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mermaid |
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mermaid, in folklore, sea-dwelling creature commonly represented as having the head and body of a woman and a fishtail instead of legs. Belief in mermaids, and in their counterpart, mermen, has existed since earliest times. They are often described as having great beauty and charm, which they use to lure sailors to their deaths (see Siren Siren , in Greek mythology, one of three sea nymphs, usually represented with the head of a woman and the body of a bird. Daughters of Phorcus or of Achelous, the Sirens inhabited an island surrounded by dangerous rocks.
..... Click the link for more information. ). In some legends they assumed human shape and married mortals (see Mélusine Mélusine or Melusina , in French legend, a fairy who changed into a serpent from the waist down every Saturday. She married a mortal, Count Raymond, said to be the ancestor of the house of Lusignan, and made him promise never to visit her ..... Click the link for more information. ). The origin of the mermaid is thought by some to be the dugong (see sirenian sirenian or sea cow, name for a large aquatic mammal of the order Sirenia. Living sirenians are the dugong and the manatee, both found in warm, shallow waters in sheltered regions, where they feed on seaweeds and sea grasses. ..... Click the link for more information. ). mermaid an imaginary sea creature fabled to have a woman's head and upper body and a fish's tail mermaid half-woman, half-fish; seen by sailors. [western Folklore: Misc.] See : Sea Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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