Aeaea in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Aeaea

5 passages from 2 ancient authors that tell of Aeaea, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Aeaea was a mythical island in Greek mythology, which was considered to be the place where the witch Circe lived. In this island, Odysseus stayed for ... For the story in one place, read our article on Aeaea.

Homer (2)

Homer, Odyssey 10.133–209Circe's island; the stagThey come to the island of Aeaea, where the goddess Circe lives, and Odysseus lands and kills a great stag, which the men carry down to the ship for a meal. The men weep, remembering the Cyclops and the Laestrygonians, and Odysseus divides them into two companies, led by himself and by Eurylochus, and the lot falls to Eurylochus to go inland.
Homer, Odyssey 12.1–141Circe's counselAfter they leave the river of Ocean and return to Aeaea, Odysseus buries Elpenor, and Circe comes to them with food and wine. She tells him in private of the dangers ahead: the Sirens, whom they must pass with their ears stopped with wax, and the wandering rocks. She describes Scylla and Charybdis, and tells him to choose Scylla's side, and to leave the cattle of the Sun untouched.

Apollonius Rhodius (3)

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4.552–684Zeus' anger and the voyage to Circe's islandZeus is angry at the murder, and the speaking beam of Argo says that Circe must cleanse them. Argo sails up the Eridanus, where Phaethon fell, and through the Rhodanus, with Hera guiding them, past the Stoechades to the Tyrrhenian coast. They come to Aeaea and see Circe washing her hair.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4.685–782Circe purifies Jason and MedeaAt Aeaea Circe, daughter of Helios, purifies Jason and Medea of the murder. When she learns the whole story she drives them from her house with reproaches. Hera sends Iris to fetch Thetis and to ask Hephaestus and Aeolus to help Argo.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4.885–981The Sirens, the Wandering Rocks and ScyllaAt dawn the Argonauts leave Aeaea; Orpheus drowns out the Sirens' song with his lyre, though Butes dives in and is saved by Cypris. The Nereids pass Argo through the Wandering Rocks, with Hera and Hephaestus watching, and the heroes sail on past Thrinacia and the cattle of Helios.