The legend of mermaids and mermen throughout the ages
One of the biggest mysteries in the world of cryptozoology is the half-human, half-fish creature called a mermaid. Because of its unusual character, this creature is more often associated with mysticism than science. A mermaid is a term given to a water creature that has a body from the waist up like a woman, while the waist down is like a fish. Although we have only heard of this creature from a collection of fairy tales, its existence can be traced back in literature up to 2,000 years ago. The word "mermaid" comes from the word "mere," which means "sea" (in Old English) and the word "maid," which means "woman." So, the creature called a mermaid is a half-human, half-fish creature that is female, while the male counterpart is called a merman. In fairy tales, these creatures are said to like to sit on rocks near the shore, singing and holding a mirror while admiring their own beauty. Their singing is said to contain mystical powers that...