Mermaids: The myth comes to life

Our fascination with mermaids is as deep as the sea, going back centuries to the myth of a Syrian goddess who was transformed into a half-fish. Faith Salie reports on how the folklore of mermaids got its legs as a feature of modern stories, movies and Coney Island. She also talks with a real live mermaid at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park in Florida, and discusses mermaid lore with Varla Ventura, author of “Among the Mermaids: Facts, Myths, and Enchantments from the Sirens of the Sea.” Source