leda and the swan greek mythology

Icon of 1960s Britain: Who Was Mary Quant? Cadmus, Founder of Thebes: History & Mythology | Who was Cadmus? Pegasus in Greek Mythology: Overview & Description | What was the Pegasus? A daughter of Thestius, whence she is called Thestias; 1 but others call her a daughter of Thespius, Thyestes, or Glaucus, by Laophonte, Deidamea, Leucippe, Eurythemis, or Paneidyia. 1530, in the National Gallery, London. Ixchel History & Mythology | Who is the Mayan Goddess Ixchel? The same night Leda slept with her husband Tyndareus as they were trying to conceive and to prosper their family with children. His sonnet was composed in 1923, beginning: A sudden blow: the great wings beating still Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Leda/. Another account of the myth states that Nemesis () was the mother of Helen, and was also impregnated by Zeus in the guise of a swan. Genieve Figgis painted her version of Leda and the Swan in 2018 after an earlier work by Franois Boucher. Did she put on his knowledge with his power WebLeda. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. One of the most disturbing and bizarre tales from Greek mythology is the tale of Leda and the Swan. The earliest depictions were all in the more private medium of the old master print, and mostly from Venice. - Definition and Uses, Causes of Mutations: Recombination & Translocation, Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators - Writing Essay Topics & Rubric, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. The character Frank Wheeler, married to April Wheeler, after having had sex with an office secretary ponders what to say as he is leaving: "Did the swan apologize to Leda? Yeats' "Leda and the Swan": an image's coming of age, Samuelson blog with thoughts and pictures, 16th century Venetian painting by Il Padovanino, Alternative detail view of the Getty vase, The Creation of the Sun, Moon and Vegetation, Study of a Kneeling Nude Girl for The Entombment, Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, Restoration of the Sistine Chapel frescoes, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leda_and_the_Swan&oldid=1152060124, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2010, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 April 2023, at 23:08. Link will appear as The Story of Leda & The Swan: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net - Greek Gods & Goddesses, January 11, 2022, Greek Gods and Goddesses 2010 - 2023 | About | Contact | Sitemap | Privacy, The Story of Leda & The Swan: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net. Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! Hypnos (sleep personified) waves a Helen emerging from an egg appears on red-figure pottery from Apulia and Campania during the 4th century BCE. Elf Mythology: Types & References | What are Elves? In Homer's Iliad, Helen looks down from the walls of Troy and wonders why she does not see her brothers among the Achaeans. For other uses, see, The idea that the semen of more than one male might influence pregnancy, a feature in the origin myth of. Thyrsus Origin & Symbol | What is the Staff of Dionysus? The first is a married woman who keeps her baby. In his poem Leda and the Swan, William Butler Yeats retells the classic Greek myth in which Leda, a human woman, is impregnated by the god Zeus while he is in the form of a swan. Zeus, as the swan, only appears metaphorically. Leda was the daughter of King Thestius of Pleuron in Aetolia. However, in Homer's Odyssey, the hero Odysseus sees Leda on his tour through Hades. Here Yeats explores hot the tales of mythology merge with historical truth: A shudder in the loins engenders there The same night Leda slept with her husband Tyndareus as they were trying to conceive and to prosper their family with children. Rhiannon Goddess History, Mythology & Symbols | Welsh Horse Goddess. They were also among the hunters who joined the Calydonian Boar Hunt. License. By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill, He holds her helpless breast upon his breast. Web. Later on in the same day as her unknowing encounter with Zeus, Leda would sleep with her husband, the king of Sparta. Leda, in Greek legend, usually believed to be the daughter of Thestius, king of Aetolia, and wife of Tyndareus, king of Lacedaemon. WebLeda was admired by Zeus, who seduced her in the guise of a swan. Aeneas of Troy: History, Family & Mythology | Who was Aeneas? Leda and Zeus transformed into a swan, Palazzo Nuovo (Capitoline Museums), Rome. As a result, she gave birth to two sets of twins, some with Zeus as their father and some fathered by her human husband, Tyndareus. WebLeda was a beautiful