Sirens of Ulysses: the myth of Sorrento “the land of the Sirens”

Sorrento is one of the most famous and loved tourist destinations in the world. The mountains that meet the crystalline sea, the beautiful landscapes and the picturesque historic center make it a place where beauty meets the myth of Ulysses' Sirens .

What links the land of Sorrento to the Sirens ?

Certainly, the architect of this bond is Homer who praised the naturalistic and landscape beauties of the Sorrento peninsula and made it the meeting place between the Sirens and Ulysses .

Legend has it that three Sirens , the daughters of Achelous, lived in this area: Ligeia, Leucosia and Partenope . They used to enchant sailors from the rocks of the promontory of Peloro, located between Scylla and Charybdis, until they were submerged by the waters.

In fact, the Sirens found their ideal location on the mouth of Capri, as they needed both dry land and water. Furthermore, since they loved to enchant sailors with their voices, this place represented a crucial point of passage for navigation.

The story of the Sirens' encounter with Ulysses can be read in Book XII of Homer's Odyssey. Ulysses' Sirens are one of the most fascinating mythical tales in Western literature. Their story has its roots in ancient Greece, which tells of creatures who were half-woman and half-fish with such a melodious voice that they attracted sailors into the deep.

In this book of the Odyssey, you can read about Ulysses' third-to-last ordeal on his return journey from the Trojan War. After overcoming the Cyclops and the sorceress Circe, the protagonist of the Odyssey must face the bewitching song of the Sirens . Ulysses knows that they are able to enchant and convince sailors to throw themselves into the water and drown; therefore, he decides to put wax plugs on all his companions, while he has himself tied to the mainmast.

Ulysses, in fact, characterized by the desire to discover and learn new things, wants to hear the song of the Sirens and discover what drives men mad.

Remaining tied he discovers the strength of these wonderful creatures: speaking to each man differently and tempting him with his deepest desire. In the case of Ulysses, the Sirens try to dissuade him with absolute knowledge. Only the fact of being fixed to the ship prevents him from accepting the proposal and ensures his salvation.

Ulysses managed to overcome the Sirens' test also thanks to the goddess Athena who helped him not to give in to their song. To thank her he decided to build a temple in her honor on top of Punta Campanella where today you can see the remains.

The Sirens of Ulysses , however, did not have a happy ending because, out of disappointment at not being able to attract Ulysses, they took their own lives, fell into the sea and turned into rock. These became the islets of “Li Galli” visible from Punta Campanella, also called the archipelago of the Sirens.

Furthermore, the name Sorrento itself seems to derive from the Latin adaptation of “Siren” , referring to the mythical sirens who lured sailors with their captivating yet deadly melodies.

We are often asked why the “Luce di Sorrento” logo represents a mermaid embracing a sun.

The choice was made to include in the logo both a reference to the land of Sorrento and to our neurocosmetic products. In fact, the Mermaid is the symbol of Sorrento , but also of the feminine beauty that our cosmetics take care of. Instead, the sun represents both the land of Sorrento rich in sun and light, and the action of our cosmetics that offer a natural luminosity of the skin thanks also to the use of Sorrento Lemon essential oil .

Our products, in addition to offering greater brightness, are also antioxidants, anti-aging and moisturizing. Furthermore, they do not only take care of the skin, but also of the well-being of the person giving an inner light thanks to the scent of Sorrento Lemon that instills a sense of relaxation and peace.

We are waiting for you in our eCommerce to discover all our products and start an emotional skincare !