Circe

Circe
—Circean, Circaean /seuhr see"euhn/, adj.
/serr"see/, n.
1. Also, Kirke. Also called Aeaea. Class. Myth. the enchantress represented by Homer as turning the companions of Odysseus into swine by means of a magic drink.
2. a dangerously or irresistibly fascinating woman.

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In 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.

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 in Greek legend, a sorceress, the daughter of Helios, the sun god, and of the ocean nymph Perse. She was able by means of drugs and incantations to change humans into wolves, lions, and swine. The Greek hero Odysseus visited her island, Aeaea, with his companions, whom she changed into swine. But Odysseus, protected by the herb moly (a gift from Hermes), compelled her to restore them to their original shape. He stayed with her for one year before resuming his journey. The story is told by Homer in the Odyssey, Books X and XII. Greco-Roman tradition placed her island near Italy or located her on Mount Circeo.

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