# S explained — Bulfinch’s Mythology

> Chapter companion for Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/s
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters