How Scary Are Sirens, And How Their Songs Can Kill You?

It occurred on one in every of my latest visits to the seaside. Instantly, whereas making an attempt to hearken to the soothing sound of the waves, I heard a voice singing softly from the rocks with a melody that sounded a bit Greek. I walked in the direction of the supply of the voice excitedly, mesmerized. You see, I used to be positive I used to be lastly going to satisfy a siren as a result of I do know the parable of sirens from a number of horror movies: these stunning sea nymphs who, in keeping with Greek mythology, lured sailors with their light singing and brought about them to crash into the depths. Even when this fantasy is exaggerated, like many scary myths, what man can say no to a stupendous woman who can sing?

Then I noticed her standing on a rock. A woman as skinny as a fowl, sporting a noticed swimsuit, was dancing and clapping wildly. She checked out me angrily, holding an oblong object speckled with glitter in her hand, which appeared like… a cellphone? Then I spotted I hadn’t met a siren in any respect. The buff-looking woman held a cellphone in a single hand, enjoying some bizarre pop music, and a cigarette within the different. “What would you like, darling?” she mentioned in a voice hoarse from cigarettes, which sounded a bit just like the assault of the crows from that Hitchcock film. “Um… I’m simply hanging round right here, exploring the rocks. Yeah, such cool rocks,” I muttered nervously and tried to retrace my steps. It was too late as a result of the woman approached me and picked me up. She threw me in the direction of the rocks, shouting one thing about me invading her house and disturbing her listening to music and saying that I ought to transfer ahead if I need to reside and never die in torture. The very last thing I bear in mind earlier than I handed out on the seaside among the many rocks was somebody singing enthusiastically from the cellphone.

The determine of the siren seems not solely in mythology but additionally in lots of movies – together with some horror movies (comparatively insignificant, to be sincere). The sirens inform us one thing about magnificence, seduction, and even music, whereas all the things is clearly linked to hazard. So, it’s no shock that we included them in our articles in regards to the scariest mythological characters.

What Are Sirens?

Sirens are a few of the most mysterious, seductive, and maybe additionally the scariest mythological creatures in historical folklore- On this case, Greek mythology. They’re sea nymphs (half-god and half-mortal) who reside on an remoted island within the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by rocks and cliffs.

Though the illustration of the nymphs has modified all through historical past, the frequent denominator of their descriptions is their mesmerizing voice and magical singing. The nymphs would sit on the rocks and sing for a objective.

In accordance with the tales, sailors who had been within the space and heard the light singing from afar jumped to their deaths or bought so near the supply of the sound that their ships bought caught on the rocks and drowned. In accordance with mythology, it was attainable to seek out many bones of unlucky sailors close to the Siren Islands.

What Do Sirens Look Like?

The picture of sirens at sea, as expressed in tales and artistic endeavors that discuss with them, has undergone a number of adjustments all through historical past. At first, they had been depicted as birds – even scary ones – with the top or attractive physique of a lady. In different instances, the sirens had been offered as ladies in each sense of the phrase, with a twist within the type of legs and wings, which had been additionally of birds. One other contrasting and rarer illustration is that of a lady on the decrease half and a fowl on the higher half.

Because the years handed, the picture of the sirens retained its predominant “fowl” traits, however on the identical time, it grew to become more and more female and attractive.

The place Did The Fantasy Of Sirens Come From?

We determine sirens with Greek mythology, however it’s extremely seemingly that they initially got here from different cultures within the Close to East, equivalent to Egypt. In accordance with a typical principle, the sirens had been the daughters of the river god Achelous and one of many Muses, that’s, those that are thought-about the goddesses of creativity, the humanities, and the sciences. With mother and father like these, it isn’t shocking that the sirens – whose quantity, in keeping with sources, ranges from two to 4, and might be three – grew as much as be hybrid creatures who sing within the sea.

Legend has it that of their youth, the sirens had been companions and playmates of Persephone – “Queen of the Underworld,” the daughter of the goddess of grain and fertility Demeter by Zeus, and the spouse of the God of the underworld, Hades, who kidnapped her desiring to take her to Hades. In accordance with one model, the sirens bought wings as a result of they requested God to equip them and search out their companion. One other barely darker model says that Demeter was indignant that the sirens didn’t defend her daughter and, in her anger, turned them into winged monsters.

What’s The Distinction Between Sirens And Mermaids?

There’s generally confusion between sirens and mermaids; many assume sirens and Mermaids are the identical. One major motive for this confusion is that “Siren” describes a mermaid in some languages, t (for instance, Spanish or Italian). Artistically, we now have seen that within the Center Ages, fairly just a few artists started to color sirens as mermaids, opposite to their authentic description, so the definitions and ideas merged.

This confusion exists at the moment, equivalent to in books, movies, and TV collection that use the phrases “siren” and “mermaid” in an identical, and even equivalent, manner. This confusion can be seen, deliberately or unintentionally, on the client degree. For instance, we looked for siren costumes on one of many world’s main costume websites, and the outcomes primarily confirmed mermaid costumes and solely a minimal variety of sirens. So it’s true that mermaids are typically extra widespread and well-known – largely due to the well-known fairy story “The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Andersen – however being attentive to the variations remains to be important.

