Circe in the Odyssey is a minor goddess and enchantress, daughter of the sun god Helios and the Oceanid nymph Perse. She is renowned for her knowledge of potions and magic, particularly her ability to transform humans into animals, most famously turning Odysseus' men into pigs when they land on her island, Aeaea
. In the epic, Circe initially appears as a dangerous figure who lures Odysseus' crew with hospitality but then enchants them. Odysseus, aided by the god Hermes who gives him a protective herb called moly, resists her magic and compels her to restore his men to human form. After this, Odysseus and Circe live together for a year, during which she becomes a helpful ally, advising him on how to continue his journey home, including instructing him to visit the Underworld to gain crucial knowledge
. Circe represents both a threat and a helper: she embodies the dangers of temptation and distraction from one's goals through comfort and pleasure, yet she also serves as a guide and mystagogue who provides Odysseus with vital support for his voyage. Her role highlights themes of power, transformation, and the subversion of traditional gender roles in Greek mythology, as she lives independently without male authority and wields potent magic
. In summary, Circe is a complex figure in the Odyssey : a powerful sorceress who initially endangers Odysseus' crew but ultimately aids the hero on his journey home
