Leucothea
In Greek mythology, Leucothea, sometimes also called Leucothoe, was a sea goddess. Myths surrounding Leucothea typically concern her original identity, either as Ino or Halia, and her transformation into a goddess.
Mythology
Ino's transfiguration into Leucothea
In more common versions of the story, the Boetian queen Ino, daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, was transformed into Leucothea. Ino's sister, Semele, was the mother of Dionysus by Zeus. After Semele's death, Ino and her husband Athamas helped raise the young Dionysus. This action invoked Hera's wrath and jealousy, and she struck Ino with insanity, causing her to boil her son Melicertes alive. When she finally came to her senses, she was horrified and leapt into the sea with the body of her dead son. Zeus took pity, and transformed Melicertes into Palaemon, the patron of the Isthmian Games, and Ino into Leucothea.In another version of the myth, Ino's husband Athamas was instead the one Hera struck with insanity. Athamas began to hunt his family, first killing their son Learchus, before setting out to find and kill Ino and Melicertes. To escape Athamas, Ino and Melicertes leapt into the sea, and were transformed.
As a goddess, Leucothea had a temple and oracle in Colchis, which was said to be founded by Phrixus. She was also celebrated at the Roman festival of Matralia, as she was often conflated with the Roman goddess Mater Matuta. During the festival, parents would nurse, care for, and pray for their nieces and nephews instead of their own children, emulating how Ino cared for her nephew, Dionysus.
In the Odyssey, Homer makes Leucothea the transfiguration of Ino. When Odysseus is stranded at sea on a broken ship, Leucothea suddenly appears and tells Odysseus to discard the garments that Calypso had given him, wind her veil around himself, discard his raft, and begin to swim instead, claiming that it will bring him to land. While Odysseus doesn't believe the goddess at first, he eventually does so, and after three days, washes up upon the shores of Scheria.
Halia's transfiguration into Leucothea
In the version of the myth from Rhodes, a nymph or minor goddess named Halia was the one who became Leucothea. Before her transformation, Halia was the daughter of Thalassa and sister to the Telchines. Poseidon became enamored with Halia and together they had seven children: a daughter, Rhodos, and six sons. One day, when Aphrodite was sailing past Rhodes and attempted to stop at the island, their sons prevented the goddess from doing so. In anger, Aphrodite caused them to go mad, and they raped their mother. In anguish, Halia threw herself into the sea and became Leucothea. When Poseidon learned of what had happened, the sons were imprisoned beneath the island. The people of Rhodes traced their mythic descent from Rhodos and the sun god Helios.Other myths
Once Leucothea transformed herself into a swan, and was caught by Smicrus and his foster brother. The boys put the swan in a dress and then fought greatly over which would get to present the swan to their father. Leucothea then revealed herself and, amused by their strife over her, she instructed them to spread her honour among the Milesians in the form of boys' athletic contests, and to tell their father to cherish Smicrus above all.It is possible that Leucothea is the "Leucothoe" that Hyginus makes the mother of Thersanon by Helios, although he could be referring to another woman by the same name.
Namesake
- 35 Leukothea
General references
- Cooper, J.C., ed.. Brewer's Book of Myth and Legend. Oxford: Helicon Publishing Ltd.
Category:Characters in the Odyssey
Category:Greek sea goddesses
Category:Metamorphoses characters
Category:Sea and river goddesses
Category:Women of Helios
Category:Rhodian mythology
Category:Boeotian mythology
Category:Corinthian mythology
Category:Shapeshifters in Greek mythology