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Circe |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Acronyms, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.07 sec. |
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Circe (sûr`sē), in Greek mythology, enchantress; daughter of Helios. She lived on an island, where she decoyed sailors and treacherously changed them into beasts. According to the Odyssey, she changed the companions of Odysseus into swine, but with the aid of Hermes, Odysseus forced her to break the spell. In post-Homeric legend she bore Odysseus a son, Telegonus, who unwillingly killed his father. CirceIn Greek legend, a sorceress, the daughter of the sun god Helios and the ocean nymph Perse. By means of drugs and incantations she turned humans into lions, wolves, or swine. Odysseus visited her on his return from the Trojan War, and she changed his companions into swine. Odysseus himself was protected by an herb given him by Hermes, and he compelled the sorceress to restore his companions. He and Circe became lovers, but after a yearlong stay he resumed his journey homeward. Circe enchantress who changes Odysseus’s men into swine. [Gk. Lit.: Odyssey; Rom. Lit.: Aeneid] See : Enchantment Circe purified Jason and Medea after their murder of Apsyrtus. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 201] See : Purification Circe enchantress who turned Odysseus’s men into swine; byword for irresistibly fascinating woman. [Gk. Lit.: Odyssey; Rom. Lit.: Aeneid] See : Seduction Circe seductive sorceress who turned Odysseus’ companions into swine. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 201] See : Transformation Circe turns Odysseus’s men into animals. [Gk. Myth.: Odyssey] See : Witchcraft How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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| If Circe had never done anything worse, I really should not think her so very much to blame. Out of the high heaven is she summoned, from mystic communion with her own perfection, from majestic labours in the Sistine Chapel of the Stars,--yea, she must put aside her gold-leaf and purples and leave unfinished the very panels of the throne of God,--that Circe shall have her palace, and her worshippers their gilded sty. It told of the adventures of Odysseus in Thesprotis after the killing of the Suitors, of his return to Ithaca, and his death at the hands of Telegonis, his son by Circe. |
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