The
introduction Since times people have been building their settlements, towns
and villages near water. The man can't live without water even one day. We would
die of thirst and famine. We would be cowered with a layer of dirt if it were
not for water. That's why water was regarded as an "assistant" and "man's aid".
Many stories and legends have been associated with it. But now days all ancient
beliefs are considered to be prejudge and water spirits and regarded as evil
farces. It's high time that we learn where these legends originated from and
what their real meaning is. In ancient times the tribes of the forefathers of
anies call rain "heaven's milk", which spills over the earth from heaven's nymph's
breast. Upon leaving the heaven maidens and wives settled down in the seas,
rivers and lakes. These beliefs were common for all Indo-European tribes. Hindus
named them "apsarasi" - which means "walking upon water", Greek - naiads, Germans
- undines, the Slavs - mermaids. The world itself stands for "fair-haired water
maiden". Mermaids are water nymphs. Tall beautiful girls live on river's beds
and lakes. At night they splash in the water, swing on the branches of the trees
and comb their long hair. Mermaids don't have a fish tail. As a rule it is the
girls who experienced on unhappy love or were drowned by their stepmothers that
turned into mermaids. We have learnt that ancient tribes regarded them as good
spirits, because they watered the earth and prevented drought. Many people must
have heard about mermaids. But there are, of course, many other Slavonic water
spirits - both good and evil.
Introduction
