Mermen have the form of a male human from the waist up and are fish-like from the waist down, having scaly fish tails in place of legs. The Hortus Sanitatis (Garden of Health), the first natural history encyclopedia, was published by Jacob Meydenbach in Germany, 1491. He describes plants and animals (both real and mythical) together with minerals and various trades, with their medicinal value and method of preparation. The hand-colored woodcut illustrations are stylized but often easily recognizable. 1547 edition.

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Hortus Sanitatis, Mythical Creatures, Merman

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