Warsaw's mermaid

The Mermaid has featured in Warsaw’s coat of arms for many centuries. Between 1811 – 1915, when Poland was partitioned, Warsaw’s emblem was officially banned. Yet the Varsovians increasingly started to place mermaid images in various parts of the city. As a result, Warsaw now boasts a great number of these images displayed in gates, balconies, stained glass windows, on facades, street lamps, neon signs, signboards, and institutional logos. The Warsaw Mermaid also features in many statues, sculptures and reliefs. The Varsowians are emotionally attached to them, which and literature these half-female, half-fish creature are depicted as mermaids while the symbol of Warsaw in Polish is referred to be means of the diminutive syrenka (little mermaid).
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The coat of arms of Warsaw

Warsaw’s first coat of arms, which dates back to the early 15th century, depicted a half-human, half-bird creature carrying a sword and a shields. Its body was covered with scales. Over the years, it was gradually turning into a female, though it still looked like a winged monster with finned legs. It was only in the 18th century that it was replaced by a shapely half-woman half-fish. The current coat of arms was officially approved in 1938. How the image of the Warsaw mermaid evolved over the centuries is shown in the door of St. John’s cathedral in the Old Town.
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The Legend of the Warsaw Mermaid

A long, long time ago a siren was swimming in from the sea and she stopped on the riverbank near the Old Town to rest. She found this place so admirable, that she decided stay here.

Local fisherman who lived nearby noticed that sometihing was creating waves, tangling nets, and releasing their fish.

Fisherman wanted trap a pest,but when he heard siren sing, he fell in love with her.

Later, a rich merchant trapped the siren and imprisoned her in wooden hut.

Fisherman heard siren's cry and with the help his mates released her. Mermaid declared her readiness to offer fisherman her help whenever it would be needed. Ever since the siren armed with sword and shield.