My rating: 5 of 5 stars
After reading Fairies I was interested in the other mythological study books by Skye Alexander. Her Mermaids book was just as fascinating and as beautiful as the previous read and I learned so much more about the mermaid mythology, it's beginnings and its history in other cultures.
The book is set up in the similar structure:
Part One - The Siren's Secrets - The general information on mermaids, their varying appearances and their behavior that has been noted down through history.
Part Two - Mermaids from Around the World - All the of the stories and legends of mermaids and marine/human hybrids that range from Ancient times to North America itself.
As with Fairies I never knew that mermaids were so world spread and that every culture has their own legendary take on the beloved sea siren. In the early Church, they were seen as seductresses' and while viewing a naked women was shocking to the uptight Victorians, mermaid portraits were considered acceptable even if they tended to cross the line at times. In most legends, mermaids are seen as vain and insipid. In other legends, mermaids are guides for sea farers and mariners. While mermaids are usually portrayed as beautiful young women, mermen are ugly and old.
The supposed first mermaid legend, the Assyrian goddess/mermaid Atargatis and nymphs, sirens and selkies of Greek mythology.
The mermaids of Zennor, the blue men of the muir and the water fairies of the British Isles.
The French Sirene Melusina and the Italian Sirena.
The Russian and Ukranian Rusalkys.
The African Mami Wata and Yemaya.
The Japanese Kapa and Nuwa, the Chinese Snake Goddess and even Moana herself. And what I listed hardly scratches the surface of the endless information of mermaid myth and lore.
The visual stunning aquamarine aesthetic that's accompanied by beautiful, classic drawings and paintings gives this book a charming and fantastical appeal. All of these little books are so pretty that it's hard not to pick them up and start reading!
