The True Tale of Wales Legendary Hay Castle, 8 Formidable Fighters of the Hellenistic Period, Operation Unthinkable: Churchills Postwar Contingency Plan, The Pirates Code: Laws and Life Aboard Ship, How the Island of Rhodes Overcame a Superpower, Historical Trips - Book your next historical adventure, 10 Must-See Medieval Landmarks in England, Join Dan Snow for the Anniversary of the D-Day Landings, Lost Literature: Why Most English Texts Didnt Survive the Middle Ages, The Legacy of Hal 9000: How Science Fiction Depictions of AI Have Changed Over Time. Herne Overview, Mythology & Facts | Who is Herne the Hunter? By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill, He holds her helpless breast upon his breast. 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. How can those terrified vague fingers push. King Lycaon Mythology | What is the Greek Origin of Werewolves? Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. [17] The subject remained largely confined to Italy, and sometimes France Northern versions are rare. Nekhbet, Egyptian Goddess: Mythology & Symbol | Who was Nekhbet? While not nearly as well known as her sister Helen, Clytemnestra also played a major role related to the Trojan War. 2 She was the wife of Tyndareus, by whom she became the mother of Timandra, Clytemnestra, and Philonoe. FTCE School Psychologist PK-12 (036) Prep, ILTS Social Science - Sociology and Anthropology (249) Prep, SAT Subject Test World History: Practice and Study Guide, CLEP Western Civilization I - Ancient Near East to 1648 Prep, Political Science 101: Intro to Political Science, Praxis Biology and General Science: Practice and Study Guide, Praxis Business Education: Content Knowledge (5101) Prep, Praxis English Language Arts - Content & Analysis (5039): Practice & Study Guide, Chemical Safety: Preparation, Use, Storage, and Disposal, Spectrophotometers: Definition, Uses, and Parts, What is an Autoclave? Chrysaor Overview & Facts | Who is Chrysaor in Greek Mythology? Erra, Akkadian God of Pestilence | Origin, Myths & Merge With Nergal. A sudden blow: the great wings beating still. Zeus seduces Leda in the guise of a swan. One set of twins is Castor and Pollux, two boys collectively called the Dioscuri. Loch Ness Monster Sightings & Legend | What is Nessie? Leda was the daughter of King Thestius of Pleuron in Aetolia. Proteus God History, Mythology & Facts | Greek God of the Shifting Sea. Myths: Interpretations & Examples | What is Mythology? Creation Myths Overview & Examples | What is a Creation Myth? Behemoth Overview, Mythology & Description | What is a Behemoth? Ogma, Irish God of Language: Mythology & Family | Who was Ogma? Last modified February 16, 2017. How can those terrified vague fingers push 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. Leda & the Swan: Mythology & Analysis | How Zeus Appeared to Leda. Nagual Origin & Significance | What is a Nagual in Mythology? Egyptian God Min: Mythology & Facts | Who was Min? Nut Origin, Mythology & Role | The Egyptian Sky Goddess, Apep, Egyptian God of Chaos | Names, Myths & Difference From Set. Leda and the Swan Introduction Valhalla Mythology & Influence | What is Valhalla? How can those terrified vague fingers push. Yeatss Poetry 8But feel the strange heart beating where it lies? Vampire Origins, Legends & Types | The Evolution of Vampire Lore. Bull p. 167. 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. WebLeda was a beautiful woman, and her beauty attracted Zeus' attention from his throne on Mount Olympus. Elf Mythology: Types & References | What are Elves? The song is called Swan Upon Leda.[9]. All rights reserved. It is currently on display in the National Museum of Stockholm. She was the wife of Tyndareus, the king of Leda & the Swan. His sonnet was composed in 1923, beginning: A sudden blow: the great wings beating still Yet, the reference to Marlene Dietrich's costume was rarely (if ever) mentioned at the time. By William Butler Yeats. Heimdall in Norse Mythology: History & Role | Who is Heimdall? Leda 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. The myth of Leda and the swan has also inspired writers. 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. Leda was the daughter of King Thestius of Pleuron in Aetolia. Where Athena promised to bestow Paris with supreme battle tactics and Hera promised him rulership, Aphrodite promised to reward Paris with the most beautiful woman. In Greek mythology, Leda is the wife of King Tyndareus and queen of Sparta. Most commonly, it is Pollux and Helen who are the children of Zeus; Helen is almost always said to be Zeus' daughter rather than Tyndareus' daughter. 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. 