The master-crafter Argus had some divine sponsorship in his task. His patron goddess who was Hera had enlisted the aid of her fellow goddess Athena. The patroness of crafts secured a prow for the vessel from timber hewn at the sacred grove of Zeus at Dodona. This prow was believed to have the magical property of speaking. That included prophesying in a human voice.

And so, one bright autumn morning, the Argo set sail out to sea. With her benches crewed by lusty ranks of heroic rowers known as the Argonauts. And true to Pelias fondest aspirations, it wasn’t long before major troubles assailed the company. After stopping for better than a fortnight on an island populated exclusively by women, they were plain in at Salmydessus.

But who were these women? These women were known as the Sirens. They were beautiful; however, they were considered vile and dangerous creatures that lured the sailors with their angelic voices to their doom. They were known to cause the ships on the reefs near their island. The Siren were known to be the offspring of the river god Acheloos, while there mother could have been anyone of these four: Terpsichore, Melpomene, Sterope, or Chthon. Although they are very closely linked to their marine environments, they are not considered sea deities.

The Sirens were probably considered companions of Persephone, who was the daughter of the goddess Demeter. The latter had given them wings in order to protect her daughter; however, after Persephone’s abduction from Hades, Demeter made sure to curse them. The Siren’s song was a beautiful, yet a very sad melody, that is eternally calling for Persephone’s return. Once the Argonauts encountered the Sirens; however, they successfully evaded them; Orpheus who was on board began playing his lyre so beautifully that the music completely drowned the Siren’s song.

It should be noted that another well-known encounter with the Sirens was described in the Odyssey. The legendary hero Odysseys was advised by the witch Circle to plug his crew’s ears with wax and ordered them to bind him on the mast of the ship. He also told them that no matter how much he begged, they should not untie him. Once they passed near the Siren’s island, Odysseus started begging his shipmates to let him go. However, no one heard him. Instead they made sure to tie him even more. After they passed, Odysseus let them know that they were in safe waters.