The Sirens are a group of magical creatures originating from Greek mythology. They are comparable to other mythical creatures such as mermaids and harpies in that they are demihuman beings possessing both avian and fish traits and reside on the ocean.
According to the legend of Odysseus, the Sirens resided on a small island and would sing whenever ships sailed near. So beautiful and captivating was their song that the sailors who heard it were drawn toward the jagged rocks surrounding the island. The ships would be wrecked and the sailors aboard would perish, either by drowning or slain by the Sirens themselves. Exactly what the Sirens did to their captives is unknown but it has been implied that they ate the unfortunate sailors.
When Odysseus sailed toward the Sirens' island, he ordered his crew to tie him to the mast so that he could hear the Sirens' song without being led astray. The crew were also ordered to plug their ears with beeswax so that they could not hear. Thus, Odysseus' ship safely sailed past the island and the Sirens, anguished that someone had escaped them, cast themselves into the sea and perished.