Siren Songs
creatureThe Sirens were creatures — part bird, part woman — whose irresistible song lured sailors to crash on their island's rocks.
The Myth
Originally described as bird-bodied women (not mermaids — that conflation came later), the Sirens sat in a meadow surrounded by the bones of those they'd lured. Their song promised knowledge of all things. Odysseus had his crew plug their ears with wax and tied himself to the mast so he could hear and survive. The Argonauts passed safely because Orpheus's singing drowned them out. In one tradition, the Sirens died when someone passed them safely.
Parents
Achelous and a Muse
Symbols
Fun Fact
Emergency vehicle "sirens" are named for these creatures — a sound you cannot ignore, demanding your attention.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Achelous
godAchelous was the god of the mightiest river in Greece and father of the Sirens — he wrestled...
Argonauts
conceptThe Argonauts were the band of heroes who sailed with Jason on the Argo to retrieve the Golden...
Odysseus
heroThe cleverest of the Greek heroes, whose ten-year journey home from Troy is one of the greatest...
Orpheus
heroThe greatest musician in Greek mythology, whose playing could charm animals, trees, and even...
Sirens
creatureDangerous creatures whose irresistible singing lured sailors to shipwreck on the rocky coast of...
Argus Panoptes
creatureArgus Panoptes was a giant with a hundred eyes covering his body — the all-seeing watchman whom...