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Dominique Smaldino

Mrs. Dietrich

Honors English 10

6 March 2017

The Sirens: How They Affected Greek Mythology and The Odyssey

Do you ever wonder how big of a role the Sirens played in the Pantheon of Greek

Mythology and how much they really affected Odysseuss journey home to Ithaca? Many people

could argue that they did not play an important part in The Odyssey, but the story would not have

been the same without the Sirens. The Sirens played an extremely important role in Greek

mythology because of who they are, their physical looks, their origin, their luring abilities and

their affect on Odysseuss journey home to Ithaca. The Odyssey would be and undoubtedly

different story if the Sirens were not involved in Odysseuss journey home. The Sirens really let

the reader see Odysseuss epic hero qualities. Their song could lure the sailors in unwillingly.

Odysseus was able to stay away from them, which shows great hero qualities. There are not

many other cases of sailors getting away from the Sirens. The Sirens were extremely important

characters in The Odyssey.

Initially, the general information about the Sirens gives you great insight as to how

important they were in The Odyssey and in the Pantheon of Greek Mythology. The ancient

Greek Sirens were dangerous sea nymphs, winged maidens, supernatural beings who are

described as beautiful, bewitching, enchanting, and enticing (The Sirens). They were

variously said to be the daughters of the sea god Phorcys or of the river god Achelous by one of

the Muses (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). Just from those two basic definitions of
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the Sirens, the reader can see how cunning and beautiful they really were. Also, The Sirens

were beautiful but dangerous creatures that lured the sailors with their beautiful voices to their

doom, causing the ships to crash on the reefs near their island (Sirens). This quote gives the

reader basic information on The Sirens song and what happens when sailors come by and hear

it. Constantly, when people hear about The Sirens and their song, they think about the affect the

Sirens have on people that hear them. What those people never think about is what happens if

somehow, someone was to hear the Sirens Song but escape still. According to ancient Greek

mythology the Sirens were fated to die if someone heard their singing and escaped them (The

Sirens). That is something that is not well known to many people about the Sirens. The Odyssey

also has great insight on the Sirens and their song.

But if you wish to listen, let the men tie you in the lugger, hand and foot, back to

the mast, lashed to the mast, so you may hear those harpies thrilling voices; shout

as you will, begging to be untied, your crew must only twist more line around you

and keep their stroke up, till the singers fade. (Homer.12.16-21)

This quote shows more of what Odysseuss men had to do to protect him from the Sirens. We do

know that Odysseus also had to show great epic hero qualities to keep his men safe from the

Sirens. Also, the Sirens did not just sing their song for pleasure. There was a real reason for why

they sang it. They were longing for one of their closest companions. The Sirens song was a

beautiful, yet sad melody, eternally calling for Persephones return (Sirens). According to

Greek Mythology, Persephone, the queen of the underworld, was the daughter of Zeus and

Demeter, the goddess of harvest and fertility (Persephone the Queen). This also shows how

the Sirens are involved in the Pantheon of Greek Mythology.

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Next, the physical qualities of the Sirens were very important in Greek Mythology. The

Sirens were very different from the others in the Pantheon of Greek Mythology. They also were

not commonly referred to as Gods. These mythical aquatic sisters are often depicted with the

head and torso of a human female with large wings and occasionally the legs of a bird (The

Sirens). From this quote, we see more about the physical description of the Sirens. There is also

a large background on the name The Sirens and why exactly they were called that. Siren was

the name given to an acoustical instrument for producing musical tones and used in numbering

the vibrations in any note (Siren). This shows insight as to why the Sirens sing their song. It

also lets the reader see how important the Sirens song was in the background of the Sirens. The

Sirens are also given many different individual names that tell a little bit about their personality.

The three that were mentioned the most in Greek Mythology were: Pisinoe, meaning

Persuasive Mind, Thelxepeia meaning Soothing Winds and Aglaope meaning Beautiful

Face (The Sirens). Their main purpose was to lure people in, and they were each given

names that showed how they did that. It is also known that there were three that were mentioned

mostly in Greek Mythology. People really do not know just how many Sirens there could have

been back then.

