The+Sirens

=//Sirens// = =Jane Lindberg and Nick Hamberis=



The sirens were three beautiful, singing creatures that lived on an island in theMediterranean Sea, called Anthemoessa. They used to be the handmaidens of Persephone; but after Hades abducted her, she gave them the bodies of eagles to search for her, but they gave up and settled on Anthemoessa. Most of the time, they are believed to be “mermaids”, half woman and half fish, but obviously they are not. Even though they are not fish, sirens are the basis for mermaids. They would lure sailors toward the island with beautiful singing and promises of knowledge. Once the sailors are lured in, they tell them all knowledge of the universe, and then they eat them. Only a few men have been to the island and lived to tell the tale, like Orpheus and Odysseus. The Sirens appeared in Apollonius of Rhodes’ poem, when Orpheus and the Argonauts stumbled upon the island of the Sirens. The Sirens started singing and the sailors immediately forgot their heading and were drawn toward the island. Orpheus realized the impeding doom and began to play a tune on his lyre. It is said that the tune Orpheus played was so clear and true; the crew forgot about the Sirens’ song and redirected their course, saving their lives. In Homer’s //Illiad//, Odysseus orders his men to stuff their ears with wax so they wouldn’t be drawn towards the Sirens. He then had his men tie him to the mast of the ship as he wished to see and hear the Sirens for himself. Odysseus apparently was thrashing at the ropes that held him and begged to be released. Once the ship had passed Anthemoessa, Odysseus was freed. The Sirens were so furious that a man escaped, that they drowned themselves in the ocean.


 * Real-World Connections**

Starbucks-The icon is a siren.



Lilith the bird demon girl has had some connections to the sirens, she is said to be acquainted to them in other religions.



The Little Mermaid (Hans Christian Anderson) is the most known story about sirens. Ursula is more like a siren than Ariel is.



Prostitutes. **NO PICTURE IS NEEDED**

Picture Citations:

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Information Citations:

Hamilton, Edith, and Monica Ferrell. //Mythology: Edith Hamilton//. New York: Spark Pub., 2002. Print.