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. The immediate visual similarity between Chiuri's swan Dress and Bjrk's swan dress sparked excitement on social media as most people inevitably thought the Dior dress was directly inspired by Pejoski's iconic 2001 creation. Thunderbird Overview & Mythology | Thunderbird of Native America, Nergal, Mesopotamian God of Death | Origin, Myths & Roles, Persian Gods: Overview & Mythology | Ancient Iranian Deities. Leda is a figure from ancient Greek mythology. Soon after her unique encounter with the swan, Leda would lay one or two eggs, depending on the version of the story being told. Hyperborea Mythology, Symbol & Facts | What is Hyperborea? The 2006 novel The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante and its 2021 film adaptation of the same name feature a protagonist named Leda, who makes several references to the myth for which she is named. The collection's closing pice de rsistance was a Leda-inspired swan dress. 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. Upon learning of the murder of Agamemnon, Clytemnestra and Aegisthus grown son Orestes believed himself honor-bound to kill Clytemnestra and acted accordingly. LEDA 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. This is definitely not the case in Yeats's graphic version. With your support millions of people learn about history entirely for free, every month. The male twins are Castor and Pollux, warriors collectively known as the Dioscuri. Pollux chose the latter option and thus, he and Castor were free to travel between Hades and Olympus. WebLeda was a princess in Greek mythology, daughter of the king of Aetolia, Thestius. She is a significant figure in her own right and because of her children. "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. Memnon, King of Ethiopia: Mythology & History | Who was Memnon? 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. Inari History, Mythology & Facts | What is Inari Okami? Ovid Illustrated large site from the University of Virginia, where many depictions of Leda and the Swan from Renaissance and later editions of the Metamorphoses will (eventually) be found. 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. Some ancient writers thought she was the mother by Tyndareus of Clytemnestra, wife of King Agamemnon, and of Castor, one of the Heavenly Twins. Genieve Figgis painted her version of Leda and the Swan in 2018 after an earlier work by Franois Boucher. A c. 425 BCE bas-relief from the Temple of Nemesis at Rhamnus depicts an adult Helen being brought from Nemesis to Leda. Leda The Later interpretation. Buonarroti created this painting based on sketches by Michelangelo. Retrieved from, Dior. 3 One night she was embraced both Leda Webthe myth that somehow men are superior still stands true. A shepherd found the egg and gave it to Leda, who carefully kept it in a chest until the egg hatched. 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. This is definitely not the case in Yeats's graphic version. Read the full text of Leda and the Swan, The Life and Works of William Butler Yeats, The broken wall, the burning roof and tower. In Greek mythology, Leda is the wife of King Tyndareus and queen of Sparta. Greek One of the most disturbing and bizarre tales from Greek mythology is the tale of Leda and the Swan. After the rape, Leda gets pregnant and gives birth to Helen of Troy. The Sword in the Stone Myth & Facts | King Arthur's Excalibur, 12 Olympians of Greek Mythology | Names, Roles & Significance, Epona, Goddess of Horses | Origin, Mythology & Role. The Fates Deities & Myths | Who were the Moirai in Greek Mythology? [28], Ronsard wrote a poem on La Dfloration de Lde, perhaps inspired by the Michelangelo, which he may well have known. Pieszak, Devonna. 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. The Nemesis Version. Yeats's life, with a focus on his development as a poet. Painters and poets. Religion | Characteristics, Differences & Examples. Leda was a princess of King Thestius, also known as the name Thestias, until such time that she married off to Spartas King Tyndareus. Because he is a god, he can transform his appearance at will. 1530, in the National Gallery, London. Eventually, Castors mortality catches up with the boy during a disastrous cattle raid against the duos cousins when Prince Idas stabbed him with a spear. As a swan, Zeus fell into her arms for protection from a pursuing eagle. Leda Get time period newsletters, special offers and weekly programme release emails. There were several versions of the parentage of her children:- Some say she laid an egg from which were hatched the Dioskouroi (Dioscuri) twins, Kastor and Polydeukes, both sons of Zeus. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. (including. (2021, June 21) Endless meters of white tulle []. The divine swans encounter with Leda was a subject depicted by both ancient Greek and Italian Renaissance artists; Leonardo da Vinci undertook a painting (now lost) of the theme, and Correggios Leda (c. 1530s) is a well-known treatment of the subject. Queen Hecuba Mythology, Husband & Rule of Troy | Who was Hecabe? 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. Leda WebYeats's poem was inspired by a Greek myth in which Zeus rapes Leda, the daughter of a king named Thestius. 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? I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Icon of 1960s Britain: Who Was Mary Quant? 