
Circe is the daughter of Helios, the Sun God, and Perse. She was a powerful
witch who had no love for mortals. Initially, she was married to a king
and poisoned him in hopes of taking over the kingdom. But, she was banished
from the city and went to live on the Island of Dawn, Aeaea. She is best
known from The Odyssey where she turned Odysseus' men into animals with
a magic potion. Of course, the gods helped Odysseus, and Hermes was sent
to give him a herb that would make him immune to Circe's magic. She eventually
agreed to turn his men back, but only on the condition that Odysseus sleep
with her. Then she warned him of the perils in the next part of his journey.
Odysseus and Penelope's son, Telemachus, is said to have married her.


© 1998