Aeaea- Greek LocationLocation · Landmark"Island of Circe"

The Island

Aeaea lay in an uncharted sea far from known lands, forested and well-watered, with Circe's stone palace rising at its center. Homer describes wolves and lions roaming the woods around the palace — tame, approaching strangers without menace. They were former men, transformed by Circe's potions, their minds altered along with their bodies. Later traditions attempted to locate Aeaea in real geography, identifying it with Cape Circeo on Italy's western coast, where a promontory jutting into the Tyrrhenian Sea could appear island-like from a distance.

Odysseus's Year

Odysseus and his crew arrived at Aeaea after their escape from the cannibalistic Laestrygonians. A scouting party led by Eurylochus discovered Circe's palace and, accepting her hospitality, drank the drugged wine that transformed them into swine. Only Eurylochus, who had stayed outside from suspicion, escaped to warn Odysseus.

Odysseus approached the palace alone. On the path, Hermes met him and gave him the herb moly — a plant with a black root and white flower — as protection against Circe's magic. When her potion failed to transform him and he drew his sword, Circe recognized him as the man fate had prophesied would come to her island. She restored his companions and became his ally and lover. The Greeks remained on Aeaea for a year, feasting and recovering. When they finally prepared to leave, Circe sent them first to the underworld to consult the prophet Teiresias — guidance without which they could never have reached Ithaca.

The Argonauts

In the Argonautic tradition, Jason and Medea also visited Aeaea after fleeing Colchis. Circe, as Medea's aunt — both descendants of Helios — purified them of the blood-guilt for the murder of Absyrtus. But upon learning the full nature of their crimes, she dismissed them from her island, refusing further aid.