Leda and the Swan, charcoal, gouache on paper. They are surrounded by several other figures, including cherubs and what appear to be ladies in waiting. By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill, He holds her helpless breast upon his breast. H.D. Cartwright, Mark. Nicaraguan poet Rubn Daro's 1892 poem "Leda" contains an oblique description of the rape, watched over by the god Pan.[32]. Danae and Zeus: Family & Mythology | Who was the Mother of Perseus? On the same night, Leda sleeps with her husband, Tyndareus, the king of Sparta. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. A round-up of just some of the manyinterpretations of the story of Leda and the Swan in visual art. Vampire Origins, Legends & Types | The Evolution of Vampire Lore. She was the wife of King Tyndareus of Sparta. [11], A fresco depicting the Greek myth of Leda and the Swan was unearthed at the Pompeii archeological site.[12]. There are also a few constants. The original of this is lost, probably deliberately destroyed,[citation needed] and was last recorded in the French royal Chteau de Fontainebleau in 1625 by Cassiano dal Pozzo. The broken wall, the burning roof and tower Niflheim in Norse Mythology: Overview & Description | What is Niflheim? Leda was the kind-hearted person that brought the swan closer to her. 24 Apr 2023 19:51:25 While mythological sources vary, Yeats takes the view that the encounter between Zeus and Leda was certainly not consensual. Leda and the Swan The Underworld Mythology, Gods & Geography | Greek Hades, Phoenix Mythology, Symbolism & Origin | Greek Phoenix, Horae Overview, Mythology & Facts | Greek Goddesses of the Seasons, Hebe Mythology, Family & Art | Greek Goddess of Youth, Hindu God of Water: Overview, Mythology & Facts | Varuna in Hinduism, Half Man Half Goat Myth, Overview & Difference | Satyr vs. Faun, Dragon King Overview & Facts | The Dragon Gods in Chinese Mythology, Chiron the Centaur & Achilles | Overview, Mythology & Relationship. When Zeus saw this he considered it a chance and impregnated Leda. Thyrsus Origin & Symbol | What is the Staff of Dionysus? Orc, Mythical Creature: Origins & Description | What are Orcs? Leda was the daughter of King Thestius of Pleuron in Aetolia. The second is a secretary who suffers a miscarriage. WebIn Greek mythology, Leda was the daughter of Thestios, king of Aetolia, and wife of Tyndareus, king of Sparta. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. On that night, Leda also lay with her husband. 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. For Yeats, the only salvation is the shapeliness and stillness of art. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Both the Leonardo and Michelangelo paintings also disappeared when in the collection of the French Royal Family, and are believed to have been destroyed by more moralistic widows or successors of their owners.[16]. She was also believed to have been the mother (by Zeus, who had approached and seduced her in the form of a swan) of the other twin, Pollux, and of Helen, both of whom hatched from eggs. Variant legends gave divine parentage to both the twins and possibly also to Clytemnestra, with all three of them having hatched from the eggs of Leda, while yet other legends say that Leda bore the twins to her mortal husband, Tyndareus. "Carole Harmel", Catalogue essay, Chicago: Galerija, 1983. 3By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill. WebLeda was a princess in Greek mythology, daughter of the king of Aetolia, Thestius. Leda is a figure from ancient Greek mythology. Ullr Origins & Mythology | Who is the Norse God of Snow? They were often based on the extremely brief account in the Metamorphoses of Ovid (who does not imply a rape), though Lorenzo de' Medici had both a Roman sarcophagus and an antique carved gem of the subject, both with reclining Ledas. Naiads in Greek Mythology Types & Examples | What is a Naiad? WebThe speaker wonders whether Leda, caught up by the swan and mastered by the brute blood of the air, assumed his knowledge as well as his power Before the indifferent beak could let her drop. Form Leda and the Swan is a sonnet, a traditional fourteen-line poem in iambic pentameter. 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. Helen is always acknowledged as a daughter of Zeus. Odin, God of War Overview & Myths | Who is Odin? 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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. It remains unclear why Artemis chose to bestow Philonoe with immortality. Leda and Her Four Children Leda gave birth to four children after some time. However it is known from many copies, of which the earliest are probably the Spiridon Leda, perhaps by a studio assistant and now in the Uffizi,[13] and the one at Wilton House in the United Kingdom (illustrated). Leda is a woman in Greek mythology known primarily for being one of the many women that Zeus pursues. Nemesis next changes into various other creatures including a hare, a bee, and then a mouse, but Zeus merely becomes a swifter or more predatory creature each time until, finally as a swan, Zeus captures Nemesis while she is a goose. Gallery Others like you also viewed Sparrow Sacred Birds Categories Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted. 15Before the indifferent beak could let her drop? In this avine form he seduces and rapes Leda, the Queen of Sparta. Above the staggering girl, her thighs caressed. The same night Leda slept with her husband Tyndareus as they were trying to conceive and to prosper their family with children. An excerpt from a scholarly article that investigates W.B. Dragon Mythology, Types & Interpretations | Are Dragons Real? Leda Mimir History, Mythology & Facts | Who is Mimir in Norse Mythology? Yet, the reference to Marlene Dietrich's costume was rarely (if ever) mentioned at the time. Read Poem Read Analysis Cite William Butler Yeats Nationality: Greece Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. While barely anything is said of Leda after she has her children, it is a unique tale in that Hera never visits her wrath upon Leda for the coupling with Zeus. A helpful resource for more information on mythical figures referenced by the poem, including Leda, Zeus, and Agamemnon. Leda and the Swan He then either rapes or seduces her and impregnates her. Leda and the Swan It was purchased by Larry Gagosian for $52.9million at Christie's May 2017 Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale. 