before Disney’s Little Mermaid, these creatures existed in mythologies from around the world
- Written by: Louise Pryke, Honorary Research Associate, University of Sydney
13th century painting of mermaids from a house in Barcelona. Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, BarcelonaMermaids are multicultural mythical figures, reflecting the continuing human fascination with the sea in stories echoing thousands of years into the past. Mermaids are found in cultures across the globe.
In Australia, special water spirits appear...