The Sirens: From Sage to Cannibal, From Goddess to Prostitute
by Minjie Su
Ulysses (Odysseus) and the Sirens (1891). Painting by John William Waterhouse (1849–1917). National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
Sultry and deadly seductresses, the Sirens are fearful, yet fascinating creatures that have captivated writers for centuries. But they weren't always depicted this way - what were the origins of the Sirens and how did they become synonymous with death, destruction, and sin?