Love Stories from Mythology

Hero and Leander

According to the legend, a young man, named Leander (Λέανδρος), from the city of Abydos in Mysia (Asia Minor), fell in love with the priestess of Aphrodite, named Hero (Ἡρώ). However, this priestess, whose name was Hero, lived in Sestos, on the other side of Hellespont.

Hero and Leander were determined to meet each night. At the tower in Aphrodite's temple in Sestos, Hero would light a lamp. Leander used the lamp as his guide, so he could swim across the Hellespont. So each night, they would make love, before Leander had to swim back home at daybreak.

This affair continued, until one ill-fated night. It was now winter, where the winds and water were strong. Yet, as usual, Hero left the lamp in the tower while she waited for her lover. Unfortunately the wind blew out the flame in the lamp.

Leander was already having difficulty swimming across the Hellespont, because of the strong waves. When the lamp went out, the lover lost his way in the darkness, and drowned.

When Hero saw her lover's body washed to the shore, she was grief-stricken. Hero leaped off the tower and plunged to her death. The locals found her body lying beside the body of Leander.