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. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. If you use any of the content on this page in your own work, please use the code below to cite this page as the source of the content. Some ancient writers thought she was the mother by Tyndareus of Clytemnestra , wife of King Agamemnon, and of Castor, one of the Heavenly Twins. 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. Amazons: History & Depictions | Warrior Women of Greek Mythology. An excerpt from a scholarly article that investigates W.B. Painters and poets. Pasiphae, Wife of King Minos: Mythology & Family | Who was Pasiphae? As a climax to the story, Leda is granted immortality by Zeus and transformed into the goddess Nemesis. Icarus Overview & Greek Mythology | What is the Story of Icarus? As a swan, Zeus fell into her arms for protection from a pursuing eagle. The Morrígan Mythology, Symbol & Names | Celtic Goddess of War, Fenrir Stories, Symbol & Facts | Fenris-Wolf in Norse Mythology, Ares and Aphrodite | Mythology, Relationship & Children, The Anunnaki in Sumerian Mythology | Gods, Origin & History, Greek Creation Myth: Summary & Gods | The Creation in Greek Mythology. Submitted by Mark Cartwright, published on 16 February 2017. The play features the voices of three women. Leda was the kind-hearted person that brought the swan closer to her. 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. How can those terrified vague fingers push Rubenss 1601Ledawas clearly modelled on that of Michelangelos. Prior to the wars beginning, Agamemnon would sacrifice Iphigenia, his daughter through Clytemnestra, as an offering to the gods, so that his fleet could have agreeable winds from the port of Aulis. Leda This is definitely not the case in Yeats's graphic version. Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses. As a result, she falls pregnant with two sets of twins with varying paternity. Memnon, King of Ethiopia: Mythology & History | Who was Memnon? King Lycaon Mythology | What is the Greek Origin of Werewolves? 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. 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. Chaos in Greek Mythology: Overview & Facts | Who was Chaos? Yes, according to Greek myth, Leda was impregnated by Zeus when he was in the form of a swan. Leda only really figures into a story involving Zeus, king of the gods. Although it is a disturbing tale, its sinister surrealism provides an endless source of intrigue and inspiration for some of the most talented artists and creatives in history. Leda also had three other daughters by Tyndareus: Timandra, Phoebe, and Philonoe. "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. Swan A sense of movement (another common Baroque theme) is conveyed by the swans wings flung open, as if he has just flown into Ledas arms. Did she put on his knowledge with his power [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. Erra, Akkadian God of Pestilence | Origin, Myths & Merge With Nergal. Australian artist Sidney Nolan produced at least a dozen interpretations of Leda and the Swan in the 1950s and 1960s, connected with his work on the myths of the Trojan War and World War I. Charon, Ferryman of Hades | Greek Mythology & Symbols. 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 legend tells that one day Zeus, the ruler of the Greek gods, came to Leda in the form of a swan and seduced her. Infuriated with having his daughter kidnapped, King Tyndareus waged war against Theseus kingdom of Athens. WebIn Greek mythology, Leda was the daughter of Thestios, king of Aetolia, and wife of Tyndareus, king of Sparta. Did a lion apologize? There are many stories of Zeus turning into various animals to sleep with women. Yeats and his impact on his native country. With your support millions of people learn about history entirely for free, every month. The parentage of Leda's children is debated. Leda and the Swan by Franois Boucher, 1740, oil on canvas. 3 One night she was embraced both Cernunnos Symbol, History & Facts | The Celtic Horned God. Unicorn Overview, Mythology & Symbolism | What is a Unicorn? The way the content is organized. By William Butler Yeats. 2 She was the wife of Tyndareus, by whom she became the mother of Timandra, Clytemnestra, and Philonoe. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Leda and the Swan She is also the main subject in Honor Desmond Sharrer's "Leda & the Folks", a large painting focusing as well on the parents of entertainer Elvis Presley and currently located at the Smith College Museum of Art. Especially in art, the degree of consent by Leda to the relationship seems to vary considerably; there are numerous depictions, for example by Leonardo da Vinci, that show Leda affectionately embracing the swan, as their children play. Leda was the daughter of King Thestius of Pleuron in Aetolia. Leda also bore two children from her husband, King Tyndareus: the twins Castor and Pollux. Thanks to the literary renditions of Ovid and Fulgentius[3] it was a well-known myth through the Middle Ages, but emerged more prominently as a classicizing theme, with erotic overtones, in the Italian Renaissance. This peculiar story was not unusual in Greek mythology. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Some versions of the Trojan Wars story frame Clytemnestra as a woman who had been wronged yet others frame her as downright murderous. He's one of the most complex figures in history, and his story is one that's been retold throughout millennia. WebGet LitCharts A +. Get time period newsletters, special offers and weekly programme release emails. Leda was famously seduced by Zeus when the king of the Olympian gods took the form of a swan. