The
Legend of CIRCE
The story begins with the abduction of Helen.
Yes, beautiful enough to launch a 1000 ships, Helen. Queen and
spiritual head of the low land Greeks, kidnapped by Paris defender
of Greek highland shepherds and man about Troy. Take two different
ways of life, one fertile goddess, throw in betrayal, lust and
power, a ticked off King, add a liberal sprinkling of propaganda
and what do you get? - The tragic saga of the Trojan war.
We pick up the legend of Circe 10 years later, Troy
has been sacked, the warrior Odysseus, and his men after years
of bloody war, are sailing around lost .They land on a strange
island. Appearing to be uninhabited , smoke is spotted so Odysseus
dispatches his men to the interior to check it out..
They find a magnificent house of
polished stone set in garden estate There are lions, wolves
and other fierce creatures tamed as if under a spell. At first
they are afraid, but as they get closer they hear wonderful
singing. Before they even knock on the door, Circe appears before
them. Awe stuck by her beauty she tempts them with delicious
food.
All except one have
completely forgotten that they are knarly battle hardened troops
on a raiding party in paradise and he watches as they fall victim
to the ol' drugged food trick, only slightly less well known
than soldiers hiding inside the wooden horse trick. Circe waves
her magic wand and 'Kapoof!' they all become pigs!
Odysseus hears of the fate of his men
and sets off to save them - Hermes the messenger God appears
just in time with a plan "Don't eat the food ! Wait until Circe
believes you are seduced ,then jump up ,draw your sword and
under threat of death warn her not to try anything." This seems
to do the trick ,after all ,someone in heaven must be looking
after him
Time passes. Odysseus
is still hanging around, pleading with Circe to change his bunch
of brutish soldiers back from their cuddly domestic animal form.
After much listening to music, laying around, eating, pleading
and pet feeding Circe relents, and turns them back to men.
Aftermore
laying around in splendor with
the guys Odysseus gets it in his head that this life of wine,
women and song is no life for stout hearted pig farming Greeks.
So he does some more pleading, "help us get home Circe. We might
one day found an empire, invent logic, democracy and philosophy,
but right now we miss our old farms."
Circe, instructs
him that she couldn't possibly know where his home is as she
is already at home. However if he must go she does know this
guy who lives on a most terrifying aspect over looking the river
'Styx' and he knows where home is and you can find him easily
- he lives just beyond hell.
So the Greeks sailed with their
backs turned to the pleasure
and intrigues of palace life on
Circe's island and into history.
