Sirens, Mermaids and Phantom Islands

Greek mythology gave us the Sirens, creatures whose songs lured sailors to crash on the rocks. Odysseus famously had his crew plug their ears with wax while he listened, tied to the mast. Similar stories appear in nearly every coastal culture around the world.

Mermaid sightings were reported by Christopher Columbus, Henry Hudson, and countless other explorers. Scientists believe most sightings were actually manatees, dugongs, or seals seen at a distance. Phantom islands like Hy-Brasil and Sandy Island lingered on official maps for centuries before they were finally disproven and erased.