Page "Circe" Paragraph 4

In Homer's Odyssey, Circe is described as living in a mansion that stands in the middle of a clearing in a dense wood.

Around the house prowled strangely docile lions and wolves, the drugged victims of her magic ; they were not dangerous, and fawned on all newcomers.

Circe worked at a huge loom.

She invited Odysseus ' crew to a feast of familiar food, a pottage of cheese and meal, sweetened with honey and laced with wine, but also laced with one of her magical potions, and she turned them all into swine with a wand after they gorged themselves on it.

Only Eurylochus, suspecting treachery from the outset, escaped to warn Odysseus and the others who had stayed behind at the ships.

Odysseus set out to rescue his men, but was intercepted by his great grandfather, Hermes, who had been sent by Athena.

Hermes told Odysseus to use the holy herb moly to protect himself from Circe's potion and, having resisted it, to draw his sword and act as if he were to attack Circe.

From there, Circe would ask him to bed, but Hermes advised caution, for even there the goddess would be treacherous.

She would take his manhood unless he had her swear by the names of the gods that she would not.