Olivia Solverson

Mrs. Dietrich

Honors English 10

6 March 2017

Sirens Research Paper

Can you imagine what it would feel like to suddenly be entranced and motivated to

commit suicide? Well, this is what would happen to you if you were to come across the ancient

Greek characters, the Sirens. Sirens are mythical beings who were believed to have the power

of enchanting and charming, by their song, any one who heard them ("SEIRENES."). Sirens are

necessary characters in Greek mythology because of their history, interesting stories and facts,

and how they impacted the lives of various Greek heroes, especially Odysseus in Homers The

Odyssey.

The history of the Sirens is very interesting. The Sirens have the body of a bird, but their

head [is] human-like.("Sirens, Alluring Sea Nymphs.). 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 Edi-

tors of Encyclopedia Britannica). Thus, genetically speaking, the Sirens are goddesses. There are

several theories about how the Sirens got their form. One theory states, they were formerly

handmaidens of the goddess Persephone and when she was secretly abducted by Haides [Hades],

Demeter gave them the bodies of birds to assist in the search (SEIRENES). This would make

sense, but it leaves open the question of why they stayed like that forever and why they turned

evil. Another popular theory says that Demeter made the Sirens what they are as punishment for

not protecting her from Hades [Pluto] (Murray 165). In both cases, Demeter and Hades were in-
 Solverson !2

volved, whether they were transformed to help find Persephone, or as a punishment for not pre-

venting her assault. There are also many theories as to where the Sirens live. Some say they in-

habited the island of Anthemoessa (SEIRENES.), while others say they inhabited the island of

the Faiakes (Sirens, Alluring Sea Nymphs.). Another piece of interesting history about the

Sirens is how they appeared in art and culture in Greece. In art the Sirens appeared first as birds

with the heads of women and later as women, sometimes winged, with bird legs (The Editors of

Encyclopedia Britannica). This shows how the Sirens and their perception by people evolved

over time. The Sirens image also blended with other cultures, as described by The Editors of the

Encyclopedia Britannica, when they stated, The Sirens seem to have evolved from an ancient

tale of the perils of early exploration combined with an Asian image of a bird-woman. Anthro-

pologists explain the Asian image as a soul-birdi.e., a winged ghost that stole the living to

share its fate. This further explains how the image and perception of the Sirens changed over the

course of history. Both the history of the Sirens themselves and their role in history contribute to

their important role in Greek mythology.

There are also several interesting facts about the Sirens that affect their stories and im-

pact. Many people picture the Sirens as luring solely because of their voices. However, they are

also gifted lyre players and their musical ability contributed to the alluring qualities they possess.

(Cartwright). This proves that the Sirens are also talented and may have inherited this amazing

talent from their godly heritage. It is unclear how many Sirens there actually are. In Homers

The Odyssey, there are only two Sirens. (Homer in Cartwright). In later stories, there are three

Sirens. (Cartwright). This means that either the Sirens switch out with other people who become

Sirens, or that one Siren died from the time of Odysseus to later stories.
 Solverson !3

An interesting story that involves the Sirens is the story with the Muses. It is said that

oncewhen the greater part of their was that of a bird, they challenged the Muses to a competi-

tion in singing, but failed, and were punished by having the principal feathers of their wings

plucked by the Muses, who decked themselves with them (Murray 166). This is a very interest-

ing story and definitely affects their role in Greek Mythology, as both the Sirens and Muses are

prominent characters in the culture and stories. Another legend associated with the Sirens is the

story of the Argonauts. When the Argonauts sailed that way, Orpheus sang so divinely that only

one of the Argonauts heard the Sirens song (The Editors of the Encyclopedia Brittanica). This

is a very important story in Greek Mythology, as Orpheus is a major character in the stories and

he could have died had he not possessed such a great voice. This also proves that the Sirens are

not unstoppable and do not always succeed. However, there is a second component to this story.

According to legend the Sirens were fated to die if a mortal ever resisted their beckoning and so

it is not clear whether it was Odysseus or Orpheus who was responsible for their ultimate

demise, perhaps by suicide (Cartwright). This is a huge myth associated with the Sirens and is

one of the most important aspects of their lives. The survival of a mortal after hearing their song

caused their demise and though it is unclear whether Odysseus or Orpheus caused their death, it

is still a very important fact that explains how they died.

Another intriguing fact and viewpoint is how the legend of the Sirens came to be. Ac-

cording to Murray,

Sirenswere probably personifications of hidden banks and shallows, where the

sea is smooth and inviting to sailors, but proves in the end the destruction of his
 Solverson !4

ship. The alluring music ascribed to them may either refer to the soft, melodious

murmur of the waves, or be simply a figurative expression for allurement. (166)

This is a very logical opinion and it makes sense that in this way, the myth came to be. It is simi-

lar to the story of the Bermuda Triangle in a way, because the Triangle is not actually a magical

place where sailors are eaten by monsters, it is just a place where the ocean is rough and the sea

is treacherous.

