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In [[:Category:Origin: Greek Mythology| | In [[:Category:Origin: Greek Mythology|Greek Mythology]] the '''Sirens''' or '''Seirenes''' were [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naiad Naiad] (sea nymphs) approaching sailors were drawn to them by their enchanting singing, causing them to sail on the cliffs and drown. | ||
[[Image:Ulysses-Draper.jpg|thumb|250px|right|''Odysseus and the Sirens''. A painting by Herbert James Draper]] | [[Image:Ulysses-Draper.jpg|thumb|250px|right|''Odysseus and the Sirens''. A painting by Herbert James Draper]] | ||
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Sirens were said to live on an island called '''Sirenum scopuli''', or in some different traditions, some place them on '''cape Pelorum''', others in the island of '''Anthemusa''', and others again in the '''Sirenusian islands''' near Paestum, or in '''Capreae''', which was surrounded by cliffs and rocks. | Sirens were said to live on an island called '''Sirenum scopuli''', or in some different traditions, some place them on '''cape Pelorum''', others in the island of '''Anthemusa''', and others again in the '''Sirenusian islands''' near Paestum, or in '''Capreae''', which was surrounded by cliffs and rocks. | ||
They were considered the daughters of [ | They were considered the daughters of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achelous Achelous] (by Terpsichore, Melpomene or Sterope) or Phorcys ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgil Virgil]. V. 846; Ovid XIV, 88). Homer says nothing of their number, but later writers mention both their names and number ; some state that they were two, Aglaopheme and Thelxiepeia (Eustath. ad Horn. p. 1709) ; and others, that there were three, Peisinoe, Aglaope, and Thelxiepeia (Tzetz. ad LycopL7l2)> or Parthenope, Ligeia, and Leucosia (Eustath. /. c.; Strab. v. pp. 246, 252 ; Serv. ad Virg. Georg. iv. 562). Their number is variously reported as between two and five, and their individual names as Thelxiepia/Thelxiope/Thelxinoe, Molpe, Aglaophonos/Aglaope, Pisinoe/Peisinoë, Parthenope, Ligeia, Leucosia, Raidne, and Teles. According to some versions, they were playmates of young [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persephone Persephone] and were changed into the monsters of lore by Demeter for failing to intervene when Persephone was abducted ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovid Ovid] V, 551). The term "siren song" refers to an appeal that is hard to resist but that, if heeded, will lead to a bad result. | ||
===Appearance=== | ===Appearance=== | ||
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===Behaviour: encounters with the Sirens=== | ===Behaviour: encounters with the Sirens=== | ||
Odysseus escaped the Sirens by having all his sailors plug their ears with beeswax and tie him to the mast. He was curious as to what the Sirens sounded like. When he heard their beautiful song, he ordered the sailors to untie him but they ignored him. When they had passed out of earshot, Odysseus stopped thrashing about and calmed down, and was released (''[ | Odysseus escaped the Sirens by having all his sailors plug their ears with beeswax and tie him to the mast. He was curious as to what the Sirens sounded like. When he heard their beautiful song, he ordered the sailors to untie him but they ignored him. When they had passed out of earshot, Odysseus stopped thrashing about and calmed down, and was released (''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey Odyssey]'' XII, 39). | ||
Jason had been warned by Chiron that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus Orpheus] would be necessary in his journey. When Orpheus heard their voices, he drew his lyre and played his music more beautifully than they, drowning out their voices. One of the crew, however, the sharp-eared hero Butes, heard the song and leapt into the sea, but he was caught up and carried safely away by the goddess Aphrodite. | |||
It is said that after a ship successfully sailed by the Sirens, they threw themselves into the water to show protest. Varying traditions associate this event with their encounters with Jason or Odysseus, though the incident appears in neither Homer's ''[[Odyssey]]'' nor Apollonios Rhodios's ''Argonautika''. It is also said that Hera, queen of the gods, persuaded the Sirens to enter a singing contest with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muse Muse]s. The Muses won the competition and then plucked out all of the Sirens' feathers and made crowns out of them. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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* [[Nix]] | * [[Nix]] | ||
* [[Nymph]] | * [[Nymph]] | ||
* [ | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorelei Lorelei], an area of the [Rhine River where fishermen were drawn to their doom by enchanting songs and music. | ||
==Popular culture== | ==Popular culture== | ||
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===Literature/Comics=== | ===Literature/Comics=== | ||
*In Terry Brooks' ''Shannara'' series there is a species of carnivorous plant called 'Sirens' that grows on the Battlemounds in the Eastlands. The plants have poison thorns which they are capable of launching at prey. They lure their prey within reach with an illusion of a beautiful woman singing. | *In Terry Brooks' ''Shannara'' series there is a species of carnivorous plant called 'Sirens' that grows on the Battlemounds in the Eastlands. The plants have poison thorns which they are capable of launching at prey. They lure their prey within reach with an illusion of a beautiful woman singing. | ||
*In the comic strip ''FoxTrot'', Paige Fox is represented as a Siren in Peter Fox's dream of the [ | *In the comic strip ''FoxTrot'', Paige Fox is represented as a Siren in Peter Fox's dream of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey Odyssey]. | ||
