04 June 2005

BECOME A SWINE FOR CIRCE'S MAGIC WINE?


On his return from the Trojan War, Ulysses sailed to the fantastic island of Aeaea inhabited by Circe, a beautiful but powerful sorceress. The land was crawling with swine, the metamorphosed forms of men seduced by her potent herbal brews.

Ulysses lost his entire crew to her charms, but armed with moly, a herb given to him by Hermes, he was able to withstand her spells and force her to release his men from their bestial shape.
Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses
Painting date: 1891 Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 149 x 92 cm
Location: Oldham Art Gallery, Oldham, England
I reflect on whether I would have resisted the potent brew offered by Circe and been forced to live as swine for the rest of my life.
Perhaps, unknowingly, I already did and have been transformed into a modern day swine?

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