Even though the time period of the Sirens was centuries ago, they still have an impact on

the world today. This is seen with Starbucks. The universal symbol of the coffee shop is actually

a Siren! (M., Steve). M., Steve stated:

Lets go all the way back to 1971, to when Starbucks was first coming to be. In a

search for a way to capture the seafaring history of coffee and Seattles strong

seaport roots, there was a lot of poring over old marine books going on. Suddenly,

there she was: a 16th century Norse woodcut of aSiren. There was something

about her a seductive mystery mixed with a nautical theme that was exactly

what the founders were looking for. A logo was designed around her, and our long

relationship with the Siren began.

This proves how the Sirens reputation and memory has sustained the test of time and probably

will continue to do so. If they were to be associated with a modern-day symbol, the Starbucks

logo would definitely be the one.

The Sirens played a huge role in The Odyssey, by Homer. They are one of many obstacles

Odysseus faces (Homer). Circe even warns Odysseus of their power, saying, The Sirens be-

witch everybody who approaches them. There is no homecoming for the man who draws near
 Solverson !5

them unaware...For with their high clear song the Sirens bewitch him, as they sit there in a

meadow piled high with the mouldering skeletons of men, whose withered skin still hangs upon

their bones. (Cartwright). The fact that Circe felt Odysseus needed to be warned about the

Sirens shows how important and powerful they are. However, Odysseus was very curious about

the Sirens and decided to sail past them, without blocking his ears, but had himself tied to the

mast so that he would not be able to steer the ship off its course (The Editors of the Encyclope-

dia Britannica). As he sailed by, the Sirens sang their song to him. This is the song, according to

Colum:

Come hither, come hither, O Odysseusstay thy bark and listen to our song.

None hath ever gone this way in his ship until he hath heard from our lips the

voice sweet as a honeycomb, and hath joy of it, and gone on his way a wiser man.

We know all things- all the travail the Greeks had in the war of Troy, and we

know all that hereafter shall be upon the earth. Odysseus, Odysseus, come to our

field of flowers, and hear the song that we shall sing to thee. (176)

Odysseys was still entranced by them and his heart was mad to listen to [them] (Colum 177).

However, his shipmates refused to untie him and they sailed on (Homer). Also, as stated above,

Odysseus may be the cause of the Sirens death. In fact, according to Murray, Odysseus was the

person who caused them to commit suicide. Even if it was Orpheus, not Odysseus, their role in

The Odyssey is substantial and Odysseus role in their story is extremely important also.

The Sirens are essential characters in Greek mythology. They heavily influenced Greek

stories. Because of their history, interesting facts, and their influence on Greek heroes, they are

some of the most important characters in the culture and myths of the Greeks. The Sirens have a
 Solverson !6

very interesting history, and there are many theories about different aspects of their lives, includ-

ing how they got their form. There are also different opinions and viewpoints regarding the facts

associated with them. Their role in The Odyssey is their biggest role and may have even led to

their demise.

 Solverson !7

Annotated Bibliography

Cartwright, Mark. Siren. Ancient History Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2017.

This source had a lot of information that helps the readers understand the Sirens. It is
written by Mark Cartwright, a man who has a M.A. in Greek Philosophy, so his work is credible.
This source provides anther theory to how they became Sirens, and additional information about
their deaths.

Colum, Padraic. Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy. New York: The Macmillan

Company, 1918. Print.

This source was very useful in backing up the story of Odysseus and the sirens. It tells the
story of Odysseus travel, and expressly says what happened when he cam across the Sirens. It
shows that even Odysseus did not have the power to not listen to the sirens.

Homer. The Odyssey. n.p., n.d. Print.

I reference The Odyssey many times in my research paper. The sirens are very important
in the Odyssey, and their role in this book is perhaps their biggest one.

M., Steve. Senior Writer. "So, Who Is the Siren?" Starbucks Coffee Company. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2017.

This source was helpful in answering the component of the prompt about the symbol. It
proves the theory that the symbol for Starbucks is actually a siren!

Murray, Alexander S. Manual of Mythology. Tudor Publishing Company, 1935. Print.

This source had a lot of useful information about Sirens. It provides evidence about the
Sirens history, death, and other information about them. It has other information I had not found
in any other sources.

"SEIRENES." SIRENS (Seirenes) - Half-Bird Women of Greek Mythology. N.p., n.d. Web. 14

Feb. 2017.

This is a very knowledgable source that provides great information on the history of the
Sirens. It provides a theory as to how to Sirens became who they are seen as today.
 Solverson !8

"Sirens, Alluring Sea Nymphs." Sirens in Greek Mythology - Sirens and the Odyssey - Siren

Sounds. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2017.

This source was also very helpful in finding information about Sirens. It gave other in-
formation about the home of the Sirens, while also supporting the evidence found in other
sources.

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. "Siren." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia

Britannica, Inc., 24 Apr. 2014. Web. 14 Feb. 2017.

This source was very helpful in learning and retaining information about the Sirens. It is a
reliable encyclopedia that covered much information, from their appearance to popular stories
about them.