The first known story about mermaids was in 1000 BC. The mother of Semiramis an Assyrian Queen, who was a goddess, fell in love with a mortal, she ended up killing him. Ashamed at what she had done she jumped into the lake to take the form of a fish, but the waters would not hide her beauty, instead the top of the body remained normal and the bottom half took the form of a fish, turning her into a mermaid. There have been many sighting over many years. Most were put down to hoaxes or misidentified marine animals. And even though at one time it was certain that they did exist now people are not to sure due to the fact that nothing concrete as ever been found not even a photograph. Though some people do remain believers.