Mermaids and sirens have some frequent traits. In each instances, we speak about mythological creatures combining ladies and a few animals dwelling within the water or close by. Nonetheless, in apply, there are some basic variations:

🧜‍♀️ Look – Sirens mix in most representations between a lady and a fowl, as talked about, whereas mermaids are a mixture of a lady and a fish.

🧜‍♀️ Habitat – Sirens reside on rocks, whereas mermaids normally reside underwater. Nonetheless, as we now have seen in lots of legends and tales, the mermaid can generally come to land.

🧜‍♀️ Character – Sirens are depicted as manipulative, even malicious, whereas mermaids normally have a extra constructive (or, in case you choose, much less harmful) nature.

🧜‍♀️ Mythological Origin – Sirens come from Greek mythology, though different tales could have influenced it. The mythological origin of mermaids is extra European, even when the parable exists in several elements of the world.

Why Do Sirens Kill Sailors?

We’ve heard of a number of bloody encounters with scary sirens in several international locations all through historical past or mythology. Probably the most well-known of those is the journey of Odysseus, the Greek hero finest identified for his journey house after the Trojan Conflict, by which he developed the concept of ​​the Trojan Horse and turned it right into a decisive weapon.

Legend says that in one in every of his journeys, Odysseus handed close to the island of the Sirens. He knew the parable in regards to the lethal singing however needed to hearken to the marvel. So he ordered his sailors to tie him to the mast of the ship and from them to plug their ears in order that nobody may bounce overboard following the singing. His demand was unequivocal: to not launch him underneath any circumstances till they received’t hear the sirens’ music from the ship. It labored as a result of Odysseus listened to the singing and managed to remain alive.

that feeling if you hear a music you don’t need to hear, say a karaoke music by the neighborhood by the annoying neighbors on the home subsequent door, and also you attempt to overcome the sound with louder (and a lot better) music that you simply play? So, in keeping with one other story about an encounter with the sirens, this occurred. The hero this time is Jason, who led the Argonauts on their journey to carry the Golden Fleece from the Kingdom of Colchis. On the recommendation of his tutor, a cantor named Chiron, he bought a gifted musician named Orpheus aboard the ship. After they heard the sirens’ music, Orpheus performed his lyre. The Argonauts and Jason listened to the music from the boat, which overpowered the sirens’ music, and so they stayed alive.

In accordance with mythology, the sirens drowned themselves every time sirens failed of their mission to sink the ships that handed by them.

From Espresso To Romantic Comedies: The Illustration Of Sirens In Our World

Though there are mythological characters extra well-known than sirens, there is no such thing as a doubt that they’re nonetheless considerably represented in our world at the moment. You’ll find scary siren sound on alarms, police sirens, or the noise of ambulances on the street, for instance, is known as after them as a result of, like these singing Sirens, these noises sign hazard. Talking of hazard, at the moment, many use the phrase “Siren” as a slang to explain ladies who’re stunning and harmful on the identical time.

Listed here are some notable representations of sirens from the world round us:

Starbucks Emblem

In case you are a espresso lover, you might be in all probability accustomed to Starbucks, the American espresso store chain with hundreds of branches worldwide. The corporate bought its title from a personality from the guide Moby Dick (“Starbuck”), which isn’t linked to Sirens certainly.

Nonetheless, the well-known inexperienced emblem includes a siren for varied causes: the truth that the Starbucks story started within the port metropolis of Seattle, the lengthy journey that espresso takes by sea till it reaches shoppers, the message which you can get pleasure from some nice espresso anyplace, and even the truth that sirens, who attracted sailors to the rocks, are a metaphor for the magic of caffeine.

Siren Seashore On Lake Garda

Within the tourism world, the parable of the Sirens is usually used to draw vacationers. Siren Seashore on Lake Garda in Italy (initially: “Spiaggia Baia Delle Sirene”), for instance, is, before everything, a stunning and well-maintained seaside. It bought its title due to a neighborhood legend about sirens at sea – or within the lake waters – who greeted fishermen passing by.

So far as we all know, these aren’t conventional horror tales however extra optimistic ones. The underside line is that the seaside attracts vacationers, maybe due to the parable.

Encounters With Scary Sirens In Tradition

We proceed with the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” collection, the bestseller by American writer Rick Riordan. It’s a very profitable collection of seven books, which additionally bought a number of sequels, two profitable movies (“Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” and “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters”), a tv collection, and extra.

Within the second guide within the collection, “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters,” our Percy – who’s a demigod and the son of Poseidon – encounters an extended line of mythological creatures. In one of many passages within the guide (and within the movie), he and his companion Annabeth Chase (Alexandra Daddario, who’s much more mesmerizing than any Siren, one of many web site’s favorites) move by sirens. Maybe impressed by historical myths about surviving an encounter with sirens, Annabeth asks Percy to tie her to a ship in order that she will hearken to the sirens’ voice and study one thing vital about life from it.

