LEANDER (lover of Hero)
Figure of myth · Greek mythological character, lover of Hero
A light on a tower guided his passage, allowing him to avoid the eyes of his parents while he crossed the dark waters.3,2 While he was away, he passed his time hunting, farming, or visiting the forum, though he was expected to return to his own military camp.1,4
Distressed by his delays, the speaker urged Leander to swim across the waves to join her, questioning whether he feared the double toil of the journey.1,4 Leander wrote letters expressing kind wishes, yet his absence left Hero feeling abandoned by a deserter from social love.1,4
The codex facts behind this entry
In the myths
Leander repeatedly swims across the Hellespont at night to meet Hero, using a light on a tower as a guide to avoid being seen by his parents. Ovid, Heroides 19.167 +1
