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The following Sea Gods family tree illustrates the genealogy of the Mermaids as detailed in ancient Greek Mythology and legends. Mermaids Family Tree and Genealogy in Greek Mythology Mermaids were also accredited with the supernatural powers and ability to raise and calm storms at will. In other myths and legends they were depicted as benign creatures who would help men who were in trouble at sea. In some Greek myths they were believed to sing to sailors and enchant them, distracting them from their work and causing them to walk off the deck or run their ships aground. Mermaids were accredited with wondrous vocal powers, to hear which was death to the listener. In ancient Greek mythology, when a divine female seduced a mortal man, it usually culminated in his death and destruction. A powerful and often feared aspect of women is their ability to seduce men.
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The abundant, flowing hair and the beauty of the Mermaids combined with impossible love symbolized a link between passion, unrequited love and destruction. She was found and raised by sea nymphs, the most perfect of all females, the epitome of beauty but was vain, weak and unfaithful. Aphrodite the goddess of love, sexuality, beauty and desire was strongly linked with all the sea nymphs. The comb and the mirror reflect the myths that a mermaid was often found resting upon the waves, combing out her long hair, whilst admiring herself in their mirror. Mermaids are often represented as the upper half of a beautiful young maiden joined to the lower half of a fish, usually holding a comb in the right hand and a mirror in the left. Refer to the Sea Gods family tree that follows. Mythology concerning the nymphs called the mermaids superseded the myths of the Oceanides, but their roles were the same. In ancient Greek mythology the mermaids were decscendents of Poseidon and the daughters of Triton. They possessed fins and a spreading, forked tail.Īccording to ancient Greek mythology the Titan gods Oceanus, the eldest son of Gaia and Uranus, married his sister Tethys and their union produced the Oceanides (three thousand daughters who were goddesses and water nymphs) and the Potamoi (three thousand sons who were river-gods). Mermaids were described as being elusive, young, very beautiful with long, flowing hair and sad deep eyes.
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Tritons were described as having green hair and eyes, their bodies were like those of men, but instead of legs they had tails like fishes. The 3000 brothers of the mermaids were called the Tritons, or Mermen. The mermaids were believed to be the 3000 daughters of Triton, the son of the Greek gods Poseidon and Amphitrite. Mermaids were believed to inhabit salt-water environments including lagoons, rather than freshwater lakes or streams. Mermaids were a type of water nymph, a supernatural being who lived beneath the sea but who would occasionally come ashore. The name mermaid is derived from the Middle English 'mere' meaning "sea" and 'maid' meaning "girl". This mythical aquatic creature is depicted with the head and torso of a human female and a fish-like tail. Who were the Mermaids of Ancient Greek mythology? The meaning and definition of Mermaids are as follows: Definition of Mermaids: The ancient Greek Mermaids were sea nymphs who were supernatural beings who lived beneath the sea but would occasionally come ashore.