Somewhere along the literary and mythological road, mermaids and sirens got confused into one creature: a half-woman, half-fish creature known for her beautiful singing voice. Originally, it was only the mermaid that was a half-human, half-fish creature, and a singing voice wasn’t mentioned in early myths. Sirens were the singers, and they were actually half-woman, half-bird creatures.
The mermaid and the siren are often portrayed as the same character. They’re inevitably a beautiful woman from the waist up and a fish from the waist down, and they’re noted for their enchanting singing voices.
Originally, though, these two creatures were two entirely separate myths.
It was the sirens that were known for their singing voices, supposedly of such beauty that sailors would forget what they were doing, and simply stop to listen. Ships would crash on the rocks around the sirens’ island, killing those who fell prey to their song.
Sirens and mermaids have been confused for a long time, Strangely, it is this melding of the two creatures that has persisted throughout the centuries; according to sailors’ logs and records dating back to the 1600s, mermaids were very, very real. Although obviously debunked, the myth of the mermaid has continued, with some sightings being reported as late as 2009.
Music~Rise Of The Ocean~
An Ocean Between Us (Jamendo)
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