Sirens and Sea Dragons

English I

Louise s. mcGehee School

2004

Myth of the Sea DragonMyth of the Sea Dragon King Cepheus had told the Queen of Ethiopia to stop bragging to the public about her daughter, Andromeda to the nymphs. The beautiful nymphs were becoming jealous, because the queen was telling them that her daughter was prettier than they were. When the village heard that the queen was still very conceited about her daughter, they asked Poseidon to punish the mother and Andromeda. Poseidon sent a sea dragon to destroy all of the land. To find out how to stop the dragon from destroying any more of the village, the king spoke to an oracle about what he should do. He did exactly what the oracle said. He chained Andromeda naked to a gigantic rock in the sea and waited for the dragon to come. He watched and waited. The king hoped that the sacrifice he was doing would help stop the dragon from destroying any more of the village.

Sea Dragon HelicopterSea Dragon Helicopter

• The United states The United states military’s largest military’s largest and most powerful and most powerful helicopterhelicopter

• Class 2 aircraftClass 2 aircraft• Has a seven main-Has a seven main-

blade rotor huntingblade rotor hunting• Used for mine Used for mine

sweeping and mine sweeping and mine huntinghunting(Sea Dragon Performance)

(The Navy Rotc)

Sea Dragons

What the sea dragons in the myths looked like

(The Realm of Fantasy)

What the real existing sea dragons today look like

(Aquarium of the Pacific)

What are Sirens?What are Sirens?

• In Greek mythology, In Greek mythology, Sirens were said to be Sirens were said to be part human and part part human and part bird. They lived near an bird. They lived near an island somewhere in the island somewhere in the middle of the sea where middle of the sea where they would lure sailors in they would lure sailors in with their melodies with their melodies making the sailors so making the sailors so entranced they would entranced they would crash their ships into the crash their ships into the rocks.rocks.

(“Sandels”)Sandels”)

The Myth of the SirensThe Myth of the Sirens• Pisinoe, Aglaope and Thelxiepi were all Pisinoe, Aglaope and Thelxiepi were all

daughters of the river god Achelous who daughters of the river god Achelous who were turned into half-women and half-bird were turned into half-women and half-bird creatures when they failed to save creatures when they failed to save Demeter’s daughter, Persephone from the Demeter’s daughter, Persephone from the god of the underworld, Hades. One played god of the underworld, Hades. One played the lyre, one played the flute and the last the lyre, one played the flute and the last one sang. Together they lured men to their one sang. Together they lured men to their death with their melodies. When a man was death with their melodies. When a man was able to resist the Sirens, that was able to resist the Sirens, that was supposedly what would cause the siren’s supposedly what would cause the siren’s death. There are two stories of men death. There are two stories of men resisting the sirens. One was the story of resisting the sirens. One was the story of Odysseus who told all of his men to put Odysseus who told all of his men to put beeswax in their ears so they wouldn’t hear beeswax in their ears so they wouldn’t hear the sirens singing as they sailed by. He also the sirens singing as they sailed by. He also ordered his men to tie him to the ship’s ordered his men to tie him to the ship’s mast so he could hear the beautiful singing mast so he could hear the beautiful singing but not be able to swim towards it. The but not be able to swim towards it. The second account was of Jason and the second account was of Jason and the Argonauts who were able to tune out the Argonauts who were able to tune out the singing because they had Orpheus, who was singing because they had Orpheus, who was a better musician than the sirens.a better musician than the sirens.

““(Parada”)(Parada”)

Miscellaneous things about Miscellaneous things about SirensSirens• The word Siren as we use it today warns us with a The word Siren as we use it today warns us with a

loud wailing. This comes from the myth of the Greek loud wailing. This comes from the myth of the Greek Sirens.Sirens.

• One definition of a One definition of a sirensiren is a woman regarded as is a woman regarded as seductive and beautiful. seductive and beautiful.

• In 1994, Sirens, the movie was released starring Hugh In 1994, Sirens, the movie was released starring Hugh Grant.Grant.

• ““Sirens” became a television series from 1993-1995.Sirens” became a television series from 1993-1995.• Siren Song is an independent record label in Siren Song is an independent record label in

Nashville, Tennessee and Rutland, Vermont.Nashville, Tennessee and Rutland, Vermont.• Siren music festival is held in Coney Island, NYC every Siren music festival is held in Coney Island, NYC every

year.year.

Work CitedWork Cited““Aquarium of the Pacific.” Darkfin. 21 January 2004. Aquarium of the Pacific.” Darkfin. 21 January 2004.

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/index.htmlhttp://www.aquariumofpacific.org/index.html

"Cinaed. “Perseus and Andromeda. ”"Cinaed. “Perseus and Andromeda. ”Classic Mythical Dragon LegendClassic Mythical Dragon Legend. 11 . 11

January2004.< http://dragonsunlimited.tripod.com/index-January2004.< http://dragonsunlimited.tripod.com/index-

113.html>113.html>

Greek Mythology-Sirens.” Greek Mythology-Sirens.” KWKW. Kidzworld. 9 January 2004.. Kidzworld. 9 January 2004.

<http://www.kidzworld.com/site/p1850.htm><http://www.kidzworld.com/site/p1850.htm>

Navy junior Rotc.“ Sea Dragons. ”Navy junior Rotc.“ Sea Dragons. ”Southwest High SchoolSouthwest High School. 14 January 2004. . 14 January 2004.

<www.swnjrotc.com><www.swnjrotc.com>

Parada, Carlos. "Sirens." Parada, Carlos. "Sirens." Greek Mythology Link.Greek Mythology Link.  9 January 2004.       9 January 2004.    

<http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/SIRENS.html><http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/SIRENS.html>

Work Cited ContinuedWork Cited ContinuedSandels, Victoria. “Sirens.” Sandels, Victoria. “Sirens.” History and MythologyHistory and Mythology. 8 January 2004. . 8 January 2004.

<http://www.in2greece.com/english/historymyth/mythology/names/s<http://www.in2greece.com/english/historymyth/mythology/names/s

irens.htm>irens.htm>

““Sea Dragon Performance.” Sea Dragon Performance.” Sea Dragon Helicopter.Sea Dragon Helicopter. 15 January 2004 15 January 2004

<http://members.aol.com/mh53e/index.html><http://members.aol.com/mh53e/index.html>

““Sea DragonSea Dragon.”The Realm of Fantasy.”The Realm of Fantasy. 21 January 2004. . 21 January 2004.

<http://www.realmoffantasy.com/rawcliffe/1141015.asp><http://www.realmoffantasy.com/rawcliffe/1141015.asp>

““Siren music festival.” Siren music festival.” Village Voice Media. Village Voice Media. 8 January 2004. 8 January 2004.

<http://www.villagevoice.com/siren/><http://www.villagevoice.com/siren/>

““The Sea Dragon.”14 January 2004. The Sea Dragon.”14 January 2004.

<http://www.santharia.com/bestiary/sea_dragon.htm#Myth/Lore><http://www.santharia.com/bestiary/sea_dragon.htm#Myth/Lore>