Why Every Culture Has a Mermaid Legend

Mermaids have appeared in myths from Mesopotamia to Japan, but their true origin is far stranger than most people realise.In this episode, we trace the history of mermaids from ancient gods and sea sages to sailors’ sightings and global folklore.From Oannes and Atargatis to Sirens, medieval carvings, Columbus, Suvannamaccha, ningyo, jiaoren, Mami Wata, and Pania of the Reef, this is the long and surprising story of how the mermaid became one of the world’s most enduring mythical beings. The deeper we go, the less familiar she becomes.