Siren Song

One of my favorite designs, Siren Song.

The day I was crafting this set, I aimed at generating something natural, something blue and green. I was going to go for something like a caricaturized earth globe look, slowly adding the pigments to reach their full opacity, but something made me hold back at this entry level of opacity. This alluring translucent level charmed me and led me astray. There was this specific memory in my heart at that moment, from my childhood, many many years ago. At the Yeni Foça touristic region in İzmir City, we embarked on a boat tour on Ali Captain’s tour boat. The route was around the Foça seasides and it was six hours long. While we were near the Siren Rocks, they served fresh fish, salad, and raki, and told us about the Siren Rocks, accompanied by smooth summer music.

Here goes the story Ali Captain told us:

From a scientific, non believing approach detached from mysticism, these rocks get their name because when fierce winds blow and hit these volcanic cliffs from a certain angle, they create sounds resembling a woman’s scream or moan. However, there are also some legends, of course.

In Greek mythology, it is said that Sirens live on the steep cliffs of the Aegean Sea and lure passing sailors toward them by enchanting them with their mesmerizing voices. Unable to resist this magical sound, the sailors steer their course straight into the cliffs, their ships shatter, they fall into the water, and they become victims of the ruthless sirens.

Another story tells a different tale. In ancient times, while the people of Phokaia were migrating to Marseille, the Foçan women left behind did not want to leave these lands. Out of deep grief, they ended their lives by throwing themselves down from these cliffs off Orak Island. It is said that during fierce winds and storms in the region, the wails of these women’s ghosts can still be heard.

Yet another story takes place in the tale of the Trojan War. King Odysseus wants to hear these voices when passing by these cliffs on his route, even though he knows the danger. Heeding the warnings of the sorceress Circe, he blocks the ears of all his crew members with beeswax. As for himself, he has his crew tie him tightly to the ship’s mast. Although Odysseus feels like he is losing his mind upon hearing the Sirens’ songs, the ship glides safely through the rocks because the crew cannot hear the voices.

We had just finished our delicious fish, dipping bread into the remaining olive oil and lemon dressing at the bottom of the salad bowl, and sipping our ice cold rakis while listening to this story. As I listened to the captain standing on my left telling this tale, my eyes were fixed on the cliffs. The color difference in the water, which clearly separated the shallow parts from the deep parts of the sea, was perfectly visible, and the colors of these dice reminded me exactly of that scene. In that exact moment, I could literally feel the dry, salty sensation on my skin, the warm and refreshing breeze hitting my sweating body, and the clean, salty smell of the sea. The name of this set could not be anything else: Siren Song.

Form: Signature Crystal-Cut design (Original BEARCAKE design).

Oversized Presence: The D20 measures approx. 70mm; the D8 measures approx. 40mm.

Handmade Integrity: Crafted from high-clarity Artisan Resin; the iridescent effects are embedded and safe from flaking.

Full Set: Includes D4, D6, D8, D10, D%, D12, and D20.