*A Marvel Comics superhero named Siryn, whose mutant power has the ability to use a 'sonic scream,' much like [ | *A Marvel Comics superhero named Siryn, whose mutant power has the ability to use a 'sonic scream,' much like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee Banshee], her father. Both characters' names come from [[Mythology|mythological]] characters best known for their vocal abilities. | ||
*In the ''Phantom of the Opera'' book, Phantom, by Susan Kay, Erik (The Phantom) guards his house by singing underwater, and luring people to their deaths, under the persona of 'The Siren.' | *In the ''Phantom of the Opera'' book, Phantom, by Susan Kay, Erik (The Phantom) guards his house by singing underwater, and luring people to their deaths, under the persona of 'The Siren.' | ||
*In Laurell K Hamilton's ''Danse Macabre'' book, [ | *In Laurell K Hamilton's ''Danse Macabre'' book, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANita_blake Anita Blake] runs into a family of sirens who can arouse people through their beauty and their ancient magic. The mother, and her three half-vampire sons hope that Anita can awaken the ability for lust in the siren-mother's eldest son through the medium of her own magic. | ||
*Siren is ''Monster in My Pocket'' #79. She appears to be allied with the evil monsters, as she as shown near Warlock in the first issue. The evil monsters are generally shown in crowds and indistinguishable in most panels, however. | *Siren is ''Monster in My Pocket'' #79. She appears to be allied with the evil monsters, as she as shown near Warlock in the first issue. The evil monsters are generally shown in crowds and indistinguishable in most panels, however. | ||
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*In the final season of ''Sailor Moon'', one of the Sailor Animamates (Sailor Galaxia's cronies) mentioned is ''Sailor Aluminum Siren''. In the anime, she doesn't sing, but just as her name suggests, she lures victims to their doom, by disguising herself in human form and when she has the opportunity tries to extract their starseeds but fails, turning them into phages. In Materials Collection, it mentions that she has the power to manipulate songs and that her hobby is ballads. | *In the final season of ''Sailor Moon'', one of the Sailor Animamates (Sailor Galaxia's cronies) mentioned is ''Sailor Aluminum Siren''. In the anime, she doesn't sing, but just as her name suggests, she lures victims to their doom, by disguising herself in human form and when she has the opportunity tries to extract their starseeds but fails, turning them into phages. In Materials Collection, it mentions that she has the power to manipulate songs and that her hobby is ballads. | ||
*An episode of the BBC comedy ''Red Dwarf'' entitled ''Psirens'' featured repulsive creatures who could create the illusion they were beautiful women. They did this hoping to lure unwary travellers to them so they could suck out their brains with a straw. | *An episode of the BBC comedy ''Red Dwarf'' entitled ''Psirens'' featured repulsive creatures who could create the illusion they were beautiful women. They did this hoping to lure unwary travellers to them so they could suck out their brains with a straw. | ||
*In the 2003 Pax Network made-for-cable movie ''[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340842/ Mermaids]'', the [ | *In the 2003 Pax Network made-for-cable movie ''[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340842/ Mermaids]'', the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mermaid mermaid] character Venus played by actress Nikita Ager had a siren ability that allowed her to enchant and hypnotize male characters. | ||
*In The Simpsons episode "Tales from the Public Domain", Odysseus (Homer Simpson) and his crew are sailing by and hear an enchanting song. They imagine that the women singing would be gorgeous [ | *In The Simpsons episode "Tales from the Public Domain", Odysseus (Homer Simpson) and his crew are sailing by and hear an enchanting song. They imagine that the women singing would be gorgeous [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymph nymphs]. Unfortunately, it turns out that the "gorgeous maidens" are Homer's very unattractive twin sisters-in-law. When the crew sees them, they gasp out of shock and disgust and |sail away as quickly as possible. | ||
*Melinda Clarke plays a siren on an episode of ''Charmed'' titled "Siren Song". | *Melinda Clarke plays a siren on an episode of ''Charmed'' titled "Siren Song". | ||
*In an episode of ''Stargate: Atlantis'', the character Dr. Rodney McKay is trapped in a puddle jumped under several[fathoms of [[Oceans|water His subconscious creates the hallucination of Lt. Col. Samantha Carter. She discourages him from going with his plan to use the ship's engines to ascend because it won't work and will only drain power. She tries to distract him by seducing him and kissing him, he quickly realises what she's trying to do and ignores her declaring: "''I see what you're doing. Lt. Col. Siren''!" | *In an episode of ''Stargate: Atlantis'', the character Dr. Rodney McKay is trapped in a puddle jumped under several[fathoms of [[Oceans|water His subconscious creates the hallucination of Lt. Col. Samantha Carter. She discourages him from going with his plan to use the ship's engines to ascend because it won't work and will only drain power. She tries to distract him by seducing him and kissing him, he quickly realises what she's trying to do and ignores her declaring: "''I see what you're doing. Lt. Col. Siren''!" | ||
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===Trivia=== | ===Trivia=== | ||
*The Starbucks logo features a two-tailed [ | *The Starbucks logo features a two-tailed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MerMaid mermaid]. | ||
*The Siren is the mascot of The Buffalo Seminary, a non-sectarian school for girls in Buffalo, NY | *The Siren is the mascot of The Buffalo Seminary, a non-sectarian school for girls in Buffalo, NY | ||
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[[Category:Origin: Greek Mythology]] | [[Category:Origin: Greek Mythology]] | ||
[[Category:Race: Hybrids]] | [[Category:Race: Hybrids]] | ||
[[Category:Sea and lake monsters]] | [[Category:Race: Sea and lake monsters]] | ||
[[Category:Continent: Europe]] | [[Category:Continent: Europe]] | ||
