Transcript The Myth of Sirens

The Myth of Sirens
Sirens
• Greek mythology
• One of three sea nymphs, usually represented
with the head of a woman and the body of a
bird
• Daughters of Phorcus or of Achelous
• Sirens inhabited an island surrounded by
dangerous rocks. They sang so enchantingly
that all who heard were drawn near and
shipwrecked.
Phorcus
• PHORKYS (or
Phorcys) was an
ancient sea-god who
presided over the
hidden dangers of
the deep. He and his
wife Keto were also
the gods of all the
large creatures which
inhabited the depths
of the sea.
Achelous
• AKHELOIOS (or
Achelous) was a RiverGod of Aitolia in
central Greece. As the
god of the largest
fresh-water river in
Greece, he was often
represented as the god
of fresh water in
general.
Siren Pictures
Siren Pictures
Sirens in Odyssey
Sirens in Odyssey
Myths Related to Sirens
Mermaid
Selkie
Hellenizing Ireland
• see p. 4 of our edition, where Mulligan talks a bit about
“the Greeks”
• ** the phrase “Hellenise Ireland” – actually, Mulligan says
“the island” – is on p. 6, l. 158.
• ** Prof. MacHugh in the Aeolus chapter also adds a further
thought or two. See p. 110.
• ** In Scylla & Charybdis, Mulligan describes Bloom as
“Greeker than the Greeks” (p. 165), which is interesting in
this whole “Hellenising” context.
• The title Ulysses
• The Odyssey aspect
• Dedalus is greek
Greek vs Celtic
– Actually would be more like the old Ireland
– Both were polytheistic
• Priests and Druids
– Lived in different areas (division by kingdom for Greece but
tribes in Ireland)
– Mythical Creatures
•
•
•
•
Mermaid
Fairies or Fae
Selkie
Siren
– Idolized art
• Greek pottery
• Celtic knot work