If Massa Lubrense is dubbed the “Land of the Sirens,” it’s because it was right here that the sirens attempted to enchant Odysseus with their mesmerizing song.
As documented in Homer’s Odyssey, sirens held a prominent place in the collective imagination of Ancient Greece. However, their original appearance was not what we commonly know today: initially, they were depicted as part-woman and part-bird, with a nature that was both menacing and deceitful.
Li Galli Islets: The Mythical Home of the Sirens
Legend has it that the mythical winged sirens inhabited the waters between the Sorrento Peninsula and the island of Capri. The mythical location of the sirens is represented by the Li Galli islets, known as “Sirenuse” in ancient times. From this derives the ancient toponym “Sirenusion,” which indicated the area of Massa Lubrense.
Their enchanting song lured passing sailors, who would then approach the rocky coast with their ships, only to crash against it: the sailors would drown, and the sirens would devour their bodies.
The Tale of Odysseus and the Sirens
Even Odysseus, during his journey back from Troy to Ithaca, sailed through these treacherous waters. Following the advice of Circe, he ordered his men to plug their ears with wax; he himself was tied to the mast of the ship and forbade his companions from untying him, no matter what pleas they made.
“Come hither, renowned Odysseus, great glory of the Achaeans, and pause thy ship, that thou mayest listen to the voice of us twain. None hath ever sailed past this spot in his black ship without listening to the honey-sweet voice that flowed from our lips, and hath rejoiced in it and gone on his way a wiser man.”
Homer, Odyssey
The Fate of the Sirens
Legend has it that the sirens, angered by their failure to enchant Odysseus, threw themselves into the sea. Their bodies were then carried away by the waves: one to Terina (Ligeia), one to Punta Licosa (Leukosia), and the other to Naples (Parthenope).
In the mesmerizing coastal landscape of Massa Lubrense, the echoes of this ancient myth still linger, adding depth to the region’s allure and mystique.
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