Leto in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Leto

33 passages from 10 ancient authors that tell of Leto, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Leto was a Titan goddess in Greek mythology, daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe. She was an early and favourite lover of Zeus.Zeus married Hera... For the story in one place, read our article on Leto.

Hesiod (3)

Hesiod, Theogony 405–449Leto, Asteria and Hecate (405-449)Phoebe and Coeus have Leto and Asteria, and Asteria's daughter is Hecate. The long praise of Hecate describes how Zeus honoured her beyond all other gods, leaving her a share of earth, sea and starry heaven, and how she helps those she favours in the assembly, in war, in the games, at sea and in the herds.
Hesiod, Fragments 1.86–96Dionysus, Coronis and CyreneHere Hesiod describes the gifts of Dionysus, the wine that brings joy and sorrow, and the story of Coronis, to whom a crow brought word to Pytho. Apollo and Asclepius appear, and Zeus is angry with Apollo. Cyrene and her son Aristaéus follow, then Antiope, and the building of the walls of Thebes by Zethus and Amphion.
Hesiod, Fragments 8.1–5AstronomyThe Astronomy, a poem attributed to Hesiod, is cited for the stars and constellations. The fragments name the Pleiades and the Hyades, the Great Bear and Callisto, Boötes and Orion.

Homer (12)

Homer, The Homeric Hymns 3.1–84Hymn 3 to Apollo (1): the god among the gods; Leto's wanderingsThe hymn opens with the gods trembling as Apollo enters the house of Zeus, where Leto takes his bow and Zeus gives him nectar. It then turns to Leto, who goes from land to land looking for a place to bear Apollo, but every place is afraid to receive him. At last she comes to Delos and pleads with it, and swears the great oath that Apollo will honour Delos above all other places.
Homer, The Homeric Hymns 3.85–178Hymn 3 to Apollo (2): the birth of Apollo on DelosOnce Leto has sworn her oath, Delos is glad. After nine days and nights of labour, the goddesses bring Eileithyia, and Apollo is born, washed, and fed with nectar; he declares that the lyre, the bow and prophecy will be his. The Delian part of the hymn closes with the festival of the Ionians on Delos and the song of the Delian maidens.
Homer, The Homeric Hymns 4.210–339Hymn 4 to Hermes (3): Apollo finds the thiefApollo reads a bird omen and follows the trail to the cave at Cyllene. He threatens the infant, who denies everything and answers with an omen of his own, and Apollo carries him up to Olympus to stand before Zeus.
Homer, Iliad 21.383–513The battle of the godsThe gods go to war with one another: Ares attacks Athena with his spear and is knocked down by a stone she hurls, and Athena strikes Aphrodite when she comes to help him. Poseidon challenges Apollo, who refuses to fight over mortals, and Artemis, scolded by Hera, is beaten and runs in tears to Zeus. Hermes declines to fight Leto, who gathers up the scattered bow and arrows of her daughter.
Homer, The Homeric Hymns 4.445–580Hymn 4 to Hermes (5): the lyre and the reconciliationApollo, enchanted by the lyre, promises Hermes renown and gifts; Hermes gives him the lyre, and Apollo gives him a whip and the care of the herds, and the two swear friendship. Apollo tells him of three winged sisters who live under Parnassus and teach divination, and Zeus confirms Hermes as lord of the birds of omen, the beasts and flocks, and the only messenger to Hades.
Homer, The Homeric Hymns 4.91–209Hymn 4 to Hermes (2): the theft of Apollo's cattleHermes drives the cattle backwards through the night, sacrifices two of them by the river Alpheus, and returns to his cradle in Cyllene, where Maia scolds him for the theft. Meanwhile Apollo arrives at Onchestus and is told by the old man that he has seen a child driving cattle backwards.
Homer, Iliad 1.1–67The Wrath of Achilles; Chryses and the plagueThe poet asks the goddess to sing the wrath of Achilles, which began when Agamemnon and Achilles quarrelled. Chryses, a priest of Apollo, comes to the Achaean ships with ransom to free his daughter, but Agamemnon sends him away harshly, and the old man prays to Apollo. The god comes down from Olympus and strikes the army with a plague, first the mules and dogs and then the men, until on the tenth day Achilles calls an assembly and asks for a seer to explain the god's anger.
Homer, Iliad 5.431–518Apollo rescues Aeneas; Ares rallies the TrojansDiomedes rushes at Aeneas three times, but Apollo thrusts him back and carries Aeneas to his temple in Pergamus, where Leto and Artemis heal him, while Apollo makes a phantom of Aeneas for the armies to fight over. Apollo rouses Ares to join the Trojans, and Ares rallies them in the likeness of Acamas. Sarpedon rebukes Hector, who rouses his men, and Aeneas returns to the fighting healed.
Homer, Iliad 20.1–74Zeus calls the gods to councilThe Achaeans arm by the ships with Achilles longing to meet Hector, and Zeus on Olympus calls the gods to an assembly. He tells them that he is concerned for the Trojans, since Achilles may sack the city before its fate, and lets the gods go down to help whichever side they choose. All the rivers except Ocean and all the nymphs attend.
Homer, The Homeric Hymns 3.179–299Hymn 3 to Apollo (3): the search for an oracle siteThe poet turns from Delos to the search for Apollo's oracle, passing through Pieria, Iolcus, Euboea and Onchestus. At Telphusa Apollo lays out the foundations of a temple, but Telphusa, wishing to keep the renown for herself, persuades him to go further, and he goes on to Crisa, where Trophonius and Agamedes lay the stone foundation of the temple.
Homer, The Homeric Hymns 4.340–444Hymn 4 to Hermes (4): the quarrel before ZeusBefore Zeus, Apollo accuses Hermes of stealing his cows, and Hermes swears that he is innocent. Zeus laughs at the child's cleverness and orders the two to find the cattle together. Hermes leads Apollo to the herd, plays the lyre, and Apollo, astonished by the sound, asks where he learned such a gift.
Homer, The Homeric Hymns 26.1–29.14Hymns 26 to 29: Dionysus, Artemis, Athena, Hestia and HermesFour hymns of moderate length. Dionysus is reared by nymphs in the dells of Nysa and roams the wooded glens, Artemis hunts over the mountains and goes to Delphi to lead the Muses and Graces in their dance, and Athena springs from the head of Zeus, shaking her spear, so that all Olympus reels. The last hymn honours Hestia, who has a place in every house, and Hermes.

