SIREN
More of myth · creatures half bird and half woman who lured sailors by the sweetness of her song
- Parents
- Achelous
- Haunts and cult places
- Sicily, Naples
- In the sources
- 21 ancient passages
The Sirens are the daughters of the river god Acheloüs. Argonautica 4 ¶55 +1 The Sirens are creatures that enchant everyone who approaches them. Odyssey 12 ¶5 The Sirens are described as winged maidens and virgin daughters of Earth. Euripides, Helen 167-178
Powers
The Sirens possessed a wondrous singing voice that captivated listeners and used their sweet songs to lure sailors to their death when the ship approached their land. Argonautica 4 ¶55 +3 The Sirens' singing caused men who heard it to rot. Pausanias 10.6.5
In the myths
Orpheus prevented the crew from being lured by singing a competing melody that overcame the Sirens' song. Apollodorus 1.9.25 +1 Butes swam toward the creatures to investigate them, nearly killing himself in the process. Apollodorus 1.9.25 +1 A Lacedaemonian commander was commanded in a vision to honor the new Siren with funeral rites. Pausanias 1.21.1 Odysseus heard the Sirens' singing during his journey home. Odyssey 23 ¶27 Hera persuaded the Sirens to compete with the Muses in a singing contest. Pausanias 9.34.3 Helen asks them to join her mourning with mournful chants. Euripides, Helen 167-178 The Sirens lost their singing competition against the Muses, who then plucked out their feathers. Pausanias 9.34.3 A large pile of rotting dead men's bones lies around them. Odyssey 12 ¶5 The Sirens began singing once they saw the ship getting close to their shore. Odyssey 12 ¶14 Their sweet song causes sailors to die and never return home. Odyssey 12 ¶5
Fate
According to mythology, one Siren was cast up on Leucosia after falling into the deep. Strabo 6.1.1 The heroes left them behind to face other dangers at sea. Argonautica 4 ¶55
