The Siren

In Slavic mythology a Sirin is a bird woman generally associated with benevolence, likely introduced into Ukraine and Russia and much of Eastern Europe by the Persians. When birds flew south for the winter, it was thought Sirins flew south too, to a mystic land near the Euphrates where souls go after death.

A Sirin can be just about any type of bird with a woman's head, sometimes more angel-like or human with feathered tail and wings. Sirins live in apple trees of Paradise, or in Eden, or in a forest on the periphery of Eden. They sing beautifully, and this is a call to souls of the newly dead, so that they may find their way to Paradise.

Only people who have known happiness can hear the Sirin sing, and it is like a premonition of heavenly bliss. 

In some legends Sirin is not a class of creature, but is the name of a single birdwoman, and she has such sisters as Alkonost who can sing away all memory bringing peace to souls that were grieving over their release from the living world; Gamayun from an eastern paradise whose songs in an angelic language awaken prophetic abilities and divine wisdom; Raróg the fire-falcon similar to the Phoenix; and Stratim the mother of all birds and the cause of storms far at sea where she dwells.

​"Sirin" aka "Blue Bird" by Russian painter and illustrator Sergey Solomko (1867-1928)

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