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Odysseus threatens Circe
On the Isle of Aeaea, known to the ancient Greeks as the Island of the Dawn, lived the bewitching goddess Circe. This very beautiful daughter of Helios and Perse was a powerful enchantress who loved using her magic to transform both men and women into beasts. To add to this humiliation, Circe took pleasure in changing only their bodies while allowing her victims to remain in complete charge of their mental senses. Though she made an appearance in the story of Medea and Jason purifying the two lovers of the murder of Medea's brother Apsyrtus, Circe is better known for the part she played in Odysseus' journey home from the Trojan War.
It seems that after losing all but one of his ships and many of his crew members to a race of cannibal giants, Odysseus and his remaining shipmates set sail to the east where they eventually found themsleves landing upon the shores of Aeaea.
Upon their arrival, the men drew lots to see who would stay onboard the ship and who would explore the newly found island. Eurylochus and twenty two of the other men were chosen to go ashore. They found the island to be a rich forest thick with oak trees. The wanderers walked through the woods until they came upon a clearing which led to the fabulous palace of Circe.
There were lions and wolves prowling about the grounds, all displaying charactertsics of a most unusual nature. Instead of attacking the search party, they stood upright and warmly embraced them with welcoming hugs. If it were not for their animals forms, thought Eurylochus, they would be human. It would not be long before his suspicions would be confirmed.
As the men entered the corrider of the palace they found Circe sitting at her loom. She graciously invited her visitors to join her for dinner and at once set before them a huge banquet. The famished men eagerly accepted, all but Eurylochus, who suspecting a trap remained outside. Instead he chose to watch through an open window. Quickly the sailors filled their bellies but to their demise, they soon found out the the food was drugged. Before long the entire party was fast asleep at the table. Circe touched them lightly about their shoulders with her wand and instantly transformed all of the men into swine.
Feeling quite happy with herself, she hurried the seafarers into a sty where she left them to wallow in the mud. Shocked and weeping, Eurylochus returned to the ship and sadly reported to Odysseus everything he saw. Odysseus listened intently, and when the story was over he grabbed his sword and ran off to rescue his crew.
As he made his way to the palace, Odysseus was met by the god Hermes who had in his possession a magical white flower with a black root. This was a plant that could only be grown by the gods themselves and contained properties that would repel Circe's magic. Odysseus readily accepted the charm from the herald and hid it among his clothing before continuing on his rescue mission. He soon found himself standing in front of the great sorceress, who once again happily prepared a table before her guest.
As before, Circe encouraged her visitor to eat his fill and when Odysseus appeared to be asleep she took her wand and lightly touched him upon his shoulders. "Off to the sty with you too" she sneered but to her surprise, Odysseus having been protected by the magic talisman jumped up with sword in hand. Circe begged the angry Captain for her life, promising him in return that she would share her bed with him and also make him co-ruler of Aeaea. Knowing that he was dealing with a witch, Odysseus refused to hear of it until Circe swore a solemn oath to the gods not to make any further mischief against him.
This she did and afterwards drew her guest a warm bath which he enjoyed while drinking wine from a golden cup. She led him to her bed in the hope of seducing the handsome traveler but Odysseus continued to refuse her advances until she agreed to restore his crew to their rightful shapes. She also promised to remove the curse from all those who had been enchanted by her in the past. Once this was done Odysseus agreed to stay in Aeaea and in the course of time Circe bore him three sons. When the time came for Odysseus to continue his journey back to Ithaca, Circe roused the breeze so that he and his crew could make their departure. She also gave him advice on how to handle some of the perils that were awaiting them on their voyage home
Odysseus threatens Circe
On the Isle of Aeaea, known to the ancient Greeks as the Island of the Dawn, lived the bewitching goddess Circe. This very beautiful daughter of Helios and Perse was a powerful enchantress who loved using her magic to transform both men and women into beasts. To add to this humiliation, Circe took pleasure in changing only their bodies while allowing her victims to remain in complete charge of their mental senses. Though she made an appearance in the story of Medea and Jason purifying the two lovers of the murder of Medea's brother Apsyrtus, Circe is better known for the part she played in Odysseus' journey home from the Trojan War.
It seems that after losing all but one of his ships and many of his crew members to a race of cannibal giants, Odysseus and his remaining shipmates set sail to the east where they eventually found themsleves landing upon the shores of Aeaea.
Upon their arrival, the men drew lots to see who would stay onboard the ship and who would explore the newly found island. Eurylochus and twenty two of the other men were chosen to go ashore. They found the island to be a rich forest thick with oak trees. The wanderers walked through the woods until they came upon a clearing which led to the fabulous palace of Circe.
There were lions and wolves prowling about the grounds, all displaying charactertsics of a most unusual nature. Instead of attacking the search party, they stood upright and warmly embraced them with welcoming hugs. If it were not for their animals forms, thought Eurylochus, they would be human. It would not be long before his suspicions would be confirmed.
As the men entered the corrider of the palace they found Circe sitting at her loom. She graciously invited her visitors to join her for dinner and at once set before them a huge banquet. The famished men eagerly accepted, all but Eurylochus, who suspecting a trap remained outside. Instead he chose to watch through an open window. Quickly the sailors filled their bellies but to their demise, they soon found out the the food was drugged. Before long the entire party was fast asleep at the table. Circe touched them lightly about their shoulders with her wand and instantly transformed all of the men into swine.
Feeling quite happy with herself, she hurried the seafarers into a sty where she left them to wallow in the mud. Shocked and weeping, Eurylochus returned to the ship and sadly reported to Odysseus everything he saw. Odysseus listened intently, and when the story was over he grabbed his sword and ran off to rescue his crew.
As he made his way to the palace, Odysseus was met by the god Hermes who had in his possession a magical white flower with a black root. This was a plant that could only be grown by the gods themselves and contained properties that would repel Circe's magic. Odysseus readily accepted the charm from the herald and hid it among his clothing before continuing on his rescue mission. He soon found himself standing in front of the great sorceress, who once again happily prepared a table before her guest.
As before, Circe encouraged her visitor to eat his fill and when Odysseus appeared to be asleep she took her wand and lightly touched him upon his shoulders. "Off to the sty with you too" she sneered but to her surprise, Odysseus having been protected by the magic talisman jumped up with sword in hand. Circe begged the angry Captain for her life, promising him in return that she would share her bed with him and also make him co-ruler of Aeaea. Knowing that he was dealing with a witch, Odysseus refused to hear of it until Circe swore a solemn oath to the gods not to make any further mischief against him.
This she did and afterwards drew her guest a warm bath which he enjoyed while drinking wine from a golden cup. She led him to her bed in the hope of seducing the handsome traveler but Odysseus continued to refuse her advances until she agreed to restore his crew to their rightful shapes. She also promised to remove the curse from all those who had been enchanted by her in the past. Once this was done Odysseus agreed to stay in Aeaea and in the course of time Circe bore him three sons. When the time came for Odysseus to continue his journey back to Ithaca, Circe roused the breeze so that he and his crew could make their departure. She also gave him advice on how to handle some of the perils that were awaiting them on their voyage home