Ancient people "populated" the world is not only the immortal gods, who decide the fate, but also the fantastic creatures.Some of them are good to people who helped them, while others, on the contrary, were fraught with danger.These creatures, which could harm the person were a siren.Mythology has given them a beautiful voice, amazing appearance and violent temper.And they became the victims of sailors passing by.
Historical information
today considered mythical siren that is a fictional character.People used to believe in their existence.The ancient Greeks described them as women-birds, but in the fifth century a writer claimed that these creatures were to the waist in women and below the navel - birds.In the sixteenth century were regarded as half human-siren poluryba.Albert the Great argued that their faces are ugly, but his voice was amazing.That last image of the creatures became the most popular, so they called the name of the whole group of mammals living in the sea.But there was another way, which briefly caught on in the world devoryboptichy.
myths of the ancient Greeks
So, we figured out how to look like a siren.The mythology of the ancient Greeks thought they were beings having the woman's head, and the body of a bird.They came the daughters of the river god Achelois and one of the muses (whether Melpomene, whether Terpsichore).Father awarded them a sharp temper, and his mother - an amazing voice.
But first, people were all the sirens.Mythology tells us that they were beautiful girls, who angered the gods, for which he lost a beautiful appearance.According to one legend, Aphrodite punished for their arrogance and pride, on the other - did muse for that siren call them singing contest.
is also likely that these wonderful creatures were previously nymphs in the retinue of Persephone.When she married the god of the underworld, and went with him to Hades, Demeter (mother of Persephone) turned the girls into birds.Or maybe they wanted to turn to find his mistress, after initially Hades stole the young goddess.People refused to help them, then they went away in despair to the island and began to retaliate.
Revenge sirens
Sophisticated people revenged siren.Mythology says that being lured sailors with their voices, and when they approached, their ship crashed on the reefs.No one could resist, so they were going to die.The entire island was littered with human bones and horn continued to sing to lure new victims.
No ship could not get past the island and remain unscathed.The first people who managed to escape an evil fate, were the Argonauts.Sweet siren song was drowned out the singing man.This is the legendary Orpheus playing on his cittern, sang his song.The second by the ill-fated island Odysseus managed to swim.The existence of these dangerous virgins Odysseus knew as his father Laertes was aboard the "Argo", when he was going to Colchis.
Odysseus wanted to hear the song of the sirens, but had no right to endanger his ship.Then he used a trick: to friends close up ears with wax, and told himself firmly attached to the mast.The comrades did not respond to requests from Odyssey untie it - they have not heard of any king or singing.Sami siren, seeing that their spells will no longer operate on the people rushed into the sea and became rocks.
influence on the culture
reader already knows how to look and what to do siren.Greek mythology also spoke about the death of these marvelous creatures.In the future, people began to consider the siren muses afterlife, angel of death, performing mournful song.In the Middle Ages it was fashionable to portray them in the noble coats of arms, giving new features.And today is a beautiful image, which is often used by the authors of the fantasy genre.
