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"And you sang, "Sail to me, sail to me,
Let me enfold you,
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you""And you sang, "Sail to me, sail to me,
― Tim Buckley, "Song to the Siren"

Sirens (or Seirenes) were characters in greek mythology believed to have looked as a mixture of part bird and part woman that would lead sailers to their death by singing their enchanting song.

Origins[]

Sirens are creatures with the head of a female and the body of a bird. Traditionally, they lived on an island in the sea and used the irresistible charm of their song to lure sailors to their destruction on the rocks surrounding their island.

Sirens combine women and birds in various ways. In early Greek art, they were represented as birds with women's heads, bird feathers and scaly feet. Later, they were represented as female figures with the legs of birds, with or without wings, and playing a variety of musical instruments, especially harps. The tenth century Byzantine encyclopedia Suda says that from their chests up, they had the form of sparrows, below they were women, or, alternatively, that they were little birds with women's faces. Later Sirens were sometimes depicted as beautiful women, whose bodies, not only their voices, are seductive.

Though numerous similar creatures exist throughout mythologies worldwide, Sirens have their most famous roots in Greek mythology and Germanic legend.

Some of the Greeks believed in the existence of only two (Aglaopheme and Thelxiepeia); others believed that there were three (either Peisinoe, Aglaope, and Thelxiepeia, or Parthenope, Ligeia, and Leucosia), while others thought that five existed. And still others believed that there were as many as thirteen (names varying as Thelxiepeia/Thelxiope/Thelxinoe, Molpe, Aglaophonos/Aglaope/Aglaopheme, Pisinoe/Peisinoë/Peisithoe, Parthenope, Ligeia, Leucosia, Raidne, and Teles). Their parentage also varies. Some designate their father as being Phorcys (a sea deity who was also the father of the original Gorgons and numerous other monsters and sea creatures), while others say that their father was Achelous (a river deity). Their mother is often said to be one of the Muses (Terpsichore or Melpomene), or a nymph (by the name Sterope) or the Earth itself (Gaia).

The Germanic Siren, however, was singular. She went by Lorelei (also spelled Loreley); sometimes she was similar to the Sirens of Greek myth, while other times she was the spirit of a jilted woman pining for her long-lost lover. Sometimes, she was even said to be an invisible spirit whose voice was the only thing that remained of her after passing, similar to the Greek myth of the nymph Echo.

One thing that the Greek and German mythos share, though, is the capability of a Siren to produce a song so lovely that, as sailors steered off course, attempting to reach the warm embrace of their assailants, they would be lured to a brutal death on the rocks of the island where the seductive songstresses resided. For the Greeks, that island went by the name of Anthemusa/Anthemoessa; for Lorelei, it was an immense rocky cliff which was named in her honor after her demise.

Appearance[]

Sirens

Due to their heritage, they are supernaturally beautiful. They are most often blonde (though other hair colors are possible—even those considered unnatural to other humanoids). In the same way, they vary from lithe and sylphic to voluptuous and buxom in figure. What's more, some appear like normal human women; others have wings, others have a bird body from the waist down, and some have a hybrid avian-woman body. Skin color also varies, as do the eyes.

As for hierarchy, they are often born in groups called "choirs", which stay together for their entire lifetime; the eldest sister often has the most enchanting voice, and as such, is the leader of the choir. If ever such an occasion arose, they would never allow another siren to join their choir, nor would they be expected to attempt joining another choir if, for some reason, their former one were to disband.

If ever a siren must leave her sisters (such as the death of her choir, her own impending death, pregnancy, or banishment), she often elects to go off on her own island (or other secluded area) and conduct business as required. Otherwise, a siren is not expected by her sisters to ever leave the choir.

Due to their divine heritage, Sirens are supernaturally beautiful. Though, their heritage manifests in numerous different ways.

While Sirens are of a divine lineage that ensures they will never be underweight or overweight, some have more of a lithe, sylphic beauty, and others are voluptuous, even buxom.

Likewise, while they tend toward human norms, as far as hair is concerned, they can actually have nearly any hair color, texture or length.

Furthermore, while their skin tends toward European complexions (namely, Caucasian white), it is also possible to see more diverse skin tones among them (even perhaps blues and greens, as befitting their lineage).

Powers & Abilities[]

  • Siren Song – They are naturally gifted with a knack for temptation and arousing desire. However, they are most famous for their "Siren's Song", a beguiling melody which they use to lure sailors to their deaths, on the rocks of the Sirens' home shores. The intriguing melody itself, combined with a Siren's all-too-tempting lyrics makes the song a ready snare, but for some reason or another, it works only on men (while women won't even hear it at all). With that song, some call out to their target's passing ship to entice them with promises of untold sexual ecstasy.
  • Longevity – Aside from their incredibly long life span, they possess, from birth, an ageless beauty and witty charm that a mortal would describe as nothing less than hypnotic.
  • Enchantment – Sirens have an ability similar to a glamour but they do not have to try to use. It just flows out of them, enhancing their beauty and making them irresistible and alluring. Even in human form, people can sense there is something special about the siren and when she appears, all eyes turn to stare at her. A glance from a siren can make even the gruffest, toughest pirate's heart flutter faster than a hummingbird's wings. Sailors have drowned in an attempt to gaze upon a siren.
  • Supernatural Knowledge – Though, others claim with the tempting tune, that they could reveal the supernatural knowledge they'd gained from the divine; knowledge of the fate of the world, of business, of the sciences, of the future, of the past…if that sailor would only drop by and stay a while.
  • Sonic Scream - A siren's voice can also be used as a sonic weapon, capable of stunning or outright killing anyone or anything that threatens them. Sirens can emit a hypersonic blast of concussive force strong enough to shatter objects as tough as concrete.
  • Flight - Sirens can manifest large, angelic-like wings to fly.
  • Superhuman Durability - The tissues and bones of siren are considerably more durable and resistant to physical damage than that of humans.
  • Superhuman Speed - Sirens are incredibly fast.

Weaknesses[]

  • Attention Seeker - Sirens are known far and wide for their beauty of appearance and the beauty of voice; the originals, when Odysseus managed to survive their captivating song, threw themselves into the water surrounding their island, in frustration.
  • Feminine Wiles - Some believe that the song of the Siren only works on men, while others believe it works on everyone equally; some even think that the song only works on those romantically or sexually oriented toward women, regardless of sex or gender. Quite possibly, each of these is valid, depending on which specific choir of Sirens one should encounter.
  • Bronze Dagger Coated in the Blood of Victim - A Siren can be killed by a bronze dagger coated in the blood of one of its victims.
  • Magic - Sirens are susceptible to the powers of magic.
  • Severe Trauma

Mythology[]

Sirenbook

A siren depicted in a book.

In Greek mythology, the Sirens (Greek singular: Σειρήν, Seirến; Greek plural: Σειρῆνες, Seirễnes) were three dangerous bird-women, portrayed as seductresses who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island.

Sirens combined women and birds in various ways. In early Greek art, Sirens were represented as birds with large women's heads, bird feathers, and scaly feet. Later, they were represented as female figures with the legs of birds, with or without wings, playing a variety of musical instruments, especially harps. The tenth century Byzantine encyclopedia Suda says that, from their chests up, sirens had the form of sparrows, below they were women, or, alternatively, that they were little birds with women's faces. Birds were chosen because of their beautiful voices. Later Sirens were sometimes depicted as beautiful women, whose bodies, not only their voices, are seductive.

Notes[]

Gallery[]

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