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. Leda and Her Four Children Leda gave birth to four children after some time. 2 chapters | The feathered glory from her loosening thighs? [8], In October 2022, the myth inspired Hozier to write a song in response to the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, which repealed Roe v Wade. Yeats's life, with a focus on his development as a poet. When Zeus saw this he considered it a chance and impregnated Leda. 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. Chupacabra Overview, Legend & Facts | What are Chupacabras? Tyr, Norse God of War | Origins, Attributes & Mythology, Triton God of the Sea | Overview, Mythology & Significance, Seven Cities of Gold Mythology & Facts | Seven Cities of Cibola. Greek text available from the same website. Hodr, God of Darkness in Norse Mythology | Origin, Family & Role. A helpful resource for more information on mythical figures referenced by the poem, including Leda, Zeus, and Agamemnon. Leda and the Swan Introduction [37] Notably, Chiuri's 2021 Dior dress featured feathered swan-wings spanning over the chest and shoulder. There were several versions of the parentage of her children:- Some say she laid an egg from which were hatched the Dioskouroi (Dioscuri) twins, Kastor and Polydeukes, both sons of Zeus. Leda (mythology Thyrsus Origin & Symbol | What is the Staff of Dionysus? In the second painting, the detailing is sharper, the colours are vibrant, the lighting is more dramatic and Ledas hairstyle is highly ornamental. Leda and the SwanCarole Raddato (CC BY-SA). William Shakespeares Wife: Who Was Anne Hathaway? Leviathan in Religion & Mythology | Origin, Description & Symbolism, Seer History & Mythology | The Significance of Seers in Mythology, Nuwa in Chinese Mythology | Role, Family & Worship. Philonoe. Freyr Overview, Symbols & Facts | Who was Frey in Norse Mythology? Leda & the Swan Angrboda, Mother of Fenrir: Mythology & Story | Who is Angrboda? She was the wife of Tyndareus, the king of Leda & the Swan. Leda and the Swan in Art The poem is regularly praised as one of Yeats's masterpieces. Golems Origin & History | What is a Golem? [2] Her mother was either Leucippe,[3] Deidameia, daughter of Perieres,[4] Eurythemis, daughter of Cleoboea,[5] or Laophonte, daughter of Pleuron. Rubenss 1601Ledawas clearly modelled on that of Michelangelos. A shudder in the loins engenders there Two other important Renaissance painters, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, also painted Leda and the swan, but their works have been lost. 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. Photographer Charlie White included a portrait of Leda in his "And Jeopardize the Integrity of the Hull" series. Leda and Her Four Children Leda gave birth to four children after some time. WebLeda. Leda As previously noted, the paternity of the four children is not consistent among the different sources. Dagda Mythology & Symbols | Who is Dagda in the Celtic Pantheon? 4He holds her helpless breast upon his breast. Aten, Egyptian God: Mythology & Religion | Who was Aten? Leda and the Swan copy by Giovanni Francesco Melzi after the lost painting by Leonardo, 15081515, oil on canvas, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy. The Skillful Forager: Essential Techniques for Responsible Foraging Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. 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. This eventually led to them being a permanent home in the heavens, which is how the constellation known as Gemini came into being. He famously seduced Ganymede in the form of an eagle and even appeared to Danae as a rain of gold coins. Before the indifferent beak could let her drop?. This Spartan princess would eventually be granted immortality by Artemis. Leda Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Seeking to sow some more of his many wild oats, Zeus descended to the realm of the mortals in the guise of a swan that was being chased by an eagle. Psyche: Mythology & History | Who was the Greek Goddess of the Soul? World History Encyclopedia. [6] According to Alcman, Leda's parents were Glaucus and Laophonte[6] while Eumelus attested that they are Sisyphus and Panteiduia or Paneidyia.[7]. Charon, Ferryman of Hades | Greek Mythology & Symbols. On that night, Leda also lay with her husband. The Greek Myths: The Complete And Definitive Edition. This second version is more typical of the Baroque style and the Rubenesque figure which would become the artists trademark. Other versions of the story indicate that the eggs were the result of relations between Zeus and Nemesis, goddess of vengeance. Nephthys: Facts & Mythology | Who is the Egyptian Goddess of Death? 5How can those terrified vague fingers push. 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. