Atargatis, the great Syrian mermaid goddess

Atargatis was a Syrian goddess. She was also known as Derceto or Decketo and Dea Syria. She was the first recorded mermaid, but according to the stories she wasn't always a mermaid. As a goddess she did the unthinkable, she fell in love with a mere mortal, a shepherd boy. She became pregnant by him and consumed by guilt she killed her lover, threw herself into a river, abandonning her newborn baby on the banks of the river. Atargatis was too beautiful for suicide, she was a goddess afterall, and was instead transformed into a mermaid.

Her daughter, named Semiramis, was fed by doves until she was discovered by Simmas, the royal shepherd. It is not surprising then, that doves, along with fishes, became sacred to Atargatis in her new incarnation as a mermaid goddess.

As a goddess, Atargatis was worshipped throughout Syria and beyond, but mainly in the cty of Ascalon, later called Hieropolis. She would be worshipped with dance, song and music, her worshippers whipping themselves up into a frenzy before multilating themselves (ewww).

There was a great temple at Ascalon, where Atargatis, along with her offical consort Hadad, ruled. The temple was described by Lucian of Samosata...

The ramp up to it is made of stone, and is not very long. And when you have ascended, the sight of the temple shows you a thing of great marvel, for it is adorned with doors of gold. And within, the temple shines with much gold and the ceiling is all golden. And a heavenly fragrance comes out of it, such as they say comes out of the land of Arabia. As you approach, even from afar it sends toward you a wonderful sweet breath; and as you depart, it never leaves you, but your clothes retain that scent for a long time, and you shall remember it forever....

Lucian of Samosata, A.D. 125 – after A.D. 180)

Lucian also described a lake near to the temple...

There is also a lake there, a little ways from the temple, in which holy fishes are raised, very numerous and of diverse kinds. Some of them are very large, and these have names and come when they are called. And when I was there, amongst them was one that was golden. On his fin was fastened a jewel of gold; and often times I saw him, and he always had that decoration.

Lucian of Samosata, A.D. 125 – after A.D. 180)

The cult of Atargatis spread to Italy, where she was known as Dea Syria meaning the great syrian goddess. she was accepted into Roman pantheon, and was said to have persuaded Zeus, to place an image of her sacred fishes into the sky, which he did creating the constellation of Pisces.

If you enjoyed finding out about Atargatis, you may also enjoy reading about Oannes