For thousands of years, sailors have passed down a legend about a creature with the body of a woman and the tail of a fish, known for its beautiful singing voice that captivates handsome fishermen to the point of death. This is the Siren.
The legend states that the Sirens are beings with the body of a half-woman, half-bird, gifted with an extraordinary singing voice. Once, the goddess Hera organized a singing competition between the Sirens and the nine Muses – the goddesses of music, daughters of Zeus and the goddess of memory, Mnemosyne. Unfortunately, the Siren mermaids lost, and their feathers were plucked by the Muses to create garments as trophies. Without their feathers, the Sirens could no longer fly, and their bodies gradually transformed into fish tails. According to the legend, their tails can glow to become more alluring to men.
The Siren. (Illustrative image)
The Sirens typically reside on islands called Anthemoessa, located between Sicily and Italy. This island is surrounded by large rocks, ready to destroy any ships that dare to intrude.
Their “mission” is to sing enchanting songs to lure sailors to their doom. Their songs have mystical melodies that disorient sailors, causing them to sail directly into the island and be wrecked by the surrounding rocks.
The Mysterious Beauty of the Sirens. (Illustrative image)
The bones of the sailors on the islands are used by the Sirens to make musical instruments. The mermaids often gather in groups of three and use instruments like the lyre and flute to play harmonious melodies.
Mermaids are described as creatures of enchanting beauty, treasures of nature, and possessing vast powers like the ocean. Their singing causes sailors to meet misfortune. Sometimes, the waves carry their voices to ships to warn of impending bad weather.
The Sirens Attack a Sailor’s Ship
The Sirens do not solely lure sailors to their deaths; they sometimes save sailors from shipwrecks. These sailors then stay on the island, mate with the Sirens, and gradually transform into Mermen – male mermaids. Because of this, women harbor great resentment towards the Sirens for alluring their men. Medieval paintings often depict mermaids carrying a small hand mirror – a common item associated with courtesans.
Sirens Often Use the Lyre as an Instrument
According to tradition, if a sailor rejects a Siren’s love, they will face dire misfortune. If a Siren is harmed, the entire crew will encounter a series of unfortunate events. However, the mermaids are still regarded as gentle beings in legend and nature.
