22-01-2016, 01:01 AM
(21-01-2016, 09:48 PM)David wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view....
Earlier descriptions (pre 14th century) of mermaids (almost always female) tend to have an exaggerated line around their midriff showing the separation between the human and the animal, usually just above the genitals - the belly-button is always prominent in these images (as it shows the human nature of the beast).
...
Another reason why the belly-button is prominent (sometimes with a large round belly) is because in some depictions this represents the mother goddess, goddess of coitus and procreation. Note that many of these also have the split legs or split fish-body legs (but not all) and emphasis (sometimes a prominent hole) on the birth canal.
One thing that struck me about the VMS fish is that it's more naturalistically drawn than many mermaids and sirens.