Circe, Kirke (Ancient Greek, falcon or hawk)

Circe was the unloved daughter who failed to live up to her family’s expectations and ideals. She grew up in the palace of her father, the sun god Helios – yet she was mocked and ostracised by her own family.

Circe spent most of her childhood alone. Nature and animals were her only source of positive companionship, offering her an escape from loneliness. This led her to begin experimenting with plants and discover her gift for transformation. When she transformed her rival, Scylla, the gods were alarmed to discover her new form of power: sorcery (pharmakeia) through herbs.

Her brother Aietes also possessed this gift, yet only Circe was punished for it. Her father Helios and other gods, such as Zeus, saw her ‘rebellious nature’ and her magical powers as a threat. Fearing her powers, Zeus banished her for life to the desolate island of Aiaia.
Initially alone and isolated, she learns to stand her ground there and later plays an important role for mythological figures such as Odysseus.

Madeline Miller’s novel *Circe* inspired me to create this artwork.

This artwork is part of the series: ‘At the dawn of endless possibilities’