Tradition / Region: Russian Mythology
Alternative names: Sirin
Category: Bird
The Myth
The Sirin is a legendary creature with the head of a beautiful woman and the body of a bird, usually an owl. She is said to dwell in Iriy, the paradise of Slavic tradition, or near the Euphrates River. Often depicted wearing a crown or halo, she is a mysterious being whose enchanting voice is both a blessing and a deadly temptation.
The Sirin’s song is so beautiful that anyone who hears it forgets the ordinary world and longs only to follow her. Those who succumb to her melody wander after the bird until they perish. To protect themselves, people were said to ring church bells, fire cannons, or make other loud noises to frighten the Sirin away before her song could claim another victim.
According to East Slavic tradition, on the morning of the Apple Feast of the Saviour, the Sirin visits an apple orchard and weeps in sorrow. Later that day, her counterpart, the Alkonost, arrives laughing with joy. As the Alkonost brushes the dew from her wings onto the fruit, the apples gain miraculous healing powers, completing the balance between sorrow and happiness represented by the two mythical birds.
Sources
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Sirin. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirin