circe

Circe is a figure from Greek mythology known as a powerful enchantress associated with magic and transformation. Most sources describe her as the daughter of Helios, the sun god, and the sea-nymph Perse, said to live on the island of Aeaea. Her name, Circe (Greek Kirke), is the source of the modern term circe, meaning a seductive enchantress or witch.

In Homer's Odyssey, Circe encounters Odysseus and his crew on Aeaea. She uses a potion to transform the men into swine. Odysseus, aided by Hermes who provides him a herb called moly to resist her magic, resists her powers and compels her to restore his men. Circe and Odysseus form an uneasy alliance; she remains with him for about a year, offering hospitality and guidance. She provides advice for the remainder of his voyage home, including how to navigate past the Sirens and other perils, and directs him to seek Tiresias in the Underworld for further guidance.

In later Greek and Roman literature, Circe appears in various tales, including Ovid’s Metamorphoses, where she is depicted as a powerful witch who transforms others and as a figure of metamorphosis. She is often portrayed as a formidable, intelligent adversary and ally with magical knowledge.

Circe has continued to influence modern culture. Her story was reimagined in Madeline Miller’s 2018 novel Circe, which presents her perspective and life in a more sympathetic light, contributing to renewed interest in the character. The term circe remains a lasting reference in literature to a powerful enchantress.