Mermaids are present in the world’s folklore. They are an aquatic mythical hybrid creature with the head and body of a female human and the tail of a fish below the waist, instead of legs. In some cultures, mermaids are also known as sirens.
Mermaids have been around fantastic and mythological stories for centuries. Many stories have been told about mermaids spotted in the seas using their characteristic beauty to lure men into a watery grave.
But, have you ever stopped to wonder where the idea of sirens came from? What if I tell you it might have been inspired by a real-life medical condition? Don’t you believe me? Then you need to read this article and get your facts together.
The Legend’s Origin
Historians have tracked down the origins of the legend of mermaids: it comes from ancient Assyria, now northern Syria, where villagers used to worship the goddess Atargatis.
Atargatis had the power to transform herself into a half-human and half-fish creature every time she drowns herself out of shame for accidentally killing a human lover. She was believed to be the goddess of fertility. This is why historians believe the description of a mermaid kind-of-creature originated from her.
Soon, the mermaid legends spread throughout European, African, and Asian cultures, becoming one of the most popular mythological creatures worldwide.
Mermaids have been present in significant historical circumstances. For instance, Homer’s Odyssey. Or in 1493, when Christopher Columbus reported having seen three mermaids near today’s Haiti. It was discovered later on that he was making reference to the sea cows, which are today classified as Sirenia, named after the sirens of Greek mythology.
Sirenomelia Or The Mermaid Syndrome
In ancient Greek, a medical disorder was discovered. It was a rare fatal congenital malformation that merged a person’s lower limbs, resembling a fishtail. Due to its similarity with the mythical sirens, this medical condition was called Sirenomelia or the mermaid syndrome.
This has triggered historians, for now, they hesitate whether the mermaid legends might have been influenced by this rare condition. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time sea monsters or mythological creatures derive from sightings of unknown species.
In order to find out the answer, Lindsey Fitzharris, a medical historian, founder of the Smithsonian Channel series The Curious Life and Death Of…, traced back the references of this medical condition. This way she’ll know which came first. But the research wasn’t successful. The earliest known mention she could find of Sirenomelia dates back to 1891.
In the end, whether the mermaid syndrome influences the genesis of the mermaid mythology or not still remains a mystery.
Mermaids are present in the world’s folklore. They are an aquatic mythical hybrid creature with the head and body of a female human and the tail of a fish below the waist, instead of legs. In some cultures, mermaids are also known as sirens.
Mermaids have been around fantastic and mythological stories for centuries. Many stories have been told about mermaids spotted in the seas using their characteristic beauty to lure men into a watery grave.
But, have you ever stopped to wonder where the idea of sirens came from? What if I tell you it might have been inspired by a real life medical condition? Don’t you believe me? Then you need to read this article and get your facts together.
The legend’s origin
Historians have tracked down the origins of the legend of mermaids: it comes from ancient Assyria, now northern Syria, where villagers used to worship the goddess Atargatis. Atargatis had the power to transform herself into a half-human and half-fish creature everytime she drowns herself out of shame for accidentally killing a human lover. She was believed to be the goddess of fertility. This is why historians believe the description of a mermaid kind-of-creature originated from her.
Soon, the mermaid legends spread throughout European, African, and Asian cultures, becoming one of the most popular mythological creatures worldwide.
Mermaids have been present in significant historical circumstances. For instance, Homer’s Odyssey. Or in 1493, when Christopher Columbus reported to have seen three mermaids near to today’s Haiti. It was discovered later on that he was making reference to the sea cows, which are today classified as Sirenia, named after the sirens of Greek mythology.
Sirenomelia or the mermaid syndrome
In ancient Greek, a medical disorder was discovered. It was a rare fatal congenital malformation which merged a person’s lower limbs, resembling a fish tail. Due to its similarity with the mythical sirens, this medical condition was called Sirenomelia or the mermaid syndrome.
This has triggered historians, for now they hesitate whether the mermaid legends might have been influenced from this rare condition. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time sea monsters or mythological creatures derive from sightings of unknown species.
In order to find out the answer, Lindsey Fitzharris, a medical historian, founder of the Smithsonian Channel series The Curious Life and Death Of…, traced back the references of this medical condition. This way she’ll know which came first. But the research wasn’t successful. The earliest known mention she could find of Sirenomelia dates back to 1891.
In the end, whether the mermaid syndrome influences the genesis of the mermaid mythology or not still remains a mystery.
