Circe
Circe is a prominent figure in Greek mythology, often regarded as the goddess of magic and an enchantress. She is the daughter of Helios, the sun god, and is sometimes said to be the offspring of the sea nymph Perse or the goddess Hecate. Known for her intelligence and mastery of herbs and potions, Circe possesses the ability to transform her enemies into animals, a skill that she frequently employs. Her most famous appearance is in Homer's "Odyssey," where she dwells on the island of Aeaea and encounters the Greek hero Odysseus. After initially transforming his men into pigs, Circe eventually falls in love with Odysseus and they have three children together.
Circe's character is complex; she is often depicted as both a predatory figure and a misunderstood individual facing the consequences of her powerful abilities. Various myths portray her interactions with other heroes and beings, revealing her role in themes of love, jealousy, and revenge. In the broader context of ancient Greek culture, magic was an integral part of both religious and social life, and figures like Circe were both revered for their powers and feared for their potential to do harm. This duality continues to inspire modern interpretations of her story, including the retelling by author Madeline Miller, which presents Circe's narrative from her own perspective.
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Subject Terms
Circe
Culture: Ancient Greece
Mother: Perses, Hecate
Father: Helios
Children: Agrius, Latinus, and Telegonus
Circe is considered the goddess of magic in Greek mythology. She is also referred to as an enchantress, sorceress, and nymph in different myths. Her father was the god Helios, and her mother has been said to be either the goddess Hecate or more often the sea nymph Perse. She was considered highly intelligent due to her knowledge of herbs and potions, which she often utilized against her enemies. Circe was known to transform her foes into creatures and wild beasts such as pigs, lions, and werewolves. She often carried a wand or staff, which she used to cast her spells. She is best known for her appearance in Homer’s Odyssey, in which she is said to dwell on the island of Aeaea. There, Greek hero Odysseus encounters Circe on his way back from the Trojan War and becomes her lover for a time. Circe is often portrayed as an antagonist in Greek myths, taking revenge on those who refuse to do her bidding by changing them into animals or monsters.
In Mythology
Circe is commonly referred to as the daughter of Perse and Helios. Perse was an Oceanid, a sea nymph who descended from the line of the god Oceanus, the Titan king of the sea. Helios was the Titan god of the sun. Sometimes the goddess Hecate is listed as Circe’s mother. Her family consisted of a number of powerful goddesses and sorceresses, including her sister Pasiphae and her niece Medea, two formidable enchantresses known for their vast knowledge of magical herbs and potions. Circe’s brother, Aeetes, was the guardian of the mythical Golden Fleece sought by Greek hero Jason. Her other brother Perses was murdered by Medea after he overthrew Aeetes, Medea’s father, to claim the throne of Colchis for himself.
Circe is best known for her role in book ten of Homer’s Odyssey. After the end of the Trojan War, hero Odysseus and his men begin their return home by sea. The crew sets out with twelve ships, but they are attacked by a large group of man-eating giants called Laestrygonians. They lose many men in the confrontation and all but one of their ships. Starved and grief-stricken after the encounter, Odysseus and his men land on Aeaea. Odysseus sends out a search party to scavenge for food and other supplies while he remains on shore. After searching the island, the men come upon Circe’s lair and observe many wild beasts such as lions and wolves. Circe reveals herself and invites the men to feast at her home. She feeds them wine, cheese, and other delicacies that have been tainted with a potion. Once they have finished, Circe casts a spell and changes all of the men into pigs.
Odysseus’s brother, Eurylochus, stayed outside during the feast because he did not trust Circe. When he sees the other men have been turned into pigs, he runs back to Odysseus to tell him what happened. Odysseus immediately sets out in search of Circe. On his way there, he encounters the god Hermes, who provides Odysseus with a magical plant with white flowers called moly. Hermes tells Odysseus the flower will protect him from Circe’s spells. When Odysseus arrives at Circe’s home, he is fed wine and food tainted by a potion. The potion does not affect him. When Circe attempts to use her wand against him, he draws his sword and forces her to turn all of his men back into humans. Circe does as she is told. Enchanted by his bravery, she swears her love and devotion to Odysseus. She and Odysseus begin an affair, and he remains on the island for a while, fathering Circe’s three children: Agrius, Latinus, and Telegonus. Odysseus eventually returns to his homeland because he misses his mortal wife, Penelope. Circe would later help Odysseus summon ghosts from Hades, god of the underworld. Later tales describe Telegonus mistakenly killing his father with a poisoned spear given to him by Circe.
Circe has small roles in several other Greek myths. She appears in Apollonius’s Argonautica, where she purifies Jason, the Argonauts, and her niece Medea for their role in the murder of Prince Absyrtus. She also shows up in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, which includes a story about how Circe turned the nymph Scylla into a monster because she was jealous of the god Glaucus’s love for Scylla. In this story, readers learn why Circe resides at the island of Aenea, having been banished there by her father for what she did to Scylla. Another story tells of Circe’s desire for the mortal king Picus, who rejects Circe’s advances out of faithfulness to his wife. Circe vengefully turns Picus into a woodpecker after this rejection. Circe is also briefly alluded to in Virgil’s Aeneid and Hesiod’s Theogony.
Origins & Cults
Magic was a major feature of ancient Greek mythology and was associated with a number of mythological figures. Circe was often discussed in conjunction with her magical powers, being an expert potion maker with wide-ranging knowledge of plants and herbs. She cast spells and concocted potions for love, revenge, and even death. Magic was a part of everyday life in the ancient world. It was intertwined with religion, science, and astrology, and many ancient peoples held a number of superstitions related to magic. Both men and women practiced magic, and many people sought out magicians for help with overcoming problems or ailments. Magicians were considered masters of math and chemistry, and many ancient Greeks held them in great esteem. Many also feared magicians, as they were often associated with evildoing, and this meant many magicians usually existed on the margins of society.
Ancient Greeks did not exactly worship Circe so much as revere and fear her for her power. She was often depicted as the model for the classic predatory female, and her combined magical powers and sexual prowess greatly informed how she was depicted in art and literature for many centuries. Most ancient artifacts that feature Circe’s likeness are related to her role in Homer’s Odyssey. A famous artifact featuring Circe is a wine vessel depicting her confrontation with Odysseus. The images on the vessel show Odysseus drawing his sword against Circe as his pigheaded men stand behind him. Many artists have featured Circe in their works over the centuries, and many of these depictions have envisioned Circe as a beautiful temptress or a victim of her own powers and pride. Some scholars interpreted Circe’s stories differently, focusing on her human qualities and the unfairness of her situation. In 2018, author and ancient Greek scholar Madeline Miller penned the book Circe, which retells Circe’s tale from the goddess’s own perspective and recasts her as a hero.
Bibliography
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