Ulysses and the Sirens: Dangerous Beauty

What sound would be worth risking your life to hear? According to ancient Greek mythology, the Sirens were mysterious creatures whose songs were so enchanting that sailors would follow their call straight into danger, wrecking their ships on the rocks. John William Waterhouse’s famous painting Ulysses and the Sirens captures the dramatic moment when the legendary Greek hero dared to listen to the bewitching song – and survived.

Painted in 1891, this artwork illustrates one of the most famous scenes from Homer’s Odyssey. Knowing that the Sirens' song was impossible to resist, Ulysses (called Odysseus in the original Greek epic) ordered his crew to plug their ears with wax and tie him tightly to the ship’s mast. That way, he could hear the legendary melody without being able to follow it.

One of the painting’s most striking details is Waterhouse’s interpretation of the Sirens themselves. Today, Sirens are often imagined as mermaid-like creatures, but in ancient Greek art they were depicted as part woman, part bird – exactly as they appear here. Their dark wings surround the ship from every direction, creating a sense of danger and tension. Meanwhile, Ulysses strains against the ropes, caught between reason and temptation. The closer you look, the more drama unfolds in every corner of the scene.

Open this picture in the app and step aboard one of mythology’s most unforgettable journeys.