The Story of Leucothea
Leucothea began life as Ino, a mortal princess and a daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia of Thebes. She married King Athamas, who already had two children, Phrixus and Helle, with his first wife Nephele. Ino and Athamas had sons of their own, including Learchus and Melicertes.
Ino resented her stepchildren and plotted to get rid of them. She secretly roasted the seed grain so that the crops failed, then bribed the messengers sent to the oracle to say that the gods demanded the sacrifice of Phrixus. At the last moment a golden ram rescued the children and flew away with them, and its fleece later became the famous Golden Fleece.
Ino's sister Semele died before her son Dionysus was born, and Ino helped care for the infant god. Hera punished her by driving Athamas mad, and he killed their son Learchus. Ino fled with little Melicertes and leapt into the sea, and the gods transformed them into sea deities, Ino becoming Leucothea, the white goddess, and her son becoming Palaemon.
In the Odyssey, Leucothea appears to Odysseus when Poseidon wrecks his raft in a storm. Taking the form of a seabird, she gives him her immortal veil and tells him to tie it around his chest and swim for land, then throw it back into the sea once he reaches the shore. Thanks to her, he survived two days in the waves and came ashore in the land of the Phaeacians.
Leucothea was worshipped along many Greek coasts as a protector of sailors in danger. People called on her when ships were caught in storms, hoping she would come to their rescue as she had for Odysseus. The Romans identified her with Mater Matuta, a goddess of the dawn and of harbors.
Famous Myths About Leucothea
Ino's Plot
As a mortal queen, Ino plotted against her stepchildren Phrixus and Helle. She ruined the crops and bribed messengers to say the gods demanded their sacrifice, but a golden ram rescued them.
Into the Sea
Hera drove Ino and her husband mad because Ino had sheltered the infant Dionysus. To escape her husband, Ino leapt into the sea with her son, and they were transformed into sea gods.
Saving Odysseus
When Odysseus's raft was wrecked by Poseidon, Leucothea appeared to him as a seabird. She gave him her immortal veil, and with it he stayed afloat until he reached the shore of the Phaeacians.
Leucothea's Family Tree
Parents of Leucothea
Partners of Leucothea
Children of Leucothea
Frequently Asked Questions About Leucothea
Who is Leucothea in Greek mythology?
Leucothea is a sea goddess who rescued sailors in distress. She was once a mortal woman named Ino, a daughter of Cadmus of Thebes.
How did Ino become Leucothea?
Driven by Hera's anger, Ino leapt into the sea with her son Melicertes to escape her maddened husband. The gods made her the sea goddess Leucothea, meaning white goddess.
How did Leucothea help Odysseus?
When Odysseus was shipwrecked in a storm, Leucothea gave him her magic veil, which kept him from drowning until he reached land.
What is Leucothea's Roman name?
The Romans identified Leucothea with Mater Matuta.
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