from the 17th century that roams the tempestuous seas, its ghostly sails and tattered rigging an eternal omen of impending doom for unwary sailors.

celestial river that divides the heavens, forever separating two star-crossed lovers—the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd. They unite for one transcendent night each year when, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, a magical bridge of magpies forms across the sky.

Fertő lies today, stood seven grand cities of the tündérek, the Hungarian fae. Every seven years, the tip of the highest towers rises out of the waves, and the fae come out for one night on shore to mingle with the mortals. Learn more about Hungarian legends of mermaids and water fae here.

mention of the Kraken—a colossal beast said to drag entire ships into the ocean's abyss. Folklore held that its wrath could create treacherous whirlpools which swallowed vessels whole.

captivating water deity, often depicted as a graceful mermaid adorned with serpentine accents. Revered for her beauty and venerated as a symbol of fertility and prosperity, she embodies the timeless mystery of the deep.

mystery. The Greek philosopher Plato depicted it as a once-mighty island empire whose splendor was undone by devastating earthquakes and floods.

water spirit—emerges as a mesmerizing mermaid with flowing hair and an almost serpentine grace. Legends tell that her haunting calls echo along the winding rivers of the Amazon, luring solitary wanderers into a realm where beauty and peril dance intertwined.

Tarō, a kind-hearted fisherman, rescued a sea turtle and was invited to the majestic Dragon Palace, a radiant undersea realm ruled by the gracious Princess Otohime. Welcomed freely during his enchanted stay, he chose to return home—only to discover that centuries had passed.

gold coin sewn into his coat, believing it held protective magic. Some say he also kept a vial of gunpowder mixed with blood—a talisman for victory at sea.

green-clad lake fairies—distinct from sea creatures. Dwelling by secluded lakes like Llyn Barfog, they uniquely cross from the lower to the upper world under Gwyn ap Nudd's guidance.

Castalian Spring bestowed divine healing and poetic wisdom. Its crystalline waters purified the spirit, mending wounds of body, mind, and soul alike.

modern periods, natural historians often treated fantastical beings as real creatures. For example, the renowned Nuremberg Chronicle (1493) features intricate woodcut illustrations of mermaids alongside other exotic marvels, attesting to the era’s blend of empirical curiosity and myth. The Chronicle’s vivid depictions testify that mermaids were once considered a natural part of the world’s zoology.

colossal sea serpent, coils around the globe beneath turbulent waves. Destined to clash with Thor at Ragnarok, his fierce presence echoes the ocean's might.