woman, and her beauty attracted Zeus' attention from his throne on Mount Olympus. In an alternative version of the myth, it is the goddess Nemesis who is pursued by Zeus (although an early version has the roles reversed). The story of Leda and the swan was a fairly ubiquitous subject for dwellings in Pompeii and Herculaneum, both of which were leveled when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79. Leda is a figure from ancient Greek mythology. Orion the Hunter: Story & Constellation | Who is Orion in Greek Mythology? Of these daughters of Leda, only Timandra may have had children; some tellings of this familys contributions and acts indicate that Timandra and Phyleus sire a boy named Ladocus. This peculiar story was not unusual in Greek mythology. (Ulpiano Checa). When Zeus saw her, he fell in love with her. Kraken Overview, History & Facts | What is the Sea Monster Kraken? Ixion Overview & Facts | Who is Ixion in Greek Mythology? An excerpt from a scholarly article that investigates W.B. In many versions of the story, Zeus merely seduces Leda. One consistent point is that if only one of them is immortal, it is Pollux. She strokes the bird's head and neck and kisses it on the beak. WebGet LitCharts A +. Two other important Renaissance painters, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, also painted Leda and the swan, but their works have been lost. It is currently on display in the National Museum of Stockholm. Definition Genealogy. In his first work, the brushstrokes are loose, the colours are muted and the drapes are green. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. A round-up of just some of the manyinterpretations of the story of Leda and the Swan in visual art. Hodr, God of Darkness in Norse Mythology | Origin, Family & Role. Instant PDF downloads. In 1508 he painted a different composition of the subject, with a nude standing Leda cuddling the Swan, with the two sets of infant twins (also nude), and their huge broken egg-shells. [citation needed], Musical artist Hozier released the single Swan Upon Leda in 2022, referencing the myth as a tool to advocate for reproductive rights. All of which were popular subjects in Renaissance and Baroque artworks, and many of which were heavily erotic. The result of this union, which occurred on the banks of the River Eurotas, was an egg from which the beautiful Helen and Polydeuces were born. It is the subject of William Butler Yeats' poem Leda and the Swan. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [1] Her myth gave rise to the popular motif in Renaissance and later art of Leda and the Swan. Webthe myth that somehow men are superior still stands true. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Leda was the kind-hearted person that brought the swan closer to her. She is the daughter of King Thestius of Aetolia, meaning that she comes from a royal lineage. Memnon, King of Ethiopia: Mythology & History | Who was Memnon? Later on, they joined the crew of the Argos in pursuit of the Golden Fleece. 3 One night she was embraced both The cigar label depicted Leda and the Swan in a river. Herne Overview, Mythology & Facts | Who is Herne the Hunter? Sulis, Celtic Goddess: Mythology & History | Who was Sulis? Medusa in Greek Mythology: Story & Role | Who Killed Medusa? Leda and Her Four Children Leda gave birth to four children after some time. Olympus or sacrificing half of his immortality. It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. All that is known is her name; she achieved nothing nor was she married off to anyone important. Demons Overview, Types & Examples | What is a Demon? They were worshiped throughout Greece and the city of Dioscurias was named after them; Dioscurias is located where you would find Sukhumi along the coast of the Black Sea. Tithonus in Greek Mythology | Origin, Myth & Immortality, Tisiphone in Greek Mythology | Origin, Sisters & Role, Lugh, Celtic God | Origin, Role & Mythology. Egyptian God Min: Mythology & Facts | Who was Min? World History Encyclopedia. After the pair has lain together, Nemesis flees to Sparta where she lays a purple-blue egg in the marshes outside the city. William Shakespeares Wife: Who Was Anne Hathaway? H.D. An account of W.B. The narrator remarks that they are both already dead and buried back in their homeland of Lacedaemon, thus suggesting that at least in the Homeric tradition, both were mortal. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. She strokes the bird's head and neck and kisses it on the beak. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Leda was a royal in Greek mythology who had a brief dalliance with the king of the gods whom had assumed the form of a swan. This Spartan princess would eventually be granted immortality by Artemis. Nagual Origin & Significance | What is a Nagual in Mythology? Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Detail of Peitho, Leda and Hypnos from a painting depicting the tale of Leda and the Swan. Leda and the Swan remains one of the most popular myths from the Greek world. For Yeats, the only salvation is the shapeliness and stillness of art. Submitted by Mark Cartwright, published on 16 February 2017. See for example a marble relief with the Swan, grasping the back of Leda's neck with his beak, excavated in Argos, Not a woodcut, as Bull (p169) wrongly says (see Hind BM catalogue, The Illustrated, Dijkstra, Bram, Idols of Perversity, Oxford University Press, New York, 1986 p.315. Warburg Institute Iconographic Database (ca 200 images of Leda), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leda_(mythology)&oldid=1148793364, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking in-text citations from May 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Husband/Second-Cousin (Zeus's Great-Grandson), Granddaughter/first cousin once removed (Helen's daughter), Grandson/first cousin once removed (Helen's son), Grandson/first cousin once removed (Pollux's son), This page was last edited on 8 April 2023, at 10:47. WebThe Greek mythological story retold in Yeats' poem "Leda and the Swan" is one in which a girl, Leda, is raped by the God Zeus. He transformed into a swan and appeared in front of her; he seduced her and slept with her. By William Butler Yeats. Fairy Overview, Creatures & Folklore | What is a Fairy? There were many other depictions in the Renaissance, including cycles of book illustrations to Ovid, but most were derivative of the compositions mentioned above. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Snakes in Mythology | Facts, Names & Symbols of Mythical Serpents. Variant legends gave divine parentage to both the twins and possibly also to Clytemnestra, with all three of them having hatched from the eggs of Leda, while yet other legends say that Leda bore the twins to her mortal husband, Tyndareus. The legend tells that one day Zeus, the ruler of the Greek gods, came to Leda in the form of a swan and seduced her. The collection's closing pice de rsistance was a Leda-inspired swan dress. Leda was the daughter of the Aetolian King Thestius hence she was also called Thestias. 24 Apr 2023 19:51:25 When Zeus saw this he considered it a chance and impregnated Leda. 2 chapters | Clytemnestra was the wife of Mycenaes King Agamemnon, making her both the sister and sister-in-law to Helen as she was often regarded as Tyndareus daughter instead of Zeus. [37] Notably, Chiuri's 2021 Dior dress featured feathered swan-wings spanning over the chest and shoulder. Queen Hecuba Mythology, Husband & Rule of Troy | Who was Hecabe? Leda takes it as a sign from the gods that she should raise the child. WebLEDA was a queen of Sparta, the wife of King Tyndareus, who was seduced by Zeus in the guise of the swan. This second version is more typical of the Baroque style and the Rubenesque figure which would become the artists trademark. [30] Camille Paglia, who called the poem "the greatest poem of the twentieth century," and said "all human beings, like Leda, are caught up moment by moment in the 'white rush' of experience. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. [20], Cy Twombly executed an abstract version of Leda and the Swan in 1962. [39] The law concerned was Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, condemning 'violent pornography', brought in by the Labour Party government of 20052010. An online exhibition presented by the National Library of Ireland on W.B. By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill, He holds her helpless breast upon his breast. Mythical sources are not consistent about who is the father of which children. Rediscovering Richard III with Matt Lewis, Rome and the Amalfi Coast with Tristan Hughes, 10 Famous Anti-Nazi Cartoons by David Low, Anti-Nazi Cartoons: How US Comic Books Supported the War, Unveiling the Revolutionary Impact of On the Origin of Species: How It Shattered Church Orthodoxy, From Disaster to Masterpiece: The Unlikely Success Story of Tchaikovskys Swan Lake Ballet, All Quiet on the Western Front: Key Differences Between the Novel and the 2022 Film, 5 Famous Jazz Composers of the 20th Century, The King Revealed: 10 Fascinating Facts About Elvis Presley, 10 Facts About American Poet Robert Frost. Leda was famously seduced by Zeus when the king of the Olympian gods took the form of a swan. 12 Being so caught up. Castor and Pollux were twins that are well-known heroes within Greek mythology. Pollux is often acknowledged