Circe

Circe (Ancient Greek: Κιρκη) was an immortal sorceress from Greek mythology. She was the daughter of Helios and Perseis and was the sister of Pasiphae, Perses, and Aeetes. She was sometimes called the goddess of magic. By Poseidon, she was the mother of Phaunus. Circe also had three children with Odysseus: Telegonus, Latinus, and Ardeas. Cassiphone has also been named as a daughter of Circe.

Mythology
Circe was most well-known for her great skill in potions, herbs, and sorcery. She was able to transform her enemies into animals. She lived on the island of Aeaea, which some say she was banished to by her father after she killed her husband.

The Odyssey
In the Odyssey, Circe is said to live in a mansion in the middle of a forest that is guarded by men who have been transformed into lions and wolves. When Odysseus and his crew arrived, she offered them all to a meal. However, the meal contained one of her potions and it transformed all of the men who had eaten into pigs. The only person who had sensed her bad intentions was Eurylochus who escaped from Circe and warned Odysseus since he stayed behind on their ship.

Odysseus headed to Circe's mansion to rescue his men but was greeted by Hermes, who was sent by Athena. Hermes instructed Odysseus to hold moly, a magical herb, to protect himself from Circe's sorcery and pretend to attack her. When this happened, Hermes told Odysseus that Circe would ask to take him to bed but only to do so if Circe swore by the gods that she would not take his manhood. Odysseus did exactly as Hermes had told him and was able to rescue his men. They remained on Circe's island for a whole year.

Some sources claim that Circe bore three children to Odysseus: Ardeas, Latinus, and Telegonus. Circe raised these sons without Odysseus but Telegonus eventually asked his mother who his father was. When he set out to find Odysseus, Circe gave him a poisoned spear which he killed his father with. Some sources also claim that Circe brought Odysseus back to life. Circe was killed by a son of Odysseus and another woman, Telemachus. Telemachus was killed by Cassiphone, a daughter of Circe.