ABSTRACT
As ancient readers noticed, the only temptation Odysseus cannot resist is the song of the Sirens. But why? Because of its musical beauty, its content, or both? Homer leaves it open. Later interpretations, especially Roman, stress the song’s enchanting music at the expense of its content. Cicero famously replies to these interpretations by identifying the song with the call of the highest knowledge, which, to a wise man like Odysseus, naturally is dearer than his fatherland. The debate continues in Neoplatonism and later still. This chapter follows some of its key moments.
