Leucothoe
Mortal princess beloved by Helios who was buried alive by her father for the affair, then transformed into a frankincense bush.
The Myth of Leucothoe
Her father buried her alive for sleeping with the Sun — and the Sun could not save her. Leucothoe, daughter of the Persian king Orchamus, was secretly visited by Helios in her chamber. The jealous nymph Clytie revealed the affair to Orchamus, who entombed his daughter beneath the earth. Helios tried to warm her body with his rays but arrived too late. He poured nectar on the soil and from her buried form grew the frankincense plant, its fragrant smoke rising toward the sun forever. The story from Ovid's Metamorphoses is one of several myths explaining the origins of aromatic plants through divine tragedy.
Parents
Orchamus
Symbols
Fun Fact
Frankincense was one of the most valuable trade goods of the ancient world — worth more than gold by weight.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
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Oceanid nymph and mother of Phaethon and the Heliades.
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