Creature Spotlight: Siren

SIREN: A mythological creature with the head of a female and the body of a bird.

"Siren" by Kelly Thompson

In Greek mythology, sirens inhabited islands with flowery meadows. They lured sailors to shipwreck by singing enchanting music. In the Odyssey, the Sirens are said to offer "knowledge...ripe wisdom and a quickening of the spirit" in the words of their song. The end of the song meant death.

Sirens were sometimes confused with mermaids, but mythology teaches that they are not maidens of the sea. Once Christian beliefs dissuaded a belief in literal sirens, this creature came to symbolize worldly temptations.




Square in your ship's path are Sirens, crying
beauty to bewitch men coasting by;
woe to the innocent who hears that sound!
He will not see his lady nor his children
in joy, crowding about him, home from sea;
the Sirens will sing his mind away
on their sweet meadow lolling.
-Song of the Siren, Odyssey, Homer


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Creature Spotlight: Mermaid

MERMAID: A mythological creature with the a female human head and torso, but the tail of a fish.

"Lonly Mermaid" by Synne bryntesen NB

In many mythological works, mermaids are similar in nature to sirens. They sing to humans or gods to enchant them, and thereafter drag them underwater. In some stories, the mermaids simply forget that humans cannot breathe in the deep dark of the ocean, as they can. In others, they are spiteful creatures who drown humans for fun or out of hatred.

The first legends of mermaids date as far back as 5000 BC, with numerous tales and many claimed sightings reported since then. Works of literature involving mermaids include The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling.








A mermaid found a swimming lad,
Picked him for her own,
Pressed her body to his body,
Laughed; and plunging down
Forgot in cruel happiness
That even lovers drown. 
-William Butler Yeats  

What mythical creatures are you curious about? Help me choose what to post on next in the comments section.