Circe is an antagonist from The Odyssey. She is a a figure from Greek mythology who has become one of the most well-known and infamous sorceresses (though technically she is a minor goddess) of legend, rivaling beings such as Morgan le Fay and the Evil Queen in that regard.
Circe is portrayed as a femme fatale who seduces males only to transform them into animals when they displease her. This trait is consistent in almost every myth about Circe, and seems to be her main theme.
Biography[]
In Homer's The Odyssey, Circe is described as living in a mansion that stands in the middle of a island. Around the house prowled strangely docile lions and wolves, the drugged victims of her magic; they were not dangerous, and fawned on all newcomers. Circe worked at a huge loom. She invited Odysseus' crew to a feast, laced with one of her potions, She then turned them all into pigs with her magic wand after they ate her meal. Only Eurylochus escaped to warn Odysseus and the others who had stayed behind at the ships.
Odysseus set out to rescue his men, but was intercepted by his great grandfather, Hermes, who had been sent by Athena. Hermes told Odysseus to use the holy herb moly to protect himself from Circe's potion and, having resisted it, to draw his sword and act as if he were to attack Circe. From there, Circe would ask him to bed, but Hermes advised caution, for even there the goddess would be treacherous. She would take his manhood unless he had her swear by the names of the gods that she would not.
Odysseus followed Hermes' advice, freeing his men. Odysseus and his men remained on the island for one year feasting and drinking wine. According to Homer, Circe suggested to Odysseus two alternative routes to return to Ithaca: toward the "Wandering Rocks" where King Aeolus reigned or passing between the dangerous monster named Scylla and the destructive whirlpool named Charybdis, conventionally identified with the Strait of Messina. She also advised Odysseus to go to the Underworld and gave him directions.
Gallery[]
.jpg "Circe by Wright Barker (1889).jpg (124 KB)")