The Vampire Diaries Sirens

“The Vampire Diaries” is a really profitable guide collection for younger adults. L.J. Smith wrote the books, and so they grew to become tv collection with a minimum of eight seasons. It might be too brief to explain the plots of Elena or the brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore, however the backside line is that they encounter a variety of supernatural and scary creatures.

The sirens star within the eighth and ultimate season because the servants of the ruler of hell, Arcadius (Cade), and have a lot display time.

O Brother, The place Artwork Thou Sirens

Persevering with with the wonderful crime comedy by the Coen brothers from 2000. Ostensibly, there’s a musical crime comedy in regards to the escape journey of three prisoners from onerous labor in the course of the Nice Melancholy, their ordeal by the authorities, and their encounter with an extended line of unusual individuals.

“O Brother, The place Artwork Thou?” is a contemporary model of Homer’s Odysseus story, with many hints and connections. One in all them is the three males’s encounter with three stunning ladies who’re doing laundry within the river whereas they sing. The lads are drawn to the siren’s music, nevertheless it comes at a value: the ladies flip one in every of them right into a toad and switch him into the police. In the event you didn’t get the plain metaphor, these three ladies – performed by Mia Tate, Musetta Vander, and Christy Taylor – symbolize the sirens, who appeal to males with their singing to hurt them.

Horror Films About Sirens

Horror motion pictures characteristic encounters with varied villains and many supernatural or mythological creatures. The truth that there are horror motion pictures about sirens shouldn’t shock you, however sadly, many of the movies we all know are negligible.

As well as, as you will notice under, there’s a disregard for the distinctive traits of sirens and confusion, intentional or not, between sirens and mermaids and different mythological creatures.

Siren TV Sequence (2018)

“Siren” is a supernatural fantasy collection with varied touches of horror that aired in 2018 and continued for 3 seasons. The plot right here takes place in a coastal city referred to as Bristol Cove, which was as soon as identified for its mermaid inhabitants. Sooner or later, a mysterious mermaid named Ryn Fisher (Eline Powell) arrives on the town, looking for her sister, who was kidnapped by the townspeople. Within the course of, she hypnotizes individuals along with her music, equivalent to marine biologist Ben (Alex Roe), who helps her at one level and causes a variety of bother.

I haven’t seen the collection, nevertheless it’s on my watch listing.

Siren Horror Film (2016)

Gregg Bishop’s “Siren” is, before everything, a spin-off of one of many brief movies that appeared within the V/H/S anthology 4 years earlier. Extra exactly, it relies on the second brief movie, “Beginner Evening,” directed by David Bruckner.

The protagonist of the movie is Jonah (Chase Williamson, “John Died on the Finish,” “The Visitor,” “Victor Crowley”), who’s celebrating his marriage ceremony social gathering along with his pals at a secret membership. The membership’s supervisor arranges for the blissful groom to have a personal efficiency by a stupendous woman who can sing fairly nicely. The issue is that Jonah imagines all kinds of issues when she sings. He and the fellows launch her from the membership, however then they uncover that she is a monster who begins killing them one after the other after they go to sleep. Later, they discover out that this lady, named Lilith (Hannah Fiermnn, who performed the identical character in “V/H/S”), is a Succubus – a stunning mythological feminine, generally with bat wings, who seduces males with erotic goals, and within the course of attracts power from them.

So, though the movie’s title could recommend in any other case, this isn’t a horror movie about sirens within the full sense of the phrase. Nonetheless, Lilith has many traits in frequent with the parable of the sirens, equivalent to singing, seducing males, and killing.

Right here is the trailer for “Siren”:

Siren (2010)

The following movie, once more with the unique title “Siren,” is fairly unhealthy (a rating of three.6 out of 10 on IMDB, for instance). Nonetheless, I’m among the many unfortunate ones who noticed it. Perhaps as a result of its poster appeared attractive, the plot description appeared foolish however enjoyable, or it was on late-night TV, and I had nothing else to do.

So “Siren” has some attractive scenes, however that’s the one factor I bear in mind from the film since. It’s the story of three pals who go on a cruise at sea: Ken (Irish Eoin Macken, “The Forest,” “Resident Evil: The Ultimate Chapter,” “Until Demise” with Megan Fox and “The Cellar” alongside Alicia Cuthbert) and Rachel (Australian Anna Skellern, “The Descent: Half 2,” “A Evening within the Woods,” “The Incident”) hope so as to add some ardour to their mundane lives, however for some motive Rachel’s colleague (Tarek Anthony Jabre) joins the journey.

At one level, the fellas arrive on an island and encounter a person with a knife in his physique and blood in his ears, who collapses. On the identical island, they meet a mysterious woman named Silka (Czech Tereza Srbova, “Jack Ryan,” “Jap Guarantees”), who seduces the person, then the lady, and then each of them. Later, she does horrible issues I don’t bear in mind as a result of I’ve repressed this film.

The underside line is that “Siren” is a nasty film in each manner: plot, performing, environment, and many others. – and sadly, not as attractive because it thinks or as its poster is meant to recommend.

So the subsequent time you go to the ocean and listen to ladies singing, keep in mind that generally it comes at a value. Contemplating the quite horrible characters of the sirens, you may choose that there was only a robust woman there listening to some shitty music.