Odysseus and the Sirens
Odysseus, a hero of ancient Greece, was sailing home after fighting in the Trojan War. He received a warning from the witch Circe, who said that on his journey, he would pass by the island of the Sirens. They were dangerous creatures who were half bird and half woman. Their magic songs drew sailors to the island, making their ships crash.
Odysseus followed advice that Circe had given him. He stuffed the sailors' ears with wax so they couldn't hear the Sirens' song. Then Odysseus had the crew tie him to the tall wooden mast of his ship so that he could hear the magic voices without following them.
As they sailed toward the island, Odysseus heard the most beautiful singing. "Odysseus, Odysseus," the Sirens sang, "stop the ship and come to us." He wanted to join the Sirens and listen to them forever. He begged his sailors to untie him, but they would not. They only tied him tighter. They could not hear the Sirens' song.
In time, the ship passed the island, and the sailors removed the wax from their ears and untied Odysseus. Odysseus was grateful to have avoided disaster.
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