The Dark Origins of Sirens | Dark Mythologies

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Mermaids and sirens often get confused, and whilst their mythologies do overlap in many ways, their nature and subsequent cultural influence differ greatly. In the first part of this two-part video series, we take a deep look at the ancient origins of sirens.
References:
Gresseth, G. K. (1970). The Homeric Sirens. /Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association/, /101/, 203-218. doi.org/10.2307/2936048
Pollard, J. R. T. (1952). Muses and Sirens. /The Classical Review/, /2/(2), 60-63. www.jstor.org/stable/705881
SCHUR, D. (2014). THE SILENCE OF HOMER’S SIRENS. /Arethusa/, /47/(1), 1-17. www.jstor.org/stable/26322591
Van Liefferinge, C. (2012). Sirens: From the Deadly Song to the Music of the Spheres. Homeric Readings and Platonic Interpretations. Revue de l’histoire des religions, 229, 479-501. doi.org/10.4000/rhr.7980
The stupid nonsense story at the beginning was just some crap I wrote up.
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Пікірлер: 216

  • @vanyakalinka8305
    @vanyakalinka8305 Жыл бұрын

    This is like the ancient people's way of telling young men that simping is bad for your health.

  • @makidtrej

    @makidtrej

    Жыл бұрын

    😂😂😂

  • @jmcb00

    @jmcb00

    Жыл бұрын

    😭😭😭😭

  • @theflowerhead

    @theflowerhead

    Жыл бұрын

    Totally. 😂

  • @alexiscarson6013

    @alexiscarson6013

    Жыл бұрын

    Never was a more succinct yet prescient analysis ever uttered on the web 👏👏👏👏💞

  • @kova1577

    @kova1577

    Жыл бұрын

    It’s still true. Women are sirens

  • @AndYourLittleDog
    @AndYourLittleDog Жыл бұрын

    I’m Greek and remember a story from my childhood about sirens being created by Demeter. Apparently they were originally nymphs who were supposed to watch over Persephone. When they failed to prevent her abduction, Demeter cursed them to become sirens. The version I was told depicted them as birds.

  • @solemn2854

    @solemn2854

    Жыл бұрын

    Harpees?

  • @AndYourLittleDog

    @AndYourLittleDog

    Жыл бұрын

    @@solemn2854 I think Elektra gave birth to two harpies

  • @sadkittten

    @sadkittten

    Жыл бұрын

    I read a book with this as the story

  • @julianaalcantara3595

    @julianaalcantara3595

    Жыл бұрын

    Que porra é essa?

  • @Kobiyachi_

    @Kobiyachi_

    10 ай бұрын

    I too have read that

  • @czane1526
    @czane1526 Жыл бұрын

    “If you hear a sorrowful scream in the night near the shore, walk with the wind away from it” yeah I don’t generally continue the direction I heard wailing screams from

  • @izudust

    @izudust

    Жыл бұрын

    @@bambooprincess3495 just learn to swim

  • @Armilus666

    @Armilus666

    4 ай бұрын

    I head straight to them but yeah you should stay clear.

  • @amandabartels458

    @amandabartels458

    Ай бұрын

    😂😅 Salute!

  • @quintinwright8487

    @quintinwright8487

    24 күн бұрын

    Like for real common sense

  • @TerryOCarroll
    @TerryOCarroll Жыл бұрын

    As the song says, "By the time you hear the Sirens, it's already too late"

  • @camibvaz
    @camibvaz Жыл бұрын

    I love sirens, when I was younger I fought a fantasy book called Watersong because it had a sparkling cover and it was about sirens (in the book, they can take half-fish forms on water and half-bird forms on land, so the writer did a in-between both traditions) and ever since then, they have fascinated me.

  • @Kainpound

    @Kainpound

    Жыл бұрын

    That's such an original conceptually interesting idea

  • @SassyGirl822006
    @SassyGirl822006 Жыл бұрын

    I'm getting the feeling that the confusion between mermaids and sirens happened fairly early. Since even the early depictions of sirens seem to go from bird-woman, to bird and fish woman, to fish-woman.

