Anyone who believes that the Little Mermaid from Hans-Christian Andersen's fairy tale of the same name is the first female hybrid creature to roam the seas in literary stories is mistaken. In Greek mythology, sea nymphs, the Nereids, were already cavorting in the waters of the Mediterranean. However, they rarely wear fish tails like the 'modern' mermaids, but they like to ride hippocamps, the sea horses.
The popularity and importance of the Nereids, who were often asked by seafarers for good conduct, is attested to by the many representations in various genres of ancient art, such as on this clay relief. The complete motif of this relief type shows two Nereids on sea horses, each accompanied by an Eros. A third, flying Eros with a parasol in his hand is in the space between the first two. (AVS)
Former Collection August Kestner, Rome
