The Very Short, Entirely True History of Mermaids

From Ariel to the current craze for Sirens, mermaids have captivated our imaginations. But what's true and what's fairy tale?

For centuries, mermaids have appeared in the folklore of cultures from around the world, including the Near East, Europe, Asia, and Africa. And Disney made everyone want to dive under the sea with Ariel when the movie The Little Mermaid hit theaters in 1989. But what are mermaid stories based on?

Many myths say these creatures are half human and half fish, while othe...