Q 01/05

In which ancient Greek epic do the sirens make their first appearance?

A) The Argonautica

B) The Iliad

C) The Odyssey

D) Theogony

Answer · why

C) The Odyssey

Homer gave no physical description of them at all, leaving their looks to the imagination.

Q 02/05

What did Odysseus' crew plug their ears with to avoid hearing the sirens?

A) Beeswax

B) Wool

C) Olive pulp

D) Clay

Answer · why

A) Beeswax

Odysseus alone left his ears open so he could hear the song and live to tell of it.

Q 03/05

How did Odysseus manage to hear the sirens' song without being lured to his death?

A) He wore a helmet of bronze

B) He sang louder than they did

C) He listened from a rowing boat

D) He had himself tied to the mast

Answer · why

D) He had himself tied to the mast

He ordered his men to ignore his pleas, and when he signalled with frowns to be released they bound him tighter.

Q 04/05

Which sorceress advised Odysseus on how to survive the sirens?

A) Medea

B) Circe

C) Hecate

D) Calypso

Answer · why

B) Circe

She had earlier turned his men into pigs on her island of Aeaea.

Q 05/05

How were sirens usually depicted in early Greek art?

A) As winged horses

B) As birds with women's heads

C) As women with snake bodies

D) As mermaids with fish tails

Answer · why

B) As birds with women's heads

They may have been influenced by the ba-bird of Egyptian religion, and were often shown playing the lyre or aulos.