through the ages, including fantasy, entertainment, and imagery. Mermaids (and the male form “Mermen”) are a race of Faerie that consist of human-like mythological aquatic creatures that are depicted with a human head and torso attached to the tail of a fish. They are related to sirens, selchies, naiads,  and sea nymphs.

Their names come from the Old English root “Mere” for “Sea” and “maid” for “woman”. Caribbean tales of mermaids appear as the Aycayia – with attributes similar to the Goddess Jagua and the hibiscus flower of the majagua tree. Voodoo lore speaks of the Lwa La Sirene, the lwa of wealth and beauty, and the Orisha Yemaya. Other names are “Mami Wata” (Africa), “Jengu” (Cameroon), “Merrow” (Ireland/Scotland), “Rusalkas” (Russia/Ukraine), “Iara” (Brazil), “Oceanids, Nereids, Naiads” (Greek), “Sirena or Siyokoy” (Philippines).

In folktales, mermaids were similar to sirens in that they often sang to enchant passersby, distracting them and causing them to walk off the deck of their ships and ground their ships. Some horror tales depict mermaids squeezing the life out of drowning men or carrying them down to their underwater realms, thereby drowning the men by either not realizing humans can’t breathe water or drowning them out of spite.

The first mention in the lore of Mermaids appeared around 1,000 B.C.E. in Assyria with the story of the Goddess Atargatis, who accidentally killed her shepherd lover. To bring him back, she jumped into a lake and transformed into a fish, but the waters wouldn’t conceal her divine beauty, thereby forcing her into the form of a ‘mermaid’ – human above the waist, fish below the waist.

Around 546 B.C.E., the Milesian philosopher Anaximander stated that mankind came from an aquatic species and, thereby, from merfolk. Greek legend places Alexander the Great’s sister Thessalonike as a mermaid upon her death. 2nd century C.E. Lucian of Samosata wrote about mermaids in the Syrian temples – notably Derketo and Hera Atargatis. Many Arabian Nights tales talk of Sea People such as Djullanar the sea-Girl or Abdullah the Merman, who can breathe water, interbreed with humans and create aquatic half-breeds. In the British Isles and Ireland, there are many tales of Mermaids and Mermen in local lore and legend – mainly from Fishermen (1800s).

Seeing them was considered an unlucky omen – foretelling disaster or provoking it. Some were described as monsters as large as 2,000 feet in size. It is believed that Mermaids can swim up rivers to freshwater lakes and that they often appear as drowned victims when presenting themselves to humans they are attracted to. Some lore portrays merfolk as helpful, teaching humankind cures for diseases.

Claims of sightings range from British Columbia to Ireland to Java. In the 19th century, P.T. Barnum displayed the “Fiji Mermaid” in his taxidermy exhibit, which was proven to be a hoax. There is a rare congenital disorder called the “Mermaid Syndrome,” where a child is born with his/her legs fused together combined with reduced genitalia that occurs as often as conjoined twins (1 out of 100,000 births and usually fatal due to kidney and bladder complications).

Today, many movies feature “mermaids,” from Aquaman and Pirates of the Caribbean to The Little Mermaid.  

Related to Naiads and Undines.

More information:
Mermaids on the web: http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/mermaids/
Women of the Deep: A Light History of the Mermaid: http://members.cox.net/mermaid31/merhist.htm

Movies Featuring Mermaids:

Disney’s Animated Classic: The Little Mermaid
Throughout film and cartoons, the mythos of the mermaid has enchanted us all, including the popular character “Arial”, aka “The Little Mermaid”.

The Lure (NR: 2015) – A tale of two mermaid sisters in the 1980’s venturing into Warsaw, joining a band called “The Lure” with one falling in love with a human and ready to give up her tail for legs, and the other creating a buffet of humans in the city.

Habitats: Mermaid Cove at Carrick-A-Rede in Antrim, Northern Ireland:

Mermaid Cove:

Mermaid Cove in Disneyland, California: