The saga of Odysseus’ arrival at the island of Aeaea begins in the shadow of absolute despair. Having narrowly escaped the cannibalistic Laestrygonians, who had destroyed eleven of his twelve ships and devoured their crews, Odysseus led his lone remaining vessel to the shores of an unknown land. This was the island of Aeaea, a place that ancient tradition later associated with the rugged and beautiful promontory of Mount Circeo on the coast of Italy. For two days and two nights, the survivors lay exhausted on the beach, their spirits broken by the loss of their comrades and the unrelenting hostility of the sea.
On the third day, Odysseus, ever the proactive leader, took his bronze spear and climbed a rocky vantage point to survey the terrain. From the height, he saw a plume of smoke rising from the center of a dense forest of oak and evergreen. Though tempted to investigate immediately, he decided it was wiser to return to his men and provide them with a meal. On his way back to the ship, a great antlered stag crossed his path, sent perhaps by some sympathetic deity. Odysseus felled the beast with his spear, an act that provided a much-needed morale boost for his starving crew. As they feasted on the beach, Odysseus informed them that the island was inhabited, but mindful of their recent horrors, he divided the company into two groups to explore the source of the smoke. One group was led by his kinsman Eurylochus, and the other by Odysseus himself. A lottery was held, and it fell to Eurylochus and twenty-two men to venture into the woods.
Deep within the forest, Eurylochus’ party discovered a palace built of polished stone, situated in an open glade. Surrounding the palace were mountain lions and wolves, but to the men’s terror, the beasts did not attack. Instead, they stood on their hind legs and fawned upon the newcomers like long-lost pets, wagging their tails and purring. From within the halls, the sweet voice of a woman singing at a loom drifted through the air. This was Circe, the daughter of Helios the Sun and Perse the ocean nymph. The men, charmed by her voice, called out to her. Circe appeared, threw open the shining doors, and invited them in. Only Eurylochus, sensing a trap, remained outside, hiding in the shadows of the portico.
Inside, Circe seated the Greeks on ornate thrones and prepared a mess of cheese, barley, and honey mixed with potent Pramnian wine. Hidden within the delicious food were drugs designed to make the men forget their fatherland. As they ate greedily, Circe suddenly drew a long wand and struck them. In an instant, their bodies bristled with hair, their noses flattened into snouts, and they began to grunt. Though they possessed the bodies of swine, their minds remained human, trapped within the beasts and weeping for their lost humanity. Circe heartlessly drove them into sties and tossed them acorns and cornel berries to eat.
Eurylochus, having witnessed the men vanish into the palace but never return, fled back to the ship in a state of panic. He was so overcome with grief that he could initially barely speak, but eventually, he told Odysseus that his men had disappeared as if by some dark magic. Odysseus immediately slung his silver-studded sword over his shoulder and seized his bow, demanding that Eurylochus lead him back to the palace. Eurylochus, terrified, begged to be left behind, fearing they would all meet the same fate. Undeterred, Odysseus set off alone through the holy vales of the island.
As Odysseus approached the glade, he was intercepted by a young man who appeared to be in the prime of youth. This was the god Hermes in disguise. Hermes warned Odysseus of Circe’s treachery and described how she used her 'kukeon'—the drugged potion—to strip men of their courage and form. However, Hermes offered a solution. He reached down and plucked a plant from the earth, showing Odysseus its nature: it had a black root and a milk-white flower. The gods called it 'Moly,' and it was notoriously difficult for mortal men to uproot. Hermes instructed Odysseus to carry this herb as a talisman against Circe's charms.
Furthermore, Hermes gave Odysseus a specific strategy: when Circe struck him with her wand, he was not to succumb, but to draw his sword and rush at her as if to kill her. She would then, in her fear and admiration of his power, invite him to her bed. Hermes told him he must not refuse, but only after making her swear a solemn oath by the blessed gods that she would plot no further mischief against him. With these instructions, Hermes departed for the heights of Olympus, and Odysseus continued toward the palace.
When Odysseus reached the gates and called out, Circe welcomed him as she had the others. She led him to a silver-studded throne and offered him the golden cup laced with her transformation drugs. Odysseus drank it dry, yet remained unchanged. Circe, thinking her spell had taken hold, struck him with her wand and commanded, 'Off to the sty with you! Join your comrades!' In a flash, Odysseus drew his sharp blade and leaped at her. The goddess let out a piercing shriek, fell at his knees, and grasped his legs in supplication. She realized then that this was the 'man of many turns' whom Hermes had long ago prophesied would come to her shores upon his return from Troy.