Mnemosyne — Classical Greek Myth Library

On Aeaea, island of Circe daughter of Helios, Odysseus split his remaining men: Eurylochus led a party inland and found Circe’s hall among tame wolves and lions. She welcomed them with cheese, meal, and wine mixed with drugs, then struck them with her wand and drove them into sties as swine—minds human, bodies swine. Eurylochus alone escaped to warn Odysseus. Hermes met Odysseus on the path, gave him the herb moly as antidote, and coached him to draw his sword and exact Circe’s oath before lying with her. Circe’s drugs failed; she recognized a man who could not be enchanted, swore, and restored the crew with a touch of the wand and ointment. At their plea Odysseus lingered a full year in Circe’s hospitality until the men urged departure. She then told him he must first sail to the house of Hades and consult the shade of Teiresias—and she gave rites and wind for that voyage. Young Elpenor, drunk, fell from her roof and died unnoticed until the underworld journey. Circe thus turns from witch-hostess to prophetic guide for the Nekyia.