Circe
4 of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Circe. All 4 are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
ser'se, in Greek mythology, an enchantress who lived in the island Aeaea. She was the daughter of Helios, the sungod. In his wanderings after the Trojan war Ulysses landed at the Aeaean Isle. Observing no sign of habitation, except a palace surrounded with trees in the center of the island, he sent a part of his crew under the leadership of Eurylochus to investigate. On approaching the palace the men saw lions, tigers, and wolves that seemed very tame. Not realizing that these were men transformed by the magic of Circe, who inhabited the palace, they went on and at Circe's invitation entered the palace. Eurylochus, however, was cautious and remained outside. Circe feasted her guests, then touched each with her wand, and the whole number became swine in "head, body, voice, and bristles." Their intellects, however, were as before. The horrified Eurylochus returned to Ulysses and told what had occurred. Ulysses decided to release his companions. On his way to the palace he met Mercury who gave him a sprig of moly, a plant with power to resist sorcery. Ulysses entered the palace and was feasted as his friends had been; but when Circe touched him with her wand and commanded him to become a swine, his form did not change as she expected, but, instead, Ulysses drew his sword and rushed upon her. She fell upon her knees and begged for mercy. This was granted, but Ulysses bound the sorceress by a solemn oath to release his companions, to practice no more charms upon them, and to dismiss them from her island in safety. Circe kept her word and made her home so pleasant for her guests that they remained a full year. At their departure she gave them aid and advice. Who knows not Circe Daughter of the Sun, whose charmed cup Whoever tasted lost his upright, shape, And downward fell into a grovelling swine? --Milton.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a daughter of Sol and Perse, celebrated for her skill in magic and poisonous herbs. She married a Sarmatian prince of Colchis, whom she murdered to obtain the kingdom, but was expelled by her subjects, and carried, by her father, to an island called Æa, on the coast of Italy. Ulysses, on his return from the Trojan war, visited her coast; and all his companions, who ran headlong into pleasure ple and voluptuousness, were changed by Circe's potions into swine. Ulysses, fortified against all enchantments by an herb called moly, which he had received from Mercury, demanded from Circe the restoration of his companions to their former state. She complied, loading the hero with honors; and, for one whole year, he forgot his glory in his devotion to pleasure.
1000 Classical Characters (1900)
A daughter of Sol and Perseis, celebrated for her knowledge of magic and venomous herbs. She was carried by her father to an island called Aeaea. Ulysses on his return from the Trojan war visited her coasts, and his companions were changed by her potions into swine. Ulysses, who was fortified against enchantments by an herb which he had received from Mercury, demanded of Circe the restoration of his companions to their former shape; she complied with his wishes, and eventually permitted him to depart from her island.
An Encyclopaedia of Occultism (1920)
(See Greece .)
What Has Changed in the Last Century
The myth itself is exactly where Homer left it: no text, tablet or dig has altered the tale of the wand, the swine and the herb moly since these accounts were written. What has moved is the moral framing. Collier's in 1921 blamed the crew, who "ran headlong into pleasure and voluptuousness," and had Odysseus forget "his glory in his devotion to pleasure" — a reading inherited from Renaissance allegories of drunkenness. Since the 1970s Circe has instead been read as a study in female power and captivity, in Margaret Atwood's "Circe/Mud Poems" (1974) and above all in Madeline Miller's novel "Circe" (2018), which retells the whole life from the enchantress's own side and became an international bestseller.
Written for this edition, 2026.