Mermaid Statue

Warsaw's Mermaid Statue

Images of a mermaid have been used on the crest of Warsaw as its symbol since the mid 14th century.

Legend tells that two mermaid sisters swam to the shore of the Baltic. They were truly beautiful, even though they had fish tails instead of legs. One of them decided to swim further towards the Danish straits. Now she can be seen sitting on a rock at Copenhagen. The second swam to Gdansk, and up the Vistula River. Probably right at the foot of today's Old Town, there is a place where she came out of the water onto the sandy bank to rest. She liked it so much that she decided to stay.

The fishermen who used to live in this area noticed that when they were fishing, someone was agitating the waves of the Vistula River, tangling their nets and freeing fish from their traps. Therefore, they decided to catch the culprit. But when they heard the enchanting song of the mermaid, they gave up on their plans and frankly came to love the beautiful woman-fish. Since then, every evening she entertained them with her singing.

But one day, a rich merchant strolling on the banks of the Vistula River caught sight of her. He decided to catch her and then make money by showing her at the fairs. He caught the mermaid and held her in a wooden shed, with no access to the water. Her cries were heard by a young farmhand, who freed her one night. The mermaid, in recognition of the fact that the inhabitants had come to her aid, swore that if in turn they would be in danger, she would come to protect them. That is why the Warsaw mermaid is armed with a sword and a shield, for the protection of our city.

Photo 189, May 2007

Mermaid Statue

Warsaw's Mermaid Statue, detail

Photo 189d, May 2007