Circe is an enchantress and minor goddess in Greek mythology who makes cameos in a variety of ancient myths. She is the daughter of the god Helios and the Oceanid nymph Perse (though this varies in different myths this is the lineage I usually refer to). She lives on the island Aeaea with a menagerie of animals, cursing or helping whoever stops in her harbour (but let's be honest, usually cursing). 

Circe is holding a wand with a sun-pattern spell at the tip in a reference to her father Helios. The bottom of her chiton has a border pattern of pigs, in reference to Odysseus' men who she transformed into swine. Though there is no real connection to Crete, I based her hair on the Minoan Dancers fresco.

In this piece I wanted to emphasize feminine themes, and chose a lioness as her depicted animal companion. The bottom of the image has roaring waves in a nod to her mother's origins. On the cauldron is depicted the nymph Scylla, who (according to the Roman writer Hyginus) Circe cursed and transformed into a monster. 

In the top half of the image is trailing smoke and stars from Circe's potion. Above this are leaves representing the ancient herb 'moly' which Circe used in her spells. Though we don't know exactly what plant 'moly' was, some think it might be the snowdrop, which I referenced in the flower’s shape. 

If you are interested in purchasing this illustration as a print , it is available now on my shop.