  • @GravityFromAbove
    @GravityFromAbove Жыл бұрын

    By the way Cinzia, here are a few worthy obscure mermaid/siren movies: She Creature 2001 (great monster vs alluring beauty take), Dagon (Lovecraft tale with a highly unique version of the feminine creature), Spring (dark mermaid love story in Italy) The Lure (recent Polish siren musical)(!), Night Tide (Dennis Hopper in a 1961 beatnik version), and I've got Mermaid Down ready to watch. It's either that or Aquamarine... Thanks for the deep dive!

  • @maggiescarlet

    @maggiescarlet

    Жыл бұрын

    Aquamarine was my childhood! Her little starfish earrings were so cute 😂 that musical sounds great though, appreciate all the recommendations

  • @GravityFromAbove

    @GravityFromAbove

    Жыл бұрын

    @@maggiescarlet Warning. None of these are friendly mermaid movies. They are all the opposite of a Disney version. The Lure isn't a Hollywood musical at all. It is dark strange and gritty and weirdly funny. And all in Polish. But I like the dark end of the mermaid stories.

  • @perfectallycromulent

    @perfectallycromulent

    Жыл бұрын

    there's also an Australian tv show from 2018 called Tidelands, which is on netflix at least in some countries too (like the US)

  • @chrisball3778
    @chrisball3778 Жыл бұрын

    I've never been sure how Mermaids ever got their current sympathetic image. All the folktales I've read about them at best portray them as alluring but capricious beings who decide to help fishermen in exchange for some kind of cursed promise, and at worst as psychopathic fish sticks with a deep-seated love of drowning mariners. I blame Hans Christian Andersen. Which is easy, because he was a very, very weird man. I.e. Looking forward to the mermaid talk.

  • Жыл бұрын

    I don't understand how Christian Andersen's works are considered "for children", they're all horrible without exception. If I remember correctly, sailors going to America (as in the entire continent, not the country) would get very excited to see "mermaids". It turned out they were manatees but that didn't stop them to describe the new lands as awesome partially because of the alleged mermaids. I guess they didn't know they were supposed to be murderous fish with boobs 😅

  • @canesugar911

    @canesugar911

    Жыл бұрын

    Their so called sympathetic nature only exists in Disney. I'm more inclined to be sympathetic towards them

  • @AdrienneLaVey
    @AdrienneLaVey Жыл бұрын

    I’ve been waiting for a video from you about this! Sirens are one of my favorite mythological creatures. 🖤

  • @CinziaDuBois

    @CinziaDuBois

    Жыл бұрын

    Hope you enjoyed it!

  • @scottdoesntmatter4409

    @scottdoesntmatter4409

    Жыл бұрын

    @@CinziaDuBois any progress on an updated vampire video?

  • @Pincer88
    @Pincer88 Жыл бұрын

    You've genuinely got a beautiful voice for storytelling. Could listen for hours, even if you would read from Wittgenstein's Tractatus. Have you ever considered writing your own stories and publishing them as audio books?

  • @CAP198462

    @CAP198462

    Жыл бұрын

    Other KZreadrs with amazing voices: Drachinifel GLid The Mighty Jingles. Baldamort. Drachinifel will give you the most peaceful sleep you’ve had in decades.

  • @Pincer88

    @Pincer88

    Жыл бұрын

    @@CAP198462 Certainly. But it's not about falling asleep, it's about hanging to her every word. The Lady of the Library makes the tale of the Sirens come alive the way she uses het voice in the introduction. That's magic.

  • @sarahf1296

    @sarahf1296

    Жыл бұрын

    Right? Like marry me and tell me stories every night. Pretty please 🙏 That would save me lots of money on streaming and audio services.

  • @Pincer88

    @Pincer88

    Жыл бұрын

    @@sarahf1296 Wow... astonishing how you've read my mind. You must be a clairvoyant. (Please mark the sarcasm).

  • @domirican4eva
    @domirican4eva Жыл бұрын

    “Clearly it didn’t look like me, however” 💀💀 your charming delivery combined with your deep research are so appreciated!!

