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In Greek mythology, Circe is the goddess of magic. Circe was the daughter of Helios, the god of the sun. Her brothers were Aeetes, the keeper of the Golden Fleece, and Perses, the King of Colchis (not to be confused with the Titan named Perses). Her sister was Pasiphae, the wife of King Minos and the mother of the Minotaur.

As a witch, Circe excelled in transfiguration and potions. She used her vast knowledge of both subjects to lure her enemies in with enchanted food, and then transfigured them into animals that reflected their true nature. Circe kept the animals around her mansion, drugged so they would never try to harm her or any of the visitors of her home. The one person on whom her magic had no effect was Odysseus. In the Odyssey, some of Odysseus’s crew are captured by Circe, and he goes to save them. Because Hermes had given Odysseus a powerful herb which resisted Circe’s magic, she was powerless against him. Realizing this, she lifted her magic from his crew. Circe and Odysseus later had three sons named Ardeas, Latinus, and Telegonus, the last of the three came to rule over the Etruscans (who were known as Tyrsenoi).

A portrait of Circe can be found at Hogwarts. It guards a secret shortcut between the fourth floor landing of the Grand Staircase and one of the many rooms off of the Entrance Hall. The password to gain access is “Piggywiggy,” which most think is a reference to a group of sailors she transfigured into pigs. Circe is also depicted on a Chocolate Frog card.