Leto   LEE toe

Daughter of the Titans

The beautiful daughter of the Titans, Koios and Phoibe. Leto was one of the many consorts of Zeus and proudly bore him two children: Apollon and Artemis.

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Mother of Apollon and Artemis

Leto traveled far and wide to find the suitable birthplace for her children. The various islands and provinces were reluctant to be the home of Leto’s twins because Hera was angry at Zeus for his indiscretion and many were afraid that Hera would vent her wrath on anyone who assisted Zeus and his consorts.

Leto finally came to the rocky island of Delos and knew that this would be the birthplace of her glorious children. Delos made Leto swear a great oath on the river Styx that her new children would not abandon their birthplace. Leto swore and the twins were soon to be born. (Hymn to Apollon)

Leto was in labor for nine days and nights with Rheia, Dione, Themis, Ikhnaian and Aphrodite attending. The children were glorious. Apollon took up the bow and lyre, Artemis became the clamorous protector of all wild and innocent things.

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The Punishment of Niobe

It’s mentioned in The Iliad that Leto was insulted by a woman, Niobe, who had once been her friend. Niobe likened herself to Leto and bragged that she had twelve children, and Leto only had two. To avenge the insult against their mother, Apollon killed Niobe’s six sons and Artemis, with silver arrows, killed her six daughters. (Iliad, book 24, line 607)

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The Punishment of Tityos

The punishment inflicted on an Immortal for disabusing Leto is worse than death... it is eternal torture. When Odysseus was in the Underworld, he saw Tityos, the once glorious son of Gaia (Earth), being mauled by vultures because he had once tried to manhandle Leto as she traveled in Panopeus. (Odyssey, book 11, line 575)

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Leto in The Iliad (listed by book and line)

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Leto in The Odyssey (listed by book and line)

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How to Cite this Page

Cut and paste the following text for use in a paper or electronic document report.

Stewart, Michael. "Leto", Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant. http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/bios/leto.html (November 15, 2005)

Cut and paste the following html for use in a web report.

Stewart, Michael. &quot;Leto&quot;, <i>Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant</i>. http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/bios/leto.html (November 15, 2005)

Cut and paste the following html for use in a web report. This format will link back to this page, which may be useful but may not be required.

Stewart, Michael. &quot;Leto&quot;, <i>Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant</i>. <a href="http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/bios/leto.html">http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/bios/leto.html</a> (November 15, 2005)

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