Atargatis
Atargatis is an ancient goddess from Phoenician and Syrian mythology, primarily worshipped in the Levantine coastal region including what is now Lebanon. She is considered the first mermaid in recorded history. According to legend, Atargatis was a beautiful goddess who accidentally killed her mortal lover, the shepherd Hadad. Overcome with shame and grief, she cast herself into a lake near Hierapolis (modern Manbij), intending to transform entirely into a fish. However, the waters only transformed her lower half, leaving her upper body human, creating the first mermaid. She is associated with