There are a lot of weird creatures in Greek Mythology but when it comes to Sirens, then things get a little bit weirder.

For years and years the people sailing the seven seas are carrying away with them the stories of the existence of the mythical creatures that are called Sirens.

Sirens were supposed to be half women half birds that were known for their ability to bewitch the sailors with their song so they lure them to their island and kill them on its rocky sores or just drown them into the sea.

Stealing a man's heart with your song, sounds like something difficult but according to the storytelling of the expedition of the Argonauts, it happens. But the very very first time we meet the Sirens in Mythology is in the Odyssey. As that story tells the sailors of Odysseus boat were warned about the Sirens from the Witch Kirki. Knowing the danger of passing their area Odysseus asked the crew of  his boat to tie him in the middle mast so he doesn't jump into the sea. He was curious to listen the song and even though his crew plugged their ears with bee wax so they couldn't hear, he was left tied up to listen to the Siren song.

According to the dominating theory Sirens were the daughters of the God-River Achelloos and their mother was one of the Muses Terpsichore, Melpomene, Calliope or Sterope. Their number is variously reported as from two to eight.

They were companions of Persephone, the daughter of Goddess Demeter and when Hades kidnapped her, Demeter gave the Sirens the body of a bird so they could help her better with the search.

What many people ignore is that originally, as the University of Colorado supports, Sirens were shown to be not only female, but male as well and then the male Siren disappeared from art around the fifth century BC.

Breaking the limits between the myth and reality

So the years passed by, humans learned more about the sea and the Sirens song that was bewitching the sailors has found its own logical explanation.

Panic attacks because of seasickness and also the lack of variety of nutricians in their daily diet are supposed to be the reason why sailors were having those experiences. If you add a bit of alcohol in the equation they maybe the myth behind Sirens could easily be explained in the modern society.

Leaving the old times behind, nowadays the word "Siren" is mostly used for describing the ability of female singers to bewitch their audience with their voices.

Also there is an asteroid that was named by them back in year 1923 (!) which is called 1009 Sirene.

In year 2020 Nadia Valma was also inspired by those magical creatures. If you wish to explore those Art-pieces you can check them in the following link Sirens

And who knows.... Maybe by wearing them or giving them out as a gift you might one day bewitch the heart of someone without even having to sing!

As Written by Lida Siskou