Circe and the companions of Ulysses

Mythological photogravure of Circe; daughter of the sun, was a sorceress who could transform men into animals by touching them with her magic wand. When Ulysses, king of Ithaca, sailed to Aeaea, Circe entertained the members of his advance party and then turned them into pigs. When Ulysses set out to rescue his men, he was intercepted by Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, who gave him an herb to help him resist Circe’s enchantment. When Circe realized she had no power over Ulysses, she freed his men from her spell and became their friend. Ulysses stayed for a long time in her company, leading a leisurely life. When Ulysses’ men finally convinced him to leave, Circe told them how to sail safely past the island inhabited by the Sirens—sea nymphs who, with their seductive songs, lured sailors to their death against the rocky coast.