Week 3: The Sirens

The Sirens

The sea went dead. The once constant wind, which had pushed the sailors across the ocean was gone in a blink of an eye. They were hundreds of miles from shore in the middle of the Indian Ocean. They thought the hardest part of their journey to India was over, after surviving the most dangerous part of their trip around the Cape of South Africa where the sea is tumultuous and unpredictable. However, this was a terrible sign. 

The oldest sailor, usually reserved, began shouting panicked orders to the others. He ran to the bottom of the ship, leaving the younger sailors confused. He resurfaced, panting with a jar of wax and the strongest ropes the ship brought. Confused, the first mate tried to establish authority and settle the situation when he said, "Hey, there is no need for those ropes, and why would we ever need wax." 

The oldest sailor ignored him and began to inform the crew of the actual danger they were in. He told the story of the siren: "We are in the territory of the Sirens" He told, "They are women beautiful with songs so sweet but intentions so evil. We must plug our ears and protect ourselves."

The sailors, scared, plugged their ears with the wax and tied the old sailor to the mast so he could tell them when they were out of earshot of their song. Soon their song began, and the old man begged to be set free, but the sailors refused to cut him free, and tied him tighter, as he tried to wiggle free. 

For hours they struggled, oaring with no wind, through the siren's song, until the old man stopped begging, and they were free. The wind returned, and they continued their journey to India, without casualty, this time. 

Author's Note: 

This story is based on the part in the Odyssey when the group encounters the Siren. I completely redid it because it is a very short part. I based it further in history during the Spice Trade of some merchants and sailors in the Indian Ocean encountering the Sirens. I did this just to be a little different and to have a little fun. Instead of Odysseus knowing what was going on, I had an old man because he had experience. 

Reading Notes: Odyssey B

Odyssey 

Ghosts of Erebus 

The dragged the vessel on shore and loaded up the sheep. Circe sent wind. When they got to the right island they made the sacrifice/altar of milk and honey, wine, water, barley, and prayer. Then killed a sheep on the altar. The ghosts swarme out of Erebus. He kept the ghosts away until Teiresias came. 

The Ghosts of Elpenor and Teiresias 

He had not yet been buried, he was so freshly dead. He told him next he would go to Hades House. As he left, he saw his mom, learning that she was dead. ThebanTeiresias gave him a prophecy that he would have a hard and bitter journey home. He would shipwreck and men would court his wife. No matter what he could not miss another traveler telling him to carry a winnowing-fan on his shoulder. 

The Spirit of Anticleia 

His mom approached and drank the blood. She was concerned with why he was there. He explained the situation and that he was trying to get home. He also kept asking about his wife. She assured him about her loyalty. He was sad he couldn't hug his mom

The Ghosts of Famous Women 

He questioned every person sent. Tyro fell in love with the god of the RIver Enipeus. She had two sons by him. Antiope said she slept with Zeus herself. Her sons founded the 7-gated Thebes. Alcmene conceived Heracles. Megara married the son of Amphitryon. Oedipus's mom came. Chloris. Leda bore twins alive and dead switching.  Iphimedeia claimed she slept with Poseidon. 

The Ghost of Agamemnon 

He came after the female spirits. He said Aegisthus, his wife, engineered his fate. He and all his companions died, tricked. They complain about Helen and Clytemnestra. He warned him about his wife because they were newlyweds when he left. 

The Spirit of Achilles

Achilles wanted to know about his son. He was sad that he died and wished he had chosen the other option of his prophecy. He told him about Neoptolemus and his greatness. 

The Ghost of Ajax 

Ajax was still upset that he won the contest of ships. He told him to control his ego. They saw all these people tortured by the gods, so they left and continued. 

Ajax-- Present

The Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis

He caught everyone up on the gossip. Then the wind stopped. They knew that this meant trouble and plugged their ears to protect themselves from the sirens. They kept going through it and untied him once they were free from the song. Then they saw the spray. They hugged the cliff, hoping for the best. He armed himself, even though, Circe told him not to. Scylla grabbed 6 men off of the deck and ate them.