Mermaids appear in folklore in cultures around the world: Depictions of humans with the tails of fish appear in Mesopotamian artwork, with the first known mermaid stories appearing in Assyria c. 1000 BC. In Chinese mythology dating to the 4th century BC, mermaids weep tears that become pearls. In Scandinavian folklore, a fisherman who performs favors for a mermaid earns the privilege of asking her three questions.
The mermaid in this ring swims above two eels swimming through human skulls, reminiscent of sunken ships and lost treasures.