  • @aeolia80
    @aeolia80 Жыл бұрын

    oh man!! I was just having this discussion with my French husband because mermaids and sirens are the same thing in French and French culture (les sirènes, quoi?, hahahhahahha), he was so surprised that with English speakers there was 2 different connotations. And then I told him about selkies, because those of us from celtic/gaelic backgrounds have this creature in our culture, and then I just confused him more, lol

  • Жыл бұрын

    Don't forget kelpies! 😃 I think in Spanish it's the same, the word Sirena is applied to both creatures.

  • @alexandrad3158

    @alexandrad3158

    Жыл бұрын

    i have just a google search and realized that in ALL Romance languages, mermaids and sirens are considered the same thing....

  • @HolasoyMai

    @HolasoyMai

    Жыл бұрын

    @ Yes. I still don't get used to two different types of "sirens" in English

  • @leticiabarboza486

    @leticiabarboza486

    Жыл бұрын

    Only now do I realize that we have only one word for both creatures in Portuguese as well 🤔

  • @e.urbach7780
    @e.urbach7780 Жыл бұрын

    This series of videos will be really interesting to me, because my family comes from southern Italy and Sicily, including the parts at the Strait of Messina where Scylla and Charybdis and the sirens were supposed to be!

  • @rosemarygilman8718
    @rosemarygilman8718 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you! I’m loving this! What a great topic. In the beginning of the video where you are speaking over the images of the candle and the moon your voice is perfect for the words you are speaking. You could be a voice actor, it’s so perfect! Your choice of music is also exactly right. As always, you do such a good job of presenting incredibly well researched information mixed with humor and fun. I’m looking forward to the next installment.

  • @arcadialumina
    @arcadialumina Жыл бұрын

    I love those bed sheets!!! mushrooms are very witchy and mystical

  • @AmayzinG13
    @AmayzinG13 Жыл бұрын

    A marvelous beginning to what looks to be a favorite series, many thanks!

  • @Lotrgecko
    @Lotrgecko Жыл бұрын

    Loved this, and I cannot wait for part 2! Also, the background music was the perfect touch *chef's kiss*

  • @anna_caps
    @anna_caps Жыл бұрын

    Already excited to see part 2! Loved the video and the October themed series. ❤

  • @lindanelson6615
    @lindanelson6615 Жыл бұрын

    Your opening for this video was absolutely hypnotic!

  • @jeremysmith4620
    @jeremysmith4620 Жыл бұрын

    Your voice drew me into the channel, but you are all muse, no siren. October is just the best, mostly because of all the great KZread content. Thanks for helping make the month extra Spooktacular!

  • @CinziaDuBois

    @CinziaDuBois

    Жыл бұрын

    Wow, thank you!

  • @mommymita
    @mommymita Жыл бұрын

    Eeeeeeek! I am so very excited for this two part series!!

  • @adrianodrika
    @adrianodrika Жыл бұрын

    Your room is so lovely, and your voice is so relaxing. I just love how much information you can pack in such a lovely voice. Thank you for teaching so much in such a lovely way.

  • @DarkINsides06
    @DarkINsides06 Жыл бұрын

    You're very well read but I keep coming back to your videos because you're so comforting and your voice relaxes me. I really enjoy your work 🖖🏼

  • @meowcenary21
    @meowcenary21 Жыл бұрын

    Newly discovered your channel today and have been binge watching. Your academic presentation gorgeously pairs with the entertaining and insightful points made. My mind feels as revived days in graduate school, which is the most sincere of compliments.

  • @nickrhodes9031
    @nickrhodes9031 Жыл бұрын

    Loved your reading at the opening...I was completely hooked. Greatly looking forward to the rest of dark October.

  • @KristyStrange
    @KristyStrange Жыл бұрын

    OBSESSED! Thank you for providing an in-depth look at the origins of the siren. Adore this video series 🖤

  • @danibissonnette1601
    @danibissonnette1601 Жыл бұрын

    This is my favorite on the videos you've done thus far! It reminds me of multiple world myths including the Kushtaka of North America and the rainbow bridge and the 9 realms in Nordic mythology. Thank you for making these, history and classics are so much more fascinating when you get to go on tangents and anchor them to something someone may be more familiar with :)

  • @cultofpusheen
    @cultofpusheen Жыл бұрын

    Love your videos Cinzia can't wait for part 2!!!