In addition, there is a lot known about the origin of the Sirens that could have contributed

to Greek Mythology and The Odyssey. Through the years, more and more information has been

discovered about the Sirens and how they came to be. Although, different people have many

theories about who their parents really were: The Sirens were the daughters of Phocys and

Ceto (The Sirens). This could show the reader where they fell in the Pantheon of Greek

Mythology and it also lets the reader know that all the Sirens were most likely sisters. KETO

(Ceto) was the goddess of the dangers of the sea and, more specifically, of sea-monsters, whales
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and large sharks (Keto). Ceto was very high up in the Pantheon, which could be why the

Sirens were so well known in it. Also, Ceto was the goddess for many things in the sea, which is

most likely why the Sirens are based around the sea. But also, some people think differently:

They were the daughters of the river God, Achelous, while their mother may have been

Terpsichore, Melpomene, Sterope, or Chton (Sirens). So, it still is somewhat unknown who

the Sirens parents really are. Many people think that the Sirens were known to be sea Gods but

that really is not the case. Although closely linked to marine environments, they were not

considered sea deities (Sirens). So, from that we can infer that the Sirens were often

considered Gods, but they were not that high up in the Pantheon to be Gods. There has been a lot

of information found on the background of the name The Sirens. The name comes from

Greek and is recorded from Middle English; in earliest use, it designates an imaginary type of

snake (Siren). It makes sense that the name is Greek since the Sirens were in the Pantheon of

Greek Mythology. Also, the Sirens have changed a lot throughout the years: The Sirens seem to

have evolved from an ancient tale of the perils of an early exploration combined with an Asian

image of a birdwoman (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). So, the Sirens were not

always depicted as a birdwoman, their image has changed over the years. Lastly, people have

studied and learned very much about where the Sirens were located physically: According to

Homer there were two Sirens on an island in the western sea between Aeaea and the rocks of

Scylla. Later the number was usually increased to three, and they were located on the west coast

of Italy, near Naples (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica).

Furthermore, the thing that the Sirens are probably most known for is their luring ability

and their song. These are nymphs who sing so sweetly that listen spellbound to their song

(Schwab. 665). Everyone that passed by them and heard them sing would be lured onto their
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island. But the outcome was not good for those who did end up on their island. But he who is

beguiled and lands is destroyed, for the coast of their island is strewn with bleaching bones

(Schwab. 665). Anyone that would come to their island would die. They would try to lure in

anyone who came by them in a boat. When the Sirens saw the ship, they came to the edge of the

shore in the shape of beautiful girls and raised their clear toned song (Schwab. 666). The Sirens

truly had the ability to lure in anyone that came in their way.

Lastly, the Sirens could have arguably had the biggest affect on Odysseuss journey out of

everyone mentioned in The Odyssey. Someone who really helped Odysseus and his men to stay

away from the Sirens was Circe. In The Odyssey, Circe gave the men advice and great help.

Listen with care to this, now, and a god will arm your mind. Square in your ships

path are Sirens, crying beauty to bewitch men coasting by; woe to the innocent

who hears that sound! He will not see his lady nor his children in joy, crowding

about him, home from sea; the Sirens will sing his mind away on their sweet

meadow lolling. There are bones of dead men rotting in a pile beside them and

flayed skins shrivel around the spot. Steer wide; keep well to seaward; plug your

oarsmens ears with beeswax kneaded soft; none of the rest should hear that song.

(Homer. 1130)

Without Circes very in depth warning about the Sirens, Odysseus and his men would probably

have not made it out alive. Odysseus also showed great heroic qualities when they encountered

the Sirens. Odysseus decides to tell the men only on Circes warning about the Sirens, whom

they will soon encounter (Homer. 1134). That must have been very hard for Odysseus to do. It

is also known that Odysseus had to keep all his men safe from the Sirens. I cut a slab of wax,

kneaded it until it was soft, and with it stopped up the ears of my men (Schwab. 666). That
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shows epic hero qualities on Odysseuss part because he put his crews safety before himself.

Odysseus still had to do something to keep himself safe from the Sirens though. Odysseus

himself wanted to hear their song but had himself tied to the mast so that he would not be able to

steer the ship off its course (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). The encounter of the

Sirens must have taken great strength for Odysseus and all his men.

