The Mythology of Circe Explained (Witch from Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey)

I did it. I went to see The Odyssey. I won’t spoil anything here, and I’ve got a full review on the way, but before I release that, I want to talk about Circe—the witch from The Odyssey who transforms Odysseus’s men into pigs and eventually gives him the instructions he needs to reach the entrance to the Underworld. The movie also makes some pretty significant choices about who Circe is, what she represents, and how her encounter with Odysseus actually unfolds. And that inspired me to take a deep dive into some of her history, examining her origins and how the Circe we saw on screen differs from the Circe of Myth. Topics Covered In This Video: •Who was Circe in Greek mythology? •Circe’s role in Homer’s Odyssey explained •The mythology of Circe in Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey •How Christopher Nolan changed Circe’s story •Why Circe was one of the darkest parts of The Odyssey •Samantha Morton’s portrayal of Circe explained •Was Circe a witch, goddess, or sorceress? •Who were Circe’s parents in Greek mythology? •Circe’s connection to Helios, Aeetes, and Pasiphae •Where was Circe’s island of Aeaea? •Circe’s enchanted wolves and lions explained •Why Circe transformed Odysseus’s men into pigs •The disturbing meaning behind the pig transformation •How Nolan turned Circe’s magic into body horror •Why Odysseus’s men retained their human minds as pigs •How Odysseus defeated Circe in Homer’s Odyssey •How Hermes and the magical herb moly protected Odysseus •Why Christopher Nolan removed Hermes and moly •The meaning of Circe’s crow in Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey •Was Circe’s transformed sister in Homer’s original poem? •Did Circe and Odysseus become lovers? •Why Odysseus remained on Circe’s island for an entire year •Why Nolan removed Circe and Odysseus’s relationship •Why Circe sent Odysseus to the Underworld •Who was the prophet Tiresias in The Odyssey? •What Odysseus learned in the land of the dead •Circe’s warning about the Sirens explained •Why Odysseus tied himself to th