Orpheus and the Sirens
When the Sirens try to lure the Argonauts to destruction, Orpheus answers their supernatural song with music of his own.
The Story
The return voyage brought the Argonauts near the island of the Sirens.
The Sirens possessed voices capable of drawing sailors away from safety.
Those who listened could abandon their course and perish.
The Argonauts were vulnerable to the same danger that would later confront Odysseus.
But the Argo carried Orpheus.
As the Sirens began their song, Orpheus took up his lyre.
He played a faster and more powerful melody.
His music filled the ears of the crew and overcame the seductive voices from the island.
The Argo continued past.
One Argonaut, Butes, was nevertheless overcome by the Sirens' song and leapt into the sea.
Aphrodite rescued him before he reached destruction.
The episode demonstrates why Orpheus was more than an ornamental member of the expedition.
His music literally saved the crew.
Key Figures
Why It Matters
The Argonautic Siren episode provides a striking parallel with the Odyssey and gives Orpheus a decisive practical role aboard the Argo.
Traditions & Variations
The best-known surviving version is in Apollonius' Argonautica, where Orpheus' music overpowers the Sirens.