On day the Mazovian prince lost his golden arrow with which he was hunting. Searching for it he came to the banks of the Vistula River. There, he saw a white arm extending from the water holding his arrow. It was a mermaid. He became enchanted with the beautiful half fish, half woman creature. She smiled and, handing him the arrow, pointed in the direction he was to take. He soon came to a clearing in the forest where stood a small cottage, the home of the fisherman Warsz. Mrs. Warszawa gave him a good supper and asked him to stay overnight as a guest. Moved by their hospitality he returned with his people and together they cleared more land and built a small settlement, called “Warszawa”.
Legend about the founding of Warsaw
