Hero & Leander
He swam the sea each night for love
Each night Leander swam the Hellespont, guided by the lamp of his beloved Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite; a storm put out the light, Leander drowned, and Hero threw herself into the sea after him.
01Why it matters
It is one of the great myths of love defying the sea; it inspired poets from Ovid to Marlowe, and Lord Byron to swim the strait himself.
02The conflict
The width of the strait and the fury of the night sea.
03The iconic moment
Hero's lamp going out in the storm.
04What survived
Ovid's "Heroides"; paintings by Rubens and Turner.
05Frequently asked questions
Why is the story of Hero & Leander famous?
It is one of the great myths of love defying the sea; it inspired poets from Ovid to Marlowe, and Lord Byron to swim the strait himself.
How does the story of Hero & Leander end?
Hero's lamp going out in the storm. Ovid's "Heroides"; paintings by Rubens and Turner.
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