Ulysses

[Latin Ulixēs, Ulyssēs, from Greek dialectal Olusseus, variant of Greek Odusseus.]

(sirens) In Odyssey 12, 39. 200, Homer relates how Ulysses has himself tied to the mast in order that he may hear the sirens' song, yet not follow all other sailors who, having done so, are driven to follow the sound, shipwreck, ashows that it may be advantageous not to be free, and so is a focus for debates over paternalism, and the relation between higher and lower inclinations, or reason and desire (for a spectacular example, see Democritus). Although sirens are popularly depicted as floppy Victorian nymphs it should be remembered that in early representations of the legend they are more formidable, sometimes depicted as birds with women's heads, or even male and bearded, with claws like vultures. They are representatives of alienating, god-like powers whose force we should know but against which we must be forearmed.

The Roman name of the Greek hero Odysseus.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: Roman misspelling for Odysseus