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    Mermaids From Around The World That Are Far From Dream Girls

    We're a long way off from Ariel.

    The legendary creatures known as mermaids have existed in our stories for thousands of years, the earliest myths dating all the way back to ancient Syria.

    The first known mermaid was Atargatis, a fertility goddess who had a tail, much like that of a mermaid's. Mermaid myths are spread all over the world, and some of these are better known than others. These water spirits come in various shapes and forms.

    But some of these mermaids and water spirits are downright terrifying compared to the beautiful, magical creatures we think of today.

    1. Sirens

    2. The Blue Men of the Muir

    3. Rusalka

    4. The Asrai

    5. Squant

    6. Chitapo

    7. Lorelei

    8. The Iele

    9. The Kappa

    10. Nixie

    11. Kataw

    12. Melusina