In traditional Slavic mythology, a mermaid is considered a humanoid female, less often male, sex, which knocks travelers off the road, leading them into a forest thicket or drags them under water and drowns them in swamps and rivers. Most often, mermaids are depicted naked, with long flowing hair and a powerful fish tail. In various tales and myths, several types of mermaids can be distinguished, differing in their habitat.
River mermaids
Mermaids, according to the ancient Slavs, living at the bottom of rivers are referred to as river mermaids. They can look very impressive: young green-eyed girls with a good figure, flowing well-groomed hair, the upper half of their body has a human appearance, the lower one looks like a fish tail covered with green scales. They are capable of casting a spell (darkness) with their voice and songs; a person who has fallen into a trap is dragged under water for the sake of entertainment or out of boredom. In some cases, folklore indicates that mermaids feed on human flesh, although this statement is more typical for Western mythology. Young unmarried girls, drowned or drowned in a water body, become mermaids. Therefore, the general name "river mermaids" also means lake mermaids and mermaids that are found in wells. You can also find them in the floodplains of rivers and shady backwaters.
You can distinguish a mermaid by pale skin color, cold hands and hair with a greenish tint.
Tree mermaids
Another species of mermaids lives on the spreading branches of trees, most often oaks, apple trees, willows. Such a mermaid can be seen on a hot summer day in forests and groves far from settlements. She is more harmless than her river sisters, she does not attack people, she just sits on the branches, dangling her tail and combing her long beautiful hair with a comb. This type of water maidens often helps those who have lost their way, but sometimes, when they are bored, they like to play with living people, pointing the wrong direction, leading them into the forest thicket. They laugh at the traveler, proud of their ability to charm everyone who falls under their spell.
Field mermaids
Field navki are very different from other species of mermaids. They do not have a tail, walk on two legs, often naked or in a long white shirt with invariably long flowing hair. They lead round dances in the fields and glades under the moon, sing songs, weave flower wreaths, lead a "flock" lifestyle. It is extremely difficult to meet such a mermaid, they are afraid of people and try to get out of the way in advance. You can only spy on the mermaid round dances from behind the trees or bushes. Mermaids may not see a person, but they feel him and, as long as he does not pose a danger to them, they allow themselves to be looked at, but sensing something was wrong, they either scatter or dissolve in the air, turning into a predawn fog.
The attitude towards mermaids is mostly negative, but respectful. In Slavic conspiracies, mothers ask mermaids not to touch their children, in return for the proposed gift.
Sea mermaids
Sea mermaids, also called sirens, are common in Western mythology. They are similar to the river Slavic undines: they are also beautiful and aggressive, their main difference is that they are not drowned, sea mermaids are daughters of the underwater king Triton. In addition, these aquatic nymphs love real jewelry in the form of pearl and gemstone necklaces. There are many legends according to which the mermaids, with their singing, forced the captains of the ships to direct the ship to the reefs and stones, the ships crashed and went to the bottom, and the sailors were drowned by mermaids.