  • @dekay666
    @dekay66610 ай бұрын

    Odysseus wanted to be tied to the mast because if the sirens sang and nobody came, they would know and seek them out. He did it to protect the crew. The sirens knew someone (Odysseus) could hear them so they kept singing until the crew who couldn’t hear her snuck the ship past. It was a diversion tactic and had nothing to do with cake. 🙂

  • @RafaelGarcia022
    @RafaelGarcia022 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for these videos. The scholarly content mixes well with your sweet and fun personality :)

  • @carly885
    @carly885 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you! 😊 this was really interesting, I'm excited for part 2 🧜‍♀️

  • @CinziaDuBois

    @CinziaDuBois

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @hannahsolo27
    @hannahsolo27 Жыл бұрын

    I’m liking the background mood music! Excellent video as always ❤

  • @blackheartbooks
    @blackheartbooks Жыл бұрын

    You have such a nice voice for telling stories

  • @millymollymrst3537
    @millymollymrst3537 Жыл бұрын

    This was totally fascinating, love your channel.❤

  • @ongjune8328
    @ongjune8328 Жыл бұрын

    Love this series!! Can't wait for more :D Happy October everyone

  • @ReadingNymph
    @ReadingNymph Жыл бұрын

    Your videos are always so fantastic! Loved this look into Sirens

  • @Soilfood365
    @Soilfood365 Жыл бұрын

    Always a treat when one of yours turns up in my feed! This comment to let the algorithm know I'd like to see the next one more promptly...

  • @paulshaddix5290
    @paulshaddix5290 Жыл бұрын

    finding your channel has improved my Classical education onehundred fold...thank you..

  • @SethTheXenocide
    @SethTheXenocide Жыл бұрын

    Good first video. I'm fine with these topics stretching into Christmas time!

  • @paulshaddix5290
    @paulshaddix529011 ай бұрын

    always excellent and well paced...thank you for your consistancy and excellent......

  • @barjamlin7962
    @barjamlin7962 Жыл бұрын

    Interesting subject, and an excellent video. You have a beautiful voice for storytelling.

  • @mardinegouws4335
    @mardinegouws4335 Жыл бұрын

    Thank goodness for the only person who have the intelligence and voice to give wonderful info. Love ur channel!❤

  • @emmajones8715
    @emmajones8715 Жыл бұрын

    About fantastic video, thank you for all of the work you put in to your content x

  • @CinziaDuBois

    @CinziaDuBois

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much, Emma!!

  • @brandonlrushman2870
    @brandonlrushman2870 Жыл бұрын

    Why does every British person sound like an Oxford professor! 💚 everything sounds more intelligent and smooth! 💚 Love the mythological on sirens/mermaids! 💙

  • @markwynne725
    @markwynne725 Жыл бұрын

    I really liked the story at the start. It really set the tone of danger masked by beauty that sirens represent. The following description of sirens in literature felt too short to me. Looking forward to the follow up!

  • @budwhite9591
    @budwhite9591 Жыл бұрын

    I discovered your channel a few weeks ago. Every video is better and better, you are very pretty, and your voice and accent are just beautiful. Thank you for your work.

  • @bimbobaggins4521
    @bimbobaggins4521 Жыл бұрын

    Love this video!! I love your storytelling style. 🖤

  • @CinziaDuBois

    @CinziaDuBois

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad you liked it!!

  • @fatimarezigui3892
    @fatimarezigui3892 Жыл бұрын

    I just can't seem to stop watching ur videos! 😍 Thank u ❤️

  • @TerryWilliams-wu8xc
    @TerryWilliams-wu8xc8 күн бұрын

    I enjoy listening to your voice, both alluring and calming.

  • @avgeek3811
    @avgeek3811 Жыл бұрын

    I love the spooky tone of the video. I'm excited for part 2

  • @eldgeth3799
    @eldgeth3799 Жыл бұрын

    What a wonderful spooky start to October!

  • @andy2950
    @andy2950 Жыл бұрын

    Song to the Siren by This Mortal Coil. ❤ Persephone by The Cocteau Twins 🥰

  • @MammaApa

    @MammaApa

    Жыл бұрын

    Song to the Siren is a cover, original by Tim Buckley. I couldn't choose one over the other though, and that is rare when it comes to covers!

