SIREN, in antiquity, a kind of fabulous animal, otherwise called a mermaid.
The sirens are represented by Ovid, &c. as sex-monsters, with women's faces and fishes' tail; and by others decked with plumage of various colours. The three sirens are supposed to be the three daughters of the river Achelous; and are called Parthenope, Ligea, and Leucosia. Homer makes mention of only two sirens, and some others reckon five. Virgil places them on rocks where vessels are in danger of splitting. Some represent them as such charming monsters, who sung so harmoniously, that sailors were wrecked on their rocks without regret, and even expired in raptures.