In his book, ‘The Etymologies of Isidore Saville’, Isidore of Seville c. 560–636), states Out of their anguish from losing the competition, the Sirens turned white and fell into the sea at Aptera, (“featherless”), where they formed the islands in the bay that were called Leukai, meaning white, today, the islands of Nisi and Leon, in the bay of modern day Souda, on the island of Crete.īelief in sirens was discouraged, and although Jerome, priest, confessor, theologian and historian, used the word “Siren” to translate the Hebrew word “Tannim”, meaning jackals, in “Isaiah 13:22” and as the word “Owl” in “Jeremiah 50:39”, when he produced the Latin Vulgate version of the Scriptures, Ambrose (Bishop of Milan), explained this to be a mere symbol or allegory for worldly temptations, and not an endorsement of the Greek myth. The Muses won the competition and then plucked out all of the Sirens’ feathers and made crowns out of them. Some post-Homeric authors believe the Sirens were sure to die if someone heard their singing and escaped and that after Odysseus passed by, the sirens flung themselves into the sea and drowned.Īccording to GaiusGaius Julius Hyginus, (Latin author), sirens were fated to live only until the mortals who heard their songs were able to pass by them.Īnother story is that Hera, queen of the gods, persuaded the Sirens to enter a singing competition with the Muses. “No seaman ever sailed his black ship past this spot without listening to the honey-sweet tones that flow from our lips and no one who has listened has not been delighted and gone on his way a wiser man.” “Ulysses and the Sirens” – John William Waterhouse
0 kommentar(er)
