Greek Mythology Notes

Leucothea

god
Λευκοθέα
sea, rescue

Sea goddess who rescued drowning sailors, formerly the mortal princess Ino.

The Myth

Ino was a Theban princess who nursed the infant Dionysus in secret, earning Hera's wrath. Driven mad by the goddess, Ino threw herself into the sea with her son Melicertes. Rather than perishing, she was transformed into the sea goddess Leucothea, the White Goddess. In the Odyssey, she rescues Odysseus from drowning by lending him her magical veil, which kept him afloat until he reached Phaeacia.

Children

Melicertes

Symbols

white veilsea foam

Fun Fact

Her son Melicertes became the god Palaemon, patron of the Isthmian Games at Corinth — one of the four great Panhellenic festivals.

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