Circe
godA powerful sorceress who lived on the island of Aeaea. Circe transformed Odysseus's men into swine and later became his lover and advisor.
The Myth
Circe was a daughter of Helios, the sun god, and the Oceanid Perse. She was a goddess and sorceress of immense power, particularly skilled in the art of transformation. She lived on the island of Aeaea, surrounded by tame wolves and lions — men she had transformed with her potions.
When Odysseus's advance party reached Aeaea, Circe welcomed them with a feast. But the food was drugged, and when she touched them with her wand, the men transformed into swine. Only Eurylochus escaped to warn Odysseus.
Hermes gave Odysseus the herb moly, which protected him from Circe's magic. When her spells failed, Circe recognized Odysseus as the hero she had been warned about and became his ally and lover. He stayed on her island for a year. Before he departed, Circe gave him crucial advice for the journey ahead: how to pass the Sirens, navigate between Scylla and Charybdis, and avoid the cattle of Helios.
Parents
Helios and Perse
Children
Telegonus
Symbols
Fun Fact
Circe's island of Aeaea is often identified with Monte Circeo on the coast of Italy, where a promontory still bears her name.