Research Entry #3

Goddess Research Series: Circe - Enchantress, Independent, Misunderstood

While developing my digital series on goddesses, I discovered that few figures offer as much complexity as Circe. Often dismissed as a secondary antagonist in the Greco-Roman tradition, she is actually one of the most visually and thematically rich figures in mythology. For this post, I looked into two main sources to see how Circe changed from a "scary" villain in ancient stories to a powerful, independent sorceress in modern ones. I want to use this research to help me move past the "evil witch" tropes and create something deeper for my final project.

The first source is Homer’s The Odyssey, which provides the foundational narrative for Circe. In the story, she is the daughter of Helios, the sun god, and the nymph Perse. She lives alone on the island of Aeaea in a, "mansion that stands in the middle of a clearing in a dense wood," where she is surrounded by tamed wolves and lions. To the ancient Greeks, she was a personification of the dangers of female autonomy and untamed nature.

The key takeaway from The Odyssey for my art is her dual nature as a dangerous force and a gracious host. Initially, she uses a magical potion and a wand to transform Odysseus’s men into swine, a scene commonly depicted in ancient art as a moment of monstrous transformation. However, after being confronted by Odysseus, she changes, becoming a helpful guide who feeds them for a year and aids their return journey.

To get a modern perspective, I looked at Madeline Miller’s 2018 novel, Circe. This reimagining flipped the script on the goddess. Instead of a flat antagonist, Miller portrays her as a daughter of Helios who is bullied by her divine family and exiled for her "ugliness" and her interest in witchcraft. What I find most successful about this source is how it humanizes her power.

Miller’s interpretation emphasizes that Circe's transformation of men into beasts is not random malice, but a reaction to their own bestial nature, turning them into animals that reflect their behavior. In this light, Circe is a guardian of her own space, punishing those who abuse her hospitality. She is a woman, "who blurs the line between gods... and the intimidation factor of mortal wielders of witchcraft."

These resources have directly shaped how I am rendering Circe in my current digital piece. I chose to give her tan skin and golden eyes to reflect her lineage as the daughter of the Sun, while her braided hair references the braided nymphs described in Homeric hymns. Instead of a delicate wand, I’ve designed a heavy wooden staff topped with a glowing green orb. This helps emphasize her connection to the island’s nature and the plants she uses for her potions.

I place a focus on the green magic emanating from her staff. I’m using a custom glow brush in Procreate (titled "nebula") to create a sense of movement, making the magic feel toxic rather than sparkly. To balance the composition, I’ve placed two boars on her left and right. This symmetry makes her look like a mistress of animals, a classic pose in ancient art that shows her total control over the environment. By combining Miller’s more empathetic backstory with the iconic imagery from The Odyssey, my goal is to show a Circe who is powerful, grounded, and unapologetic about her magic.

Work in progress Circe drawing

Sources Cited:

• Homer. "The Odyssey." Translated by Emily Wilson, W. W. Norton & Company, 2018, wwnorton.com.
• Miller, Madeline. "Circe: A Novel." Madeline Miller Official Website, 10 Apr. 2018, madelinemiller.com.