Siren (mythology)

The Sirens attacking Odysseus and his crew

The Sirens were creatures of Greco-Roman mythology, believed to possess exceedingly enthralling voices. In Greek mythology, they were usually depicted as half-women and half-bird creatures, who played musical instruments such as harps.

In Homer's Odyssey, the sirens were encountered by the hero Odysseus during his return trip to Ithaka after the Trojan War. Odysseus was curious to listen to their songs, so the sorceress Circe told him how he could enjoy their songs without danger. Odysseus had his crew plug their ears with beeswax and tie him to the pole of his ship. As their ship passed near the sirens, Odysseus became mesmerized by their songs and begged his sailors to release him, but they couldn't hear him. This trick saved the lives of Odysseus and his companions.

Influence and Legacy

5th century BCE

By the 5th century BCE, multiple buildings throughout Greece bore murals depicting the hero of Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus, facing the sirens with his crew.

Sometime before making the acquaintance of the Spartan misthios Kassandra, Barnabas was sailing with his friend Garos to Samos when they heard singing unlike ever before. Whereas Barnabas survived the encounter, he never saw Garos again.

After leaving Sparta and making her way to Korinthia, Myrrine, the mother of Kassandra and Alexios, won a ship named the Siren Song in a game of dice.

Sirens were also believed to dwell within the Tomb of Polybotes on the island of Kos. Their singing could be heard, and lured people into the tomb. Though the tomb was occupied by bloodthirsty women, these were in fact Followers of Ares. When Kassandra was looking for Leda, Barnabas' wife, she discovered the truth about the sirens of the tomb and but an end to their operations.

1st century BCE

In 46 BCE Aya of Alexandria promised Phoxidas she'd "wear seaweed like a siren and sing" the songs Phoxidas was dreaming of, as they were approached by a Roman fleet.

21st century

In Abstergo Industries' quarternary stage program, the players could play as the persona named Siren, harvested from Sylvia Seabrooke.

Trivia

• The term 'siren song' has come to colloquially mean anything that's appealing or alluring.
• Whereas the original Greek interpretations of the creatures are a mix of avian and human female features, the crew theme available from the Helix Store for the ship Adrestia resembles rather the later interpretation of sirens being closer to mermaids of folklore.
• The mural of Odysseus and the Sirens is based on a red-figure stamnos from the 5th century BCE.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Origins (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (painting only)