John William Waterhouse painted Ulysses and the Sirens, 1891, based on the classical reading ascension the London households would have been reading in the 1800's. Most would have a private education from there own library of consumed books, available in publishing distribution houses in London. Ulysses is tied to the mast of the Greek ship, an ornately designed row boat. With several sirens looking like harpies trying to sing the sailors song to take him to death. Birds of this nature would surround a ship to alert the crew of danger ahead or the cliff face, several sea birds singing a painful tune. The row men would have to turn their ship around and sail ahead, out of danger of what lay ahead. The garden of the heart is tempted by the Sirens song to lead you to death.
