Song of the Sea. Odysseus and the Sirens, and Harbor of Tipasa, Algeria
The ancient Roman harbor of Tipasa has been lost to the sea, but this is where it once was in modern Tipaza on Algeria's coast not far from Algiers. The song of this sea brought to my mind the story of Odysseus and the Sirens. Their music was reported as the most beautiful in the world and sailors listening to it went mad and ran afoul of the rocks. So they would stop up their ears with wax to pass safely. Odysseus, interested as always in the wonders of the world, forwent that wax and had himself tied to ship's mast so he could hear the Sirens for himself. This powerful story inspired the Roman maker of the mosaic (see inset). It's located in the wonderful museum of Cherchell, ancient Iol or Caesarea to the west of Tipaza.
Song of the Sea. Odysseus and the Sirens, and Harbor of Tipasa, Algeria
The ancient Roman harbor of Tipasa has been lost to the sea, but this is where it once was in modern Tipaza on Algeria's coast not far from Algiers. The song of this sea brought to my mind the story of Odysseus and the Sirens. Their music was reported as the most beautiful in the world and sailors listening to it went mad and ran afoul of the rocks. So they would stop up their ears with wax to pass safely. Odysseus, interested as always in the wonders of the world, forwent that wax and had himself tied to ship's mast so he could hear the Sirens for himself. This powerful story inspired the Roman maker of the mosaic (see inset). It's located in the wonderful museum of Cherchell, ancient Iol or Caesarea to the west of Tipaza.