|
The mermaid descends from ancient traditions connecting the Goddess with the sea as the universal womb. Aphrodite was said to have a fish-tail. In India the Nagas were human above the waist & water serpents below. They lived in springs & rivers, guarding treasures in their palaces. As late as the 19th century British law claimed that any mermaid found in home waters was the property of the Crown! The sailor's dream, mermaids are variously seen as seductive, dangerous, and compassionate, they symbolize the qualities of the sea as mother, lover, friend, and enemy. She can be made larger and a bit smaller too. |
|
