KirkeCirce

The nymph of the island, Aiaia (Aeaea), where Odysseus was stranded on his journey home from the city of Troy; she was the daughter of Helios (the Sun) and the Okeanid, Perseis; she and Odysseus had three sons, Agrios, Latinos and Telegonos.

When Odysseus landed on her island, Kirke turned his sailors into swine with a magic drink but Odysseus was not affected because he was given the antidote to the poison by Hermes; finally, Zeus commanded Kirke to allow Odysseus to leave and resume his journey home to Ithaka (Ithaca).

Kirke was the sister of king Aietes (Aeetes) of Kolkhis (Colchis); Aietes’ daughter, Medea, inherited magical powers from Kirke and used her knowledge of potions and spells to assist Iason (Jason) and the Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece; when the Argonauts fled Kolkhis with the Golden Fleece, they were pursued by Medea’s brother, Apsyrtos; Medea and Iason lured Apsyrtos into a trap and murdered him; Zeus was so incensed by such a wanton act that he ordered Medea and Iason to go to the island of Aiaia and seek Kirke’s forgiveness; Kirke would not absolve them of their crime and sent them on their way to face the harsh punishment of the Immortals.

For more information on Kirke, I suggest that you consult the Immortals section of this site.

• Theogony, lines 957 and 1010
• Argonautika, book 3, lines 304-316