Common Myths about Mermaids-
That mermaids are full time sea creatures - False: True mermaids are perfectly able to walk on land once dry, which causes their tails to turn into legs.
Mermaids can have two tails - False: Real mermaids have a single tail that is quite a bit longer than their legs.
Mermaids are nude while in their true form - False: Every mermaid known had been transformed during their late teen, or, in very rare cases, early teen, years. This could be one reason that mermaids, when in mermaid form, have scaly tops.
Mermaids are sirens, and can lure sailors to their deaths- Partially True: Not many mermaids discover this, but all mermaids are gifted with extravagant voices when purposely trying to convince a human to do something. This does not have to happen while singing, however, and can be used to erase memories.
Merfolk are gods- False: The merfolk are actually humans when born, save for an extremely rare gene that comes from two parents possessing the gene, and are transformed by the gene being activated by magic. It is not known EXACTLY how one is transformed, but this is as close a guess as anyone has gotten.
Mermaids have powers over the elements- True: All mermaids possess the same powers over all elements, and a few other powers, but most mermaids who have no prior knowledge of their species do not discover more than one or two powers over the course of their lives. This is because each power requires a certain emotion or motion to activate it. Full moons can grant mermaids extra or stronger powers. See Powers page for more.
Mermen exist- False!!!- This is one of the most commonly mistaken tales about merfolk. Mermaids only come in female form. It is not known why, but instead of having mates of their own species, they form bonds, commonly called 'beaus' by mermaids, with humans. These beaus are much like what humans call soulmates, and form the first time the mermaid's eyes meet with her respective beau.
Merfolk are more beautiful than the average human- True- When born, the future mermaid will look like a regular human, but after the transformation, will slowly become more beautiful. Some common changes that take place are- Eye color changing (both lighter or darker), hair growing faster, hair turning darker, lips becoming fuller, slimmer body figure, hourglass shape, growth spurt, bust size increase, and more attractive features.
Mermaid tails aren't scaly- False: The mermaid tail is covered in a countless number of orange scales. The color of the tails does not vary.
Mermaids are extremely vain creatures- False: All mermaids in the past were extremely kind creatures and put others before themselves, though they do like to play pranks.
They are vegetarians- True: If a mermaid tries to eat human meat or fish she will become sick. Fruits and vegetables are fine, as are other human meals that do not contain meat. Another way of life that is possible for mermaids is hunting for animals and eating the meat straight from the carcass and/or draining the animal's blood. This method was never used much, as it was incredibly gruesome, though it appealed to mermaids' taste buds more.
Mermaids can have two tails - False: Real mermaids have a single tail that is quite a bit longer than their legs.
Mermaids are nude while in their true form - False: Every mermaid known had been transformed during their late teen, or, in very rare cases, early teen, years. This could be one reason that mermaids, when in mermaid form, have scaly tops.
Mermaids are sirens, and can lure sailors to their deaths- Partially True: Not many mermaids discover this, but all mermaids are gifted with extravagant voices when purposely trying to convince a human to do something. This does not have to happen while singing, however, and can be used to erase memories.
Merfolk are gods- False: The merfolk are actually humans when born, save for an extremely rare gene that comes from two parents possessing the gene, and are transformed by the gene being activated by magic. It is not known EXACTLY how one is transformed, but this is as close a guess as anyone has gotten.
Mermaids have powers over the elements- True: All mermaids possess the same powers over all elements, and a few other powers, but most mermaids who have no prior knowledge of their species do not discover more than one or two powers over the course of their lives. This is because each power requires a certain emotion or motion to activate it. Full moons can grant mermaids extra or stronger powers. See Powers page for more.
Mermen exist- False!!!- This is one of the most commonly mistaken tales about merfolk. Mermaids only come in female form. It is not known why, but instead of having mates of their own species, they form bonds, commonly called 'beaus' by mermaids, with humans. These beaus are much like what humans call soulmates, and form the first time the mermaid's eyes meet with her respective beau.
Merfolk are more beautiful than the average human- True- When born, the future mermaid will look like a regular human, but after the transformation, will slowly become more beautiful. Some common changes that take place are- Eye color changing (both lighter or darker), hair growing faster, hair turning darker, lips becoming fuller, slimmer body figure, hourglass shape, growth spurt, bust size increase, and more attractive features.
Mermaid tails aren't scaly- False: The mermaid tail is covered in a countless number of orange scales. The color of the tails does not vary.
Mermaids are extremely vain creatures- False: All mermaids in the past were extremely kind creatures and put others before themselves, though they do like to play pranks.
They are vegetarians- True: If a mermaid tries to eat human meat or fish she will become sick. Fruits and vegetables are fine, as are other human meals that do not contain meat. Another way of life that is possible for mermaids is hunting for animals and eating the meat straight from the carcass and/or draining the animal's blood. This method was never used much, as it was incredibly gruesome, though it appealed to mermaids' taste buds more.
From wellesley.edu:
According to the Standard Dictionary of Folklore: Mythology and Legend, Merfolk (mermaids and mermen) are supernatural beings who live primarily beneath the sea. It is in Hellenic literature that one finds the first literary description of Merfolk. Ovid writes that mermaids were born from the burning galleys of the Trojans where the timbers turned into the flesh and blood of the 'green daughters of the sea.' There are other versions of their birth: The Irish say that mermaids are old pagan women transformed and banished from the earth by St. Patrick. A Livonian folktale says they are the drowned children of an unknown Pharaoh - having met their doom in the depths of the Red Sea.
While the common conception of Merfolk is that they are humans from the waist up, but fishes from the waist down, according to myth that is simply not true. Instead, Merfolk are neither human nor fish, but they are mammals that resemble human/fish combinations. Mermaids are usually depicted as having scaly tails, however, many early descriptions of Merfolk mention their dolphin-like tails. A carving on Puce Church in Gironde, France, shows a young mermaid with two tapering tails instead of legs. A mermaid's bewitching voice is said to be able to lure ships onto rocks and men to their deaths. They are beautiful in their appearance and are also musically talented, in both their singing and their playing of musical instruments. Though they spend most of their time underwater, they have been known to assume human form and come ashore to markets and fairs.
According to the Standard Dictionary of Folklore: Mythology and Legend, Merfolk (mermaids and mermen) are supernatural beings who live primarily beneath the sea. It is in Hellenic literature that one finds the first literary description of Merfolk. Ovid writes that mermaids were born from the burning galleys of the Trojans where the timbers turned into the flesh and blood of the 'green daughters of the sea.' There are other versions of their birth: The Irish say that mermaids are old pagan women transformed and banished from the earth by St. Patrick. A Livonian folktale says they are the drowned children of an unknown Pharaoh - having met their doom in the depths of the Red Sea.
While the common conception of Merfolk is that they are humans from the waist up, but fishes from the waist down, according to myth that is simply not true. Instead, Merfolk are neither human nor fish, but they are mammals that resemble human/fish combinations. Mermaids are usually depicted as having scaly tails, however, many early descriptions of Merfolk mention their dolphin-like tails. A carving on Puce Church in Gironde, France, shows a young mermaid with two tapering tails instead of legs. A mermaid's bewitching voice is said to be able to lure ships onto rocks and men to their deaths. They are beautiful in their appearance and are also musically talented, in both their singing and their playing of musical instruments. Though they spend most of their time underwater, they have been known to assume human form and come ashore to markets and fairs.