The Story of Asteria
Asteria was a daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe, and the sister of Leto. Her name means starry one, and she was linked with falling stars and night oracles. She married the Titan Perses, and their daughter was Hecate, the powerful goddess of magic and crossroads.
Zeus later pursued Asteria. To escape him, she turned herself into a quail and leapt into the sea. In her place a wandering island appeared, first called Ortygia, the island of quails, and later known as Delos.
Years later, her sister Leto searched desperately for a place to give birth, but Hera had forbidden every land to welcome her. The floating island that had once been Asteria took her in, and there Leto gave birth to Apollo and Artemis. Delos then became one of the holiest places in Greece.
Through her daughter Hecate, Asteria was linked with the mysteries of the night, with dreams and with prophecy. She was mainly remembered through Delos and through her famous daughter.
Asteria had no great temples of her own. Yet for the Greeks she was part of the sacred story of Delos, where pilgrims came to honor Apollo and Artemis. Her escape across the sea turned her into the very ground on which two great gods were born.
Famous Myths About Asteria
The Floating Island
To escape the unwanted advances of Zeus, Asteria turned herself into a quail and leapt into the sea. She became the wandering island of Ortygia, later named Delos, which was the only land that welcomed her sister Leto when she needed a place to give birth.
Asteria's Family Tree
Parents of Asteria
Husband of Asteria
Children of Asteria
Frequently Asked Questions About Asteria
Who is Asteria in Greek mythology?
Asteria is the Titan goddess of falling stars and night oracles. She is the daughter of Coeus and Phoebe and the sister of Leto.
How did Asteria become an island?
To escape Zeus, Asteria turned into a quail and leapt into the sea. She became the island of Ortygia, later known as Delos.
Who is Asteria's daughter?
With the Titan Perses, Asteria was the mother of Hecate, the goddess of magic and crossroads.
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