Medieval sirens and mermaids

[R. Sale]

Linda,

The 'hierarchy of being' in the Dante illustration would appear to be a gloss / partial representation of the 'great chain of being' focused mainly on animals.

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The VMs illustration You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. lacks diversity; no birds, fish, snakes, etc., etc. It also is insufficient in number of creatures to be a good hierarchy. The Dante illustration has 20+ little critters. The VMs only four. The greater similarity seems to me to be with the de Metz and Lauber images which purport to show creatures of a similar type rather than a full range of animals, let alone 'beings' in general.

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Aga,

That's an interesting object and image, She holds a sword and some other object (not a comb or mirror typical of mermaids). And there are the four "dog's"(??) heads. There are a whole host of different myths going back perhaps as far as Tiamat - mother of merpeople.

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Contains the statement: "The You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. states that Tiamat gave You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. to dragons and You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. among a more general list of monsters including You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. and You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., but does not identify her form as that of a dragon; however, other sources containing the same myth do refer to her as such."

So these mermaid myths are all over the place.
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Are you trying to find a rational explanation for irrational beliefs? My suggestion is to go with the mythology that most closely aligns with the time and place and culture under investigation and to move outward from there *only* if necessary.