as a son of Zeus while Castor, his twin, was often acknowledged as a son of Tyndareus. WebLeda and the Swan is a story and subject in art from Greek mythology in which the god Zeus, in the form of a swan, seduces or rapes Leda. [28], Ronsard wrote a poem on La Dfloration de Lde, perhaps inspired by the Michelangelo, which he may well have known. Leda was the daughter of King Thestius of Pleuron in Aetolia. By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill, The skirt gradually narrowed upwards over the torso to turn into a swan-neck made out of fabric which coiled around the wearer's neck in exactly the same way as Dietrich's dress from 1935. Photographer Charlie White included a portrait of Leda in his "And Jeopardize the Integrity of the Hull" series. World History Encyclopedia. A helpful resource for more information on mythical figures referenced by the poem, including Leda, Zeus, and Agamemnon. A daughter of Thestius, whence she is called Thestias; 1 but others call her a daughter of Thespius, Thyestes, or Glaucus, by Laophonte, Deidamea, Leucippe, Eurythemis, or Paneidyia. Upon learning of the murder of Agamemnon, Clytemnestra and Aegisthus grown son Orestes believed himself honor-bound to kill Clytemnestra and acted accordingly. [7] Another engraving, certainly from Venice and attributed by many to Giulio Campagnola, shows a love-making scene, but there Leda's attitude is highly ambiguous. One set of twins is Castor and Pollux, two boys collectively called the Dioscuri. Instant downloads of all 1725 LitChart PDFs In these versions, only a single egg hatches and Helen emerges. Goddess Freyja Facts & Symbols | Who is Freyja in Norse Mythology? When Zeus saw her, he fell in love with her. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. Omissions? While barely anything is said of Leda after she has her children, it is a unique tale in that Hera never visits her wrath upon Leda for the coupling with Zeus. According to later Greek mythology, Leda bore Helen and Polydeuces, children of Zeus, while at the same time bearing Castor and Clytemnestra, children of her husband Tyndareus, the King of Sparta. We care about our planet! Nicaraguan poet Rubn Daro's 1892 poem "Leda" contains an oblique description of the rape, watched over by the god Pan.[32]. The subject undoubtedly owed its sixteenth-century popularity to the paradox that it was considered more acceptable to depict a woman in the act of copulation with a swan than with a man. While mythological sources vary, Yeats takes the view that the encounter between Zeus and Leda was certainly not consensual. Castor and Pollux are sometimes both mortal, sometimes both divine. Because he is a god, he can transform his appearance at will. Zeus appears to Leda in the form of a swan and either seduces or rapes her, depending on the version of the myth in question. While not nearly as well known as her sister Helen, Clytemnestra also played a major role related to the Trojan War. WebThe speaker wonders whether Leda, caught up by the swan and mastered by the brute blood of the air, assumed his knowledge as well as his power Before the indifferent beak could let her drop. Form Leda and the Swan is a sonnet, a traditional fourteen-line poem in iambic pentameter. Terra Mater Mythology, Powers & Symbol | Roman Goddess of the Earth, Astarte: Canaanite Goddess of Fertility | History, Mythology & Facts, Baldur: Norse God of Light | History, Mythology & Powers, Cerberus in Greek Mythology | The Three-Headed Dog. Zeus seduces Leda in the guise of a swan. WebLeda and the Swan William Butler Yeats Published in Yeats collection of Later Poems in 1926, Leda and the Swan is a sonnet based on a myth from Greek mythology. When the egg hatched, Leda adopted Helen as her daughter. "Leda and the Swan" is a sonnet by William Butler Yeats composed in 1923 and first published in the Dial in June, 1924, and later published in the collection 'The Cat the Moon and Certain Poems' in 1924. Cernunnos Symbol, History & Facts | The Celtic Horned God. [8][9] Palumba made another engraving, perhaps in about 1512, presumably influenced by Leonardo's sketches for his earlier composition, showing Leda seated on the ground and playing with her children. In mythology, Leda is primarily known for her rape by Zeus, king of the gods. Soon after her unique encounter with the swan, Leda would lay one or two eggs, depending on the version of the story being told. Naiads in Greek Mythology Types & Examples | What is a Naiad? In Greek mythology, Leda is the wife of King Tyndareus and queen of Sparta. Clytemnestra married Agamemnon and later killed him. WebLeda. The child born from Leda and Zeus was Helen. Pieszak, Devonna. By William Butler