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The sirens of Greek
mythology had the
bodies of great
birds and the faces
of beautiful women.
They lived on an
island surrounded
by dangerous rocks
upon which they
lured sailers to
crash with the irresistible
beauty of their
song.
The origin of the
Sirens is explained
differently in various
tales. Ovid claimed
that they had once
been nymphs and
companions of Persephone,
the daughter of
the goddess Demeter.
When the beautiful
Persephone was abducted
and taken to the
Underworld by the
god Hades, the nymphs
did not save her,
and so were changed
into birds in Demeter's
vengeful rage.
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Two Greek heroes
encountered and
survived the enchantments
of the Sirens.
When Jason and the
crew of the Argo
sailed past the
Siren's island on
their quest for
the Golden Fleece,
Jason bade Orpheus
to sing in such
a way that his beautiful
voice out-sang the
deadly calls.
Ulysses, pictured
here, so wanted
to hear the beauty
of the Sirens song
that he had himself
bound to the mast
of his ship while
his crew rowed quickly
with their ears
deafened, packed
with wax.
Ulysses longed to
throw himself into
the sea to follow
the Sirens to his
death, but his bonds
saved him.
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