The sirenes-half women, half birds endowed with enchanting song—lived on an island near Scylla and Charibdis. Sailors were lured to the island by their charmed singing. Once there, the seafarers would forget everything in their past and die, the songs literally stealing their lives away. Odysseus (also known by his Roman name, Ulysses), who had to sail past this place, was forewarned about these creatures who seductively promised men knowledge, but brought about their death. He instructed his crew to fill their ears with wax. However, he desired to hear the enchanted song and ordered his sailors to tie him to the mast. The verses were even more enthralling than the melody, the promise of wisdom and a quickening of the spirit made Odysseus' heart throb with yearning, but his bonds held and the danger was safely averted.