Yeats. Yeats's theories about "gyres" and historical change. [34], In 1935, German-born movie star Marlene Dietrich wore a dramatically designed Leda costume to a Hollywood costume party. Helen of Troy (sometimes called Helen of Sparta) is a figure from Helen is a Greek tragedy by Euripides (c. 484-407 BCE). Inari History, Mythology & Facts | What is Inari Okami? She was the wife of Tyndareus, the king of Sparta, and together they had various children including Helen, who would fall in love with Paris and cause the Trojan War, the Dioscuri hero twins of Castor and Pollux (aka Polydeuces), Clytemnestra (future wife of King Agamemnon), Timandra, and Phylonoe. Chupacabra Overview, Legend & Facts | What are Chupacabras? The female twins are Helen and Clytemnestra. According to later Greek mythology, Leda bore Helen and Polydeuces, children of Zeus, while at the same time bearing Castor and Clytemnestra, children of her husband Tyndareus, the King of Sparta. WebLeda and the Swan William Butler Yeats Published in Yeats collection of Later Poems in 1926, Leda and the Swan is a sonnet based on a myth from Greek mythology. Zeus also commemorated the birth of Helen by creating the constellation Cygnus (), the Swan, in the sky. Yeats and his impact on his native country. Leda and the SwanCarole Raddato (CC BY-SA). According to Greek myth, Leda was the mother of mankind. Leda and the Swan An ancient myth. Have a specific question about this poem? Ragnarok in Norse Mythology: Overview & Story | What is Ragnarok? Leda and the Swan, a 16th-century copy after a lost painting by Michelangelo, Image Credit: After Michelangelo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. (2020, March 10)Marlene Dietrich at a costume party in 1935[] [Instagram Post]. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill, WebYeats's poem was inspired by a Greek myth in which Zeus rapes Leda, the daughter of a king named Thestius. Painters and poets. A shudder in the loins engenders there The result of Leda and Zeus romance was two children, Polydeuces and Helen (who later became Helen of Troy). WebLeda, in Greek legend, usually believed to be the daughter of Thestius, king of Aetolia, and wife of Tyndareus, king of Lacedaemon. Leviathan in Religion & Mythology | Origin, Description & Symbolism, Seer History & Mythology | The Significance of Seers in Mythology, Nuwa in Chinese Mythology | Role, Family & Worship. Sleipnir in Norse Mythology | Origin, Role & Depiction, Nerthus in Norse Mythology | Origin, Family & Role, Idun in Norse Mythology | Origin, Role & Symbol, Pax, Roman Goddess of Peace | Mythology, Family & Role, Mythology vs. Ullr Origins & Mythology | Who is the Norse God of Snow? WebLeda and the Swan William Butler Yeats Published in Yeats collection of Later Poems in 1926, Leda and the Swan is a sonnet based on a myth from Greek mythology. Yeats's Geometry and Gyres Leda was a princess of King Thestius, also known as the name Thestias, until such time that she married off to Spartas King Tyndareus. The feathered glory from her loosening thighs? Tyche, Greek Goddess of Success | Origin, Mythology & Role, Nemesis, Greek Goddess of Vengeance | Origin, Mythology & Role. WebIn Greek mythology, Leda was the daughter of Thestios, king of Aetolia, and wife of Tyndareus, king of Sparta. One day after Leda was married to King Tyndareus, her beauty managed to catch the attention of Zeus from his throne atop Mount Olympus. [10], There were also significant depictions in the smaller decorative arts, also private media. Ifrit Overview, Mythology & Examples | What is Ifrit? After the rape, Leda gets pregnant and gives birth to Helen of Troy. Oni, Japanese Demon: Origins & Stories | What is an Oni? The original of this is lost, probably deliberately destroyed,[citation needed] and was last recorded in the French royal Chteau de Fontainebleau in 1625 by Cassiano dal Pozzo. Trojan Horse Story & Meaning | Was the Trojan Horse Real? Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1725 titles we cover. Create an account to start this course today. Leda and Her Four Children Leda gave birth to four children after some time. A corporation uses genetic engineering to create a series of female clones (Leda) and a series of male clones (Castor) who are also brothers and sisters clones as they derive from one mother who is a chimera with male and female genomes. "Art Facts: a mix of media on Wells Street", Third Vintage Contemporaries Edition, 2008, pg106, This Was Hollywood [@thiswashollywood]. "Carole Harmel", Catalogue essay, Chicago: Galerija, 1983. Helen is also sometimes excluded from the story, and described as the daughter of Nemesis, the goddess who personified the disaster that awaited those suffering from the pride of Hubris. An excerpt from a scholarly article that investigates W.B. He appears to Antiope in the form of a satyr and as a shepherd before Mnemosyne. From the hatched egg Helen is born, as in the other version of the myth, and Leda raises the girl as her own daughter. Leda and the Swan An ancient myth. [24][25], Bristol Museum and Art Gallery currently exhibits Karl Weschke's Leda and the Swan, painted in 1986. Egyptian God Geb Mythology & Significance | Who is Geb? Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. The Later interpretation. Leda and the Swan An ancient myth. [citation needed], The myth is also mentioned in Richard Yates' 1962 novel Revolutionary Road. In these versions, eggs are still produced but a farmer discovers them and gives them to Queen Leda, likely because he believed her beautiful and femininity would leave her better suited to watching eggs than someone who has to work long hours far afield. It is also always stated that Helen is the daughter of Zeus. This shows Leda and the Swan making love with gusto, despite being on top of a triumphal car, being pulled along and surrounded by a considerable crowd. Uther Pendragon Overview, History & Facts | Who is King Arthur's Father? Also from that era were sculptures of the theme by Antonin Merci and Max Klinger. All rights reserved. According to Ovid, Leda was famed for her beautiful black hair and snowy white skin. The play features the voices of three women. Michelangelo's cartoon for the workgiven to his assistant Antonio Mini, who used it for several copies for French patrons before his death in 1533survived for over a century. Pasiphae, Wife of King Minos: Mythology & Family | Who was Pasiphae? Read Poem Read Analysis Cite William Butler Yeats Nationality: Greece WebGet LitCharts A +. Leda and the Swan in Art Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. However, Rubens did make alterations to Michelangelos design. [citation needed], Several references to the myth are presented in novels by Angela Carter, including Nights at the Circus and The Magic Toyshop. Pollux asks Zeus to give Castor half of Pollux's immortality, so the two men become the constellation Gemini and continue to participate in the affairs of the gods. A sudden blow: the great wings beating still. [15], The last very famous Renaissance painting of the subject is Correggio's elaborate composition of c. 1530 (Berlin); this too was damaged whilst in the collection of Philippe II, Duke of Orlans, the Regent of France in the minority of Louis XV. Buonarroti created this painting based on sketches by Michelangelo. The myth of Leda with the swan has inspired artists and poets for centuries. Learn about Leda and the myth of her relationship with Zeus, who seduced her in the guise of a swan. This mixing of mortality and divinity is often regarded as a quirk of the closeness between Ledas time with swan-Zeus and with King Tyndareus. Something that might surprise some people is that this was not the first time Helens beauty lead to bloodshed between nations. She was the wife of Tyndareus, the king of Leda & the Swan. In his poem Leda and the Swan, William Butler Yeats retells the classic Greek myth in which Leda, a human woman, is impregnated by the god Zeus while he is in the form of a swan. Lethe: Overview, Mythology & Facts | Greek River of Forgetfulness, Australian Mythology: Gods & Creatures | Aboriginal Folklore & Legends. This is definitely not the case in Yeats's graphic version. Help us and translate this definition into another language! Clytaemnestra, who killed her husband, Agamemnon, leader of the Greeks at Troy, was also supposed to have hatched from one of Leda's eggs. 24 Apr 2023 19:51:25 According to later Greek mythology, Leda bore Helen and Polydeuces, children of Zeus, while at the same time bearing Castor and Clytemnestra, children of her husband Tyndareus, the King of Sparta. Leda gives birth to two sets of twins, two of whom are fathered by Tyndareus and two of whom are fathered by Zeus. A sudden blow: the great wings beating still Zeus with Leda and an egg sitting on a throne (but no swan in sight) is seen on Attic red-figure pottery of the mid- to late-5th century BCE. The second twin son, Castor, was born to Leda's husband Tyndareus on the very same night the egg hatched. Niobe, Daughter of Tantalus: Mythology & History | Who was Niobe? WebLeda was a princess in Greek mythology, daughter of the king of Aetolia, Thestius. [citation needed], A version of the Leda and the Swan story is the foundation myth in the Canadian futuristic thriller television series Orphan Black which aired over 5 seasons from 2013 to 2017. 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