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Leda and the Swan An ancient myth. Leda and the Swan Castor and Pollux are sometimes both mortal, sometimes both divine. While Leda had three more daughters through her marriage to King Tyndareus, neither she nor those children went on to contribute anything more noteworthy to the overall body of Greek mythology. World History Encyclopedia, 16 Feb 2017. For artists and writers, this myth has been a fruitful source of inspiration. According to Ovid, she was famed for her beautiful black hair and snowy skin. Leda She has been teaching English in Canada and Taiwan for seven years. 30 Apr 2023. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. We will send you the latest TV programmes, podcast episodes and articles, as well as exclusive offers from our shop and carefully selected partners. Greek mythological Aetolian princess who became a Spartan queen, Apollod. Jord, Norse Earth Goddess | Mythology, Family & Names, Belenus Mythology, Cult & Facts | The Celtic God of Fire. Incubus Overview, Legends & Facts | What is an Incubus? Leda & the Swan 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. Leda and the swan was a popular subject for both Greek and Roman artists and is frequently seen in ancient sculpture, pottery, and mosaics. Hypnos (sleep personified) waves a Rubens second attempt also saw further developments. The same night Leda slept with her husband Tyndareus as they were trying to conceive and to prosper their family with children. Please support World History Encyclopedia. Webthe myth that somehow men are superior still stands true. Greek Shortly after this encounter and subsequently bedding her husband, the King of Sparta, Leda laid one or two eggs that contained four human beings in a blend of mortal and immortal vitality. Tower of Hercules | History, Mythology & Location. Detail of Peitho, Leda and Hypnos from a painting depicting the tale of Leda and the Swan. Ophiuchus: Mythology & Facts | What is Ophiuchus? Orpheus in Greek Mythology: Overview & Facts | Who is Orpheus? [citation needed], There is a life-sized marble statue of Leda and the Swan at the Jai Vilas Palace Museum in Gwalior, Northern Madhya Pradesh, India. His reasoning is not always clear; he may have been trying to hide from his wife, Hera, or he may have found it easier to get close to Leda if he appeared to be a harmless 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. The description of the sexual action going on makes it seem almost beautiful, as if Leda had given her consent. Leda was famously seduced by Zeus when the king of the Olympian gods took the form of a swan. Leda was the daughter of King Thestius of Pleuron in Aetolia. By William Butler Yeats. 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. Both are depicted with spears and helmets, often astride horses. Other artists have produced replicas according to surviving sketches and fragments. Designed by the acclaimed costume designer Travis Banton, a longtime Dietrich collaborator, the white tulle and feather dress featured a thigh-slit, a mid-length train and, most characteristically, a fabric and feather "swan" neck which coiled around Dietrich's own neck, as well a pair of large feathered wings, one stretching downwards across her chest and the other one upwards across her left shoulder.[35]. Leda As a swan, Zeus fell into her arms for protection from a pursuing eagle. Updates? Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. It is also odd that, unlike the case of Heracles, not even Ledas children are punished by Hera for being the product of infidelity. In many versions of the story, Zeus merely seduces Leda. Submitted by Mark Cartwright, published on 16 February 2017. Webthe myth that somehow men are superior still stands true. According to Greek myth, Leda was the mother of mankind. Goddess Freyja Facts & Symbols | Who is Freyja in Norse Mythology? Leda also had three other daughters by Tyndareus: Timandra, Phoebe, and Philonoe. The goddess transforms herself into a fish and swims away in order to escape his attentions, but the amorous Zeus is not deterred and changes into a beaver to better pursue his prey. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. The cigar label depicted Leda and the Swan in a river. WebLeda and the Swan. Did she put on his knowledge with his power According to Greek myth, Leda was the mother of mankind. And Agamemnon dead. 3.10.5; Paus. Create your account. Shortly after this encounter and subsequently bedding her husband, the King of Sparta, Leda laid one or two eggs that contained four human beings in a blend of mortal and immortal vitality. Cartwright, Mark. And how can body, laid in that white rush, The myth of Leda and the swan is the most famous tale about Leda. Please donate to our server cost fundraiser 2023, so that we can produce more history articles, videos and translations. [34], In 1935, German-born movie star Marlene Dietrich wore a dramatically designed Leda costume to a Hollywood costume party. By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill, He holds her helpless breast upon his breast. Leda License. Which children are the progeny of Tyndareus the mortal king, and which are of Zeus and thus half-immortal, is not consistent among accounts, nor is which child hatched from which egg.
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leda and the swan greek mythology