In conclusion, Greek mythology and The Odyssey. The Sirens were very high up in the

Pantheon of Greek Mythology. They also were a vital part in Odysseuss journey home. The

Sirens played an extremely important role in Greek mythology because of who they are, their

physical looks, their origin, their luring abilities and their affect on Odysseuss journey home to

Ithaca. Many people do not think that they were important in Greek Mythology. Hopefully now,

the reader will see how big of a part the Sirens played in the history of Greek mythology. Also,

although it is the main one, The Odyssey was not the only story that the Sirens were involved in.

That also shows that The Sirens played more than one important role in Greek Mythology.

Overall, the Sirens are vital characters in the Pantheon of Greek Mythology and history would

not be the same without them.

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Dominique Smaldino

Mrs. Dietrich

Honors English 10

6 March 2017

The Sirens

Annotated Bibliography

Homer. Book 12: The Sirens; Scylla and Charybdis. The Odyssey. N.p. n.d. Print.

This is the original book that the Sirens were in and goes into detail with how they

affected Odysseuss journey home.

"KETO." CETO (Keto) - Greek Goddess of Sea Monsters. N.p., n.d. Web.

This website shows you who Ceto is and who she is related to.

"Persephone, Queen of the Underworld." Greeka. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2017.

This source tells you about Persephone and little bit about how she knew the Sirens.

Schwab, Gustav. Gods and Heroes of Ancient Greece. New York: Pantheon Books, 1946. Print.

This book goes into detail about the Sirens and how Odysseus dealt with them.

Siren. The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Encyclopdia.com. N.p. n.d. Web.

This website gives a description of the Sirens, how they affected Odysseus, and some fun

facts about them.

Sirens. Greekmythology.com. N.p. n.d. Web.

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This source gave a lot of information on the Sirens. It gave a description of them, who

they were related to, and talked about how they affected Odysseus.

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. Siren. Britannica.com N.p. n.d. 24 January 2014.

Web.

This website talked about the Sirens role in Greek mythology. It also talked about they

affected others journeys.

The Sirens. Talesbeyondbelief.com N.p. n.d. Web.

This website gave a physical description of the Sirens, along with some of their names

and how they affected Odysseus. It also went into detail about their song.
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Outline

Introduction:

I. Grabber: Do you ever wonder how big of a role the Sirens played in the Pantheon

of Greek Mythology and how much they really affected Odysseuss journey home

to Ithaca?
II. Thesis: The Sirens played an extremely important role in Greek mythology with

their song, their origin, their luring abilities, and how they affected Odysseus.
III. Main Points:
A. Who the Sirens are, what happens if someone escapes them, and their

song.
B. Physical Description and the names of the Sirens
C. Origin of Sirens/ Sirens through the years, Location, Background, and

family
D. Luring Abilities
E. How they affected Odysseuss journey/ Circes warning
IV. Body:
A. Main Point I: Who the Sirens Are

1. Details:

a. Definition of Sirens

b. Sirens Song

c. Who they were

d. What would happen if someone escaped them

B. Main Point II: Physical Description

2. Details:

a. Physical Qualities
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b. Names of Sirens

c. Origin of the Name

d. What they look liked

C. Main Point III: Origin of Sirens

3. Details:

a. Relation to Other Gods

b. Family/Location

c. Background in Greek Mythology

d. Sirens Through the Years

D. Main Point IV: Luring Abilities

4. Details:

a. All listen to their song

b. Affect on Sailors

c. Their Island of Skulls

E. Main Point V: Affect on Odysseuss Journey

5. Details:

a. How Odysseus kept himself away

b. How he kept his men away (Heroic Qualities)

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c. How Circe helped them

d. His Decision to Keep his men safe

V. Conclusion:

A. Restate Thesis: The Sirens played an extremely important role in Greek mythology

with their song, their origin, their luring abilities, and how they affected Odysseus

Sum up each main point:

1. Who they were- definition, Sirens Song

2. Physical Description-looks and names
3. Origin- relation to other gods, family, location, background
4. Luring- affect on sailors, island of skulls
5. Affect on Odysseus- how Odysseus and his men stayed away, how Circe

helped them.
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