  • @andy2950

    @andy2950

    Жыл бұрын

    @MammaApa I know. Jeff Buckley was obsessed with Liz Fraser after hearing her cover of his Dad's song. That's the clincher for me.

  • @Just-aNerd
    @Just-aNerd Жыл бұрын

    Soooo, If sirens have wings, one could write a story in which sky sirens lure pilots instead of sailors.

  • @SamSam-esqe

    @SamSam-esqe

    Жыл бұрын

    Ooooooooooooooo

  • @daskraut
    @daskraut Жыл бұрын

    i only remember that the sirens got a little bit... annoyed... when obelix asked for food.

  • @NatalieAuroraS
    @NatalieAuroraS Жыл бұрын

    I love the background music. I very much enjoyed this video and cannot wait for others such as this one.

  • @lesliemoiseauthor
    @lesliemoiseauthor Жыл бұрын

    I love this Halloween themed series!

  • @Skibbityboo0580
    @Skibbityboo0580 Жыл бұрын

    My new favorite KZreadr!

  • @CinziaDuBois

    @CinziaDuBois

    Жыл бұрын

    Aww, thank you!

  • @ThaetusZain
    @ThaetusZain Жыл бұрын

    just starting the video. Love the mushroom bedsheets

  • @bronwynsmith4469
    @bronwynsmith4469 Жыл бұрын

    I always look forward to hearing your videos 🎬

  • @CinziaDuBois

    @CinziaDuBois

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad you like them!

  • @JewelMooreSings
    @JewelMooreSings Жыл бұрын

    I really loved this video!! Thanks!! ❤

  • @CinziaDuBois

    @CinziaDuBois

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad you liked it!!

  • @Calin0uchka
    @Calin0uchka Жыл бұрын

    Such an interesting video 💗.

  • @thevegancupid77
    @thevegancupid7710 ай бұрын

    please do more storytelling like you did at the start of the video. it helps me fall asleep. it would be great if you do more. i love these!

  • @holyfreak8
    @holyfreak8 Жыл бұрын

    I'd love to see a faithful adaptation of sirens on the screen, as they were described by Homer in "The Oddysey". Great video Lady! Love the narration at the intro.

  • @nikikaniki
    @nikikaniki Жыл бұрын

    Super fascinating thank you as always

  • @MiciusPorcius
    @MiciusPorcius Жыл бұрын

    Fascinating stuff keep it up!

  • @CinziaDuBois

    @CinziaDuBois

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks, will do!

  • @can-i-go-now
    @can-i-go-now Жыл бұрын

    Glad I found this channel.

  • @mercurialfox
    @mercurialfox Жыл бұрын

    Loving this dark series!

  • @janicegagnon2294
    @janicegagnon2294 Жыл бұрын

    Can’t wait !

  • @bwalker77
    @bwalker77 Жыл бұрын

    All right, I'm hooked. I just subscribed.

  • @talyah23
    @talyah23 Жыл бұрын

    Loved this 🥰

  • @evanames5940
    @evanames5940 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks again as always.

  • @johnsaxongitno4life588
    @johnsaxongitno4life588 Жыл бұрын

    I really really enjoyed this amazing video love it and love you and your amazing channel ❤❤❤❤

  • @CinziaDuBois

    @CinziaDuBois

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much!!

  • @johnsaxongitno4life588

    @johnsaxongitno4life588

    Жыл бұрын

    @@CinziaDuBois no worries 😉 your welcome 🙏

  • @cadenceclearwater4340
    @cadenceclearwater4340 Жыл бұрын

    A beautiful reading 😊

  • @Madlymarmalade
    @Madlymarmalade Жыл бұрын

    I don't think it was mentioned or asked yet, but what are you reading in the intro? I'm in love whatever it is and i want more of that one too. This is epic.

  • @winterburden
    @winterburden Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this neat siren video! 🙆‍♀️

  • @CinziaDuBois

    @CinziaDuBois

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad you liked it!

