Editing Mermaid (section)

=== Heraldry ===
[[File:POL Warszawa COA 1.svg|thumb|upright=0.65|Arms of [[Warsaw]]]]
In [[heraldry]], the charge of a mermaid is commonly represented with a comb and a mirror,<ref>{{cite book | title = Fourteenth Century England | volume = 2|year= 2002| publisher= The Boydell Press| location= Woodbridge, UK | isbn = 0-85115-891-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7-qRZK9YXDgC&pg=PA121| editor-first =Chris | editor-last = Given-Wilson|page=121}}</ref><ref name="Davies">{{cite book |author-link=Arthur Fox-Davies |last=Fox-Davies |first=Arthur |title=A Complete Guide to Heraldry |publisher=T.C. and E.C. Jack |location=London |date=1909 |page=227 |url=https://archive.org/details/completeguidetoh00foxduoft |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> and [[blazon]]ed as a "mermaid in her vanity".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.westkingdom.org/RoyaltyArms/WestPart5.htm |title=The History of the Kingdom of The West: Royalty |publisher=West kingdom |access-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225112758/http://history.westkingdom.org/RoyaltyArms/WestPart5.htm |archive-date=25 February 2013 }}</ref> In addition to vanity, mermaids are also a symbol of eloquence.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sloan Evans |first=William |author-link=<!--William Sloan Evans--> |title=A Grammar of British Heraldry |publisher=J. R. Smith |year= 1854 |location= London |url= https://archive.org/details/agrammarbritish00evagoog| page = [https://archive.org/details/agrammarbritish00evagoog/page/n191 145]}}</ref>

Mermaids appear with greater frequency as heraldic devices than mermen do. A merman and a mermaid are depicted on the coat of arms of [[Schouwen-Duiveland]]. A mermaid appears on the arms of the [[University of Birmingham]], in addition to those of several British families.<ref name="Davies"/>

A mermaid with two tails is referred to as a [[melusine]]. Melusines appear in German heraldry, and less frequently in the British version.<ref name="Davies"/>

A shield and sword-wielding mermaid (''[[Mermaid of Warsaw|Syrenka]]'') is on the official [[coat of arms of Warsaw]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ucl.ac.uk/atlas/polish/mywarsaw/warsaw10.html | publisher = UCL | location = UK | title = The Mermaid | access-date = 11 February 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080310204657/http://www.ucl.ac.uk/atlas/polish/mywarsaw/warsaw10.html | archive-date = 10 March 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Images of a mermaid have symbolized Warsaw on its arms since the middle of the fourteenth century.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/perelki/index_en.php?mi_id=47&dz_id=2 | title = Warsaw Mermaid's Statue | access-date = 10 July 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081207092210/http://www.um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/perelki/index_en.php?mi_id=47&dz_id=2 | archive-date = 7 December 2008 }}</ref> Several legends associate [[Triton (mythology)|Triton]] of Greek mythology with the city, which may have been the origin of the mermaid's association.<ref name="legend">{{cite web | url = http://www.e-warsaw.pl/miasto/herb-1.htm | title = History of Warsaw's Coat of Arms | work = e-Warsaw | access-date = 10 July 2008 | archive-date = 29 May 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080529212011/http://www.e-warsaw.pl/miasto/herb-1.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref>

The [[Cusack]] family crest includes a mermaid wielding a sword, as depicted on a memorial stone for Sir [[Thomas Cusack (Irish judge)|Thomas Cusack]] (1490–1571).<ref>{{cite journal  | last = Hickey | first = Elizabeth | author-link = Elizabeth Hickey | title = Monument to Sir Thomas Cusack | journal = Records of Meath Archaeological & Historical Society | year = 1971 | volume = IV | issue = 5 | pages = 76, 84 | publisher = Meath Archaeological & Historical Society | location = Meath, Ireland }}</ref>

Mermaids appear on the [[coat of arms of Ustka]], [[Białobrzegi]] and [[Białobrzegi County]] (Poland), [[Seeboden am Millstätter See]] (Austria), [[Bray, County Wicklow|Bray]] (Ireland), [[Santa Colomba de Curueño]], [[Ruente]], [[Bertizarana]], [[Villanueva de la Serena]] (Spain), [[Päijät-Häme]] (Finland), [[Åsgårdstrand]] (Norway), [[Royat]], [[Xammes]], [[Lancieux]], [[Erquy]], [[Chens-sur-Léman]], [[Didenheim]], [[Wimereux]] (France), [[Eemsmond]], [[Makkum, Súdwest-Fryslân|Makkum]], [[Uithuizermeeden]] (Netherlands), [[Waasmunster]] (Belgium), and [[Westerdeichstrich]] (Germany). The city of [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], Virginia also uses a mermaid as a symbol.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mermaid History {{!}} City of Norfolk, Virginia - Official Website |url=https://www.norfolk.gov/3865/History |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=www.norfolk.gov}}</ref> The personal coat of arms of [[Michaëlle Jean]], former [[Governor General of Canada]], features two mermaids as supporters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/929 |website=Canadian Heraldic Authority |title=The Public Register of Arms, Flags, and Badges of Canada |first=Michaëlle |last=Jean |publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada |date=20 September 2005 |access-date=10 January 2024 }}</ref>