Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
S explained
This chapter provides an alphabetical listing of mythological and legendary figures, places, and concepts beginning with the letter 'S', including entries from Greek, Roman, Norse, Hindu, and Arthurian traditions.
What happens
This chapter provides an alphabetical listing of mythological and legendary figures, places, and concepts beginning with the letter 'S', including entries from Greek, Roman, Norse, Hindu, and Arthurian traditions.
Themes in this chapter
Mortality and Immortality
Figures like Sisyphus and the Sphinx illustrate eternal punishment or transformation, while others like Siegfried face mortal death.
Heroism and the Quest
References to Siegfried, the Argonauts, and the Siege Perilous highlight heroic quests and trials.
Characters to notice
- Sisyphus
Condemned in Tartarus to perpetually roll a rock up a hill, only for it to roll back down.
- Scylla
Sea-nymph beloved by Glaucus, changed by Circe into a monster and later a dangerous rock on the Sicilian coast.
- Siegfried
Young King of the Netherlands, husband of Kriemhild, slain by Hagan after Brunhild's anger.
- Somnus
Child of Nox, twin brother of Mors, god of sleep.
- Sphinx
Monster that waylaid the road to Thebes, propounding riddles, and killed herself when Oedipus guessed correctly.
- Sarpedon
Son of Jupiter and Europa, killed by Patroclus.
- Semiramis
With Ninus, mythical founder of the Assyrian empire of Nineveh.
- Sirens
Sea-nymphs whose singing charmed mariners to leap into the sea; Ulysses stopped his sailors' ears with wax and had himself bound to the mast.
Key passages
“Sisyphus (Sisˈy-phus), condemned in Tartarus to perpetually roll up hill a big rock which, when the top was reached, rolled down again.”
Sisyphus was punished in the underworld by endlessly pushing a boulder uphill, only for it to roll back down each time.
Describes the eternal punishment of Sisyphus.
“Sphinx (Sphinx), a monster, waylaying the road to Thebes and propounding riddles to all passers, on pain of death for wrong guessing, who killed herself in rage when Aedipus guessed aright.”
The Sphinx was a monster that blocked the road to Thebes, posing riddles to travelers and killing those who answered incorrectly; she committed suicide in fury when Oedipus solved her riddle.
Explains the myth of the Sphinx and Oedipus.
“Sirens (Siˈrens), sea-nymphs, whose singing charmed mariners to leap into the sea; passing their island, Ulysses stopped the ears of his sailors with wax, and had himself bound to the mast so that he could hear but not yield to their music.”
The Sirens were sea nymphs whose enchanting songs caused sailors to jump into the sea; Ulysses prevented his crew from hearing by plugging their ears with wax and had himself tied to the mast to safely listen.
Describes Ulysses' encounter with the Sirens.