Siren

Mermaids, unlike popular custom, within the Greek tradition were marine geniuses, half women and half birds. His ancestry is unclear. According to the most common versions of the myth, they are the daughters of Melpomene (muse of tragedy) and Acheloos (god of the homonymous river and first-born of the river-gods). But other versions make them daughters of Achelous and Sterope, or Terpsichore (muse of poetry and dance) or also of the god Phorcis. According to the version of Libanius, they were born from the blood of Acheloos, which was shed by Heracles (Hercules).

The first known mention of the Sirens is in The Odyssey, when Odysseus confronts his song at sea. Only two appear here, but other traditions speak of three: Pisínoe (Parténope), Agláope (Leucosia), and Telxiepia (Ligia) or even four: Teles, Redne, Molpe, and Telxíope.