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. LitCharts Teacher Editions. 2 She was the wife of Tyndareus, by whom she became the mother of Timandra, Clytemnestra, and Philonoe. Number 7 Symbolism & Facts | What is Number Seven in Numerology? 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. Jotunheim Overview & Facts | What is Jotunheim in Norse Mythology? Eridu Genesis: Overview & Summary | The Sumerian Flood Story, Serapeum Overview, History & Location | The Temple of Serapis. 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. Learn how and when to remove this template message. Yeatss Poetry the swan upon leda refers to a story in greek mythology ab zeus wanting and lusting after leda but the feelings not being reciprocated, so he transforms himself into a swan and r*pes her, forcing her to bear his children. Brownie Folklore: Origin & History | What is a Brownie? Painters and poets. 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. In these versions, only a single egg hatches and Helen emerges. When Helen was still a child, she had been abducted by Theseus because he wanted to marry a daughter of Zeus. Detail of Peitho, Leda and Hypnos from a painting depicting the tale of Leda and the Swan. 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 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. Leda is a figure from ancient Greek mythology. 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. Thus, Helen became the impetus for Greece and Troy to war with one another. WebLeda. Worried for the health of the poor creature, Leda shooed away the eagle. According to Greek myth, Leda was the mother of mankind. 3 One night she was embraced both Wandering Jew | Overview, Legend & Portrayals. Lamia Myths & Facts | Who is Lamia in Greek Mythology? This article is about the story and its depictions. Leda and the Swan in Art Something that might surprise some people is that this was not the first time Helens beauty lead to bloodshed between nations. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Once she was of age, Helen blossomed into the most beautiful female in all of mankind, a quality that would lead to great ruin. Uther Pendragon Overview, History & Facts | Who is King Arthur's Father? the swan upon leda refers to a story in greek mythology ab zeus wanting and lusting after leda but the feelings not being reciprocated, so he transforms himself into a swan and r*pes her, forcing her to bear his children. Leda Updates? These three daughters were all certifiably Tyndareuss children. Zeus is known for his numerous extramarital affairs and illegitimate children, much to the chagrin of his wife, Hera. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Olympus or sacrificing half of his immortality. The second half of Yeats poem explores the wider implications of this event. (including. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [citation needed], The myth is also mentioned in Richard Yates' 1962 novel Revolutionary Road. She is intimately entwined with the swan its beak almost touching her lips and its head leaning gently against her naked breast. After the rape, Leda gets pregnant and gives birth to Helen of Troy. Qilin in Chinese Mythology: History, Origin & Names | What is Qilin? One of the most disturbing and bizarre tales from Greek mythology is the tale of Leda and the Swan. For other uses, see, The idea that the semen of more than one male might influence pregnancy, a feature in the origin myth of. Danu Overview, Mythology & Symbols | Celtic Goddess of Nature. [8][9] Palumba made another engraving, perhaps in about 1512, presumably influenced by Leonardo's sketches for his earlier composition, showing Leda seated on the ground and playing with her children. Webthe myth that somehow men are superior still stands true. Eris, Greek Goddess of Strife: Mythology & History | Who is Eris? The description of the sexual action going on makes it seem almost beautiful, as if Leda had given her consent. Hypnos (sleep personified) waves a 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. When Zeus saw her, he fell in love with her. A shudder in the loins engenders there Some ancient writers thought she was the mother by Tyndareus of Clytemnestra , wife of King Agamemnon, and of Castor, one of the Heavenly Twins. Yeats's Geometry and Gyres Yeats's Biography "Leda." Pygmalion Mythology, History & Facts | Pygmalion in Greek Mythology. As a result, she gave birth to two sets of twins, some with Zeus as their father and some fathered by her human husband, Tyndareus. WebYeats's poem was inspired by a Greek myth in which Zeus rapes Leda, the daughter of a king named Thestius. Leda and the Swan He transformed into a swan and appeared in front of her; he seduced her and slept with her. Corrections? As a result, the new babes were hatched from two eggs: from one came Helen and Clytemnestra, and the other came Castor and Pollux. Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! 24 Apr 2023 19:51:25 Leda and the Swan, a 16th-century copy after a lost painting by Michelangelo, Image Credit: After Michelangelo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Leda and the swan was a popular subject for both Greek and Roman artists and is frequently seen in ancient sculpture, pottery, and mosaics. On that night, Leda also lay with her husband. Hephaestus & Aphrodite Marriage & Myth | Why Did Aphrodite Marry Hephaestus? All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Later on in the same day as her unknowing encounter with Zeus, Leda would sleep with her husband, the king of Sparta. Valhalla Mythology & Influence | What is Valhalla? There were many other depictions in the Renaissance, including cycles of book illustrations to Ovid, but most were derivative of the compositions mentioned above. In mythology, Leda is primarily known for her rape by Zeus, king of the gods.

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