I’d imagine that you’re drinking from a Starbucks cup right now. And whether your poison is a vanilla mocha or a dirty chai, the mystical-looking woman on your to-go drink compelled you to do a little bit of research on the origins of the mascot of such a conglomerate of a company. And you’ve come to the right place!
As most of us know, Starbucks originates from Seattle. The founders of the massive coffee corporation wanted the perfect mascot to represent their brand: one that was reminiscent of their roots at sea. And, they found the “Siren”, AKA the infamous green woman who graces the presence of caffeine-guzzling citizens everyday. The “Siren” was originally a 16th century woodcut of a twin-tailed mermaid, the perfect mascot to capture the nautical spirit of Seattle. Starbucks claims that their “Siren” is a storyteller to their brand, carrying the personal meaning of the company with her everywhere she goes.
But, the alluring twin-tailed mermaid has a much darker story than one would expect. According to ancient mythology, the Siren is a traditional symbol of obsession and death. Yikes, I know. The Sirens were known for luring sailors to death with their beautiful voices. Those who heard the siren song would become so entranced that they would crash their ships against the rocks.
So, essentially, Starbucks is the world’s siren song. The sweet promise of a peppermint mocha or green tea Frappuccino is enough to make anyone crash their ship, or at least spend way too much money on caffeine. On the bright side, they’ve got free WiFi!
