4 The bewitching sirens

Chapter 4 The bewitching Sirens The Greeks' next challenge was to sail past the Sirens' island. This was trickier than it sounds.

Sirens were sea nymphs who bewitched passing sailors with their beautiful songs. Men would sail closer and closer to the island, until they wrecked their ships on the rocks and drowned. Circe had warned Ulysses about the Sirens. He knew just what to do.

Ulysses cut up pieces of beeswax and gave them to his men to use as earplugs. But Ulysses wanted to hear what was so special about the Sirens' singing. He told his men to tie him tightly to the mast.

When the Sirens began to sing their delicious songs, only Ulysses was bewitched. "Untie me from the ropes!" he pleaded. His crew just rowed on. They couldn't hear a thing. The Sirens were astonished to see the Greek ship sail straight past their island.