  • @MasterManGod
    @MasterManGod Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for doing this. There was so much about sirens I didn't know or never realized, especially their connection to Egypt and descriptions. Looking forward to part 2! (also asphodel is one of my favorite words to say lol)

  • @hollyreed6538
    @hollyreed6538 Жыл бұрын

    Rely enjoyed this one and would rely like it if you could do a video in the 5 parts that Egyptians believed made up ones self it sounds very interesting

  • @OlliWitta3_
    @OlliWitta3_23 күн бұрын

    11:50 makes me think of the different hz frequencies 😮

  • @katymaloney
    @katymaloney Жыл бұрын

    Me, suddenly realizing half-tangent that daffodils have 6 points, so basically hexagonal star-shaped... Hellflowers! xD

  • @fourhemispheres2734
    @fourhemispheres2734 Жыл бұрын

    I loved this ❤

  • @MrAaroncissell
    @MrAaroncissell Жыл бұрын

    Ohhh Thanks for the hopefully three months of fun!

  • @AudreyDarling
    @AudreyDarling Жыл бұрын

    “Clearly it didn’t look like me however” -I chuckled 🤣

  • @rasheedawilson752
    @rasheedawilson752 Жыл бұрын

    Looking forward to this series!!

  • @theblackswan2373
    @theblackswan2373 Жыл бұрын

    Delightful.

  • @MoeShinola1
    @MoeShinola1 Жыл бұрын

    "Many a hero has been laid low, like Samson, by a perfidious Ba" - William S. Burroughs

  • @geonunes10
    @geonunes10 Жыл бұрын

    The change in set actually works for the halloween theme

  • @CwL-1984
    @CwL-1984 Жыл бұрын

    Splendid 👍👍

  • @lungelongubane4071
    @lungelongubane4071 Жыл бұрын

    I never would have thought of sirens as celestial it's a new perspective 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️❤️❤️

  • @crystalcastillo7575
    @crystalcastillo7575 Жыл бұрын

    Always had a fascinating with mermaids. This was such an interesting video

  • @angelicaheredia9187
    @angelicaheredia9187 Жыл бұрын

    in Italian siren and mermaid both translate to the word "Sirena"

  • @jissellecruz4054

    @jissellecruz4054

    Жыл бұрын

    Same in Spanish

  • @QuaesitorDei
    @QuaesitorDei Жыл бұрын

    I love your voice. Do you use it in everyday life or is it affectation for the channel?

  • @CinziaDuBois

    @CinziaDuBois

    Жыл бұрын

    It's my real voice haha thank you

  • @crazy4catsRL
    @crazy4catsRL Жыл бұрын

    I’ve never heard of the half bird half human sirens. I thought I had done a lot of reading but I guess I have much more to do. Can anyone suggest any sources to look at and/or read? Tia!

  • @violetsidhe
    @violetsidhe Жыл бұрын

    Another great video… I am kinda distracted by your mushroom duvet cover and pillow cases

  • @tr8rsn4k36
    @tr8rsn4k36 Жыл бұрын

    Ahh the screencap from Dagon in the thumbnail👌🏻

  • @robertdonregenhardt6502
    @robertdonregenhardt6502 Жыл бұрын

    The video of the sirens, you aren't off subject when talking about Egypt and the bae bird. Have you thought about doing some about inanna, eve after the separation from Adam? Their more I would like to talk about.

  • @jimperry6463
    @jimperry6463 Жыл бұрын

    Request: the boatman of the underworld across mythologies

  • @aishanelly2150
    @aishanelly2150 Жыл бұрын

    Your bed sheets are amazing

  • @jamestharp7286
    @jamestharp72863 ай бұрын

    I remember reading translation from a hebrew text that said the punishment for the mothers of the nephilim was to be transformed into sirens. Cant remember if their physical form was described or not, but something has me leaning towards part bird not fish. Ill have to see if i can find it

  • @shanscheiidt2895
    @shanscheiidt2895 Жыл бұрын

    Idrk why, but the "Ba" reminds me a lot of the character Yubaba in Spirited Away

  • @mathieuleader8601
    @mathieuleader8601 Жыл бұрын

    never knew the sirens had a role in the underworld acting as a living lynchpin to hold up the heavens and the earth