Apollodorus (1)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 1.4.1–5Leto, Apollo and Artemis; Python, Marsyas and OrionAsteria flees Zeus and becomes the island Delos, where the hunted Leto bears Artemis and then Apollo. Apollo takes over the oracle at Delphi by killing the snake Python, kills Tityus for assaulting Leto, and has Marsyas flayed after a musical contest. Artemis kills Orion on Delos, and two reasons are given, a challenge at quoits or violence against the Hyperborean maiden Opis; the section ends with Poseidon's children by Amphitrite.

Apollonius Rhodius (2)

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.178–300Phineus and the HarpiesPhineus tells the heroes how Zeus blinded him for misusing his gift of prophecy, and how the Harpies snatch his food. Zetes and Calais, the sons of Boreas, chase the Harpies away from his table, and Iris stops them from killing them by swearing on the Styx that the Harpies will not trouble Phineus again.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.648–719Thynias and the epiphany of ApolloRowing on past the coast of Bithynia, the heroes reach the island of Thynias at dawn and see Apollo pass on his way from Lycia to the Hyperboreans. They build an altar, name the god Apollo of the Dawn, and swear to stand by each other.

Callimachus (4)

Callimachus, Hymns 4.1–86Hymn to Delos: Asteria among the islandsThe poet resolves to sing of Delos, nurse of Apollo, a wave-beaten isle that leads the others when they gather before Oceanus and Tethys. He tells how the island, once the floating Asteria who fled the love of Zeus, was named Delos when it became the birthplace of Apollo. Hera, angry with Leto, posts Ares on Haemus to watch the mainland and Iris on Mimas to watch the islands, and the cities of Greece flee from Leto. Apollo, still in the womb, rebukes Thebe.
Callimachus, Hymns 4.87–204Hymn to Delos: Leto's wanderingsThe unborn Apollo warns Thebe not to make him prophesy yet and speaks of his coming fight with the serpent at Pytho. Leto is refused by the Achaean cities and by Thessaly, and Peneius is ready to shelter her until Ares threatens him and she bids him save himself. The islands, frightened by Iris, turn her away, and on Cos the unborn god forbids her to bear him there because another god, Ptolemy, is due to be born on the island. He foretells the defeat of the Galatians at Delphi, and Asteria then calls to Leto to cross over to her.
Callimachus, Hymns 3.1–268Hymn to Artemis: the goddess's childhood wishesAs a small girl on her father's knees, Artemis asks Zeus to let her stay a maiden for ever and to give her a bow, a short tunic, sixty nymphs of Oceanus for her choir and twenty nymphs of Amnisus to tend her hounds, and Zeus smiles and grants it, adding cities. She visits the Cyclopes on Lipara for her arrows, takes hounds from Pan in Arcadia and captures four golden-horned deer for her chariot. The poet praises her favourite places and companions, among them Britomartis, Cyrene and Atalanta, and her shrines at Miletus and Ephesus. He ends with a warning to those who wronged her, such as Oeneus, Otus and Orion.
Callimachus, Hymns 4.205–326Hymn to Delos: the birth of ApolloLeto sits by the Inopus and leans against a palm-tree, bidding her child be born, and Iris tells Hera, who relents because Zeus has calmed her. The swans of Pactolus circle Delos seven times, which is why Apollo's lyre has seven strings, and the island turns to gold as the god is born. Delos tells Earth that Apollo will love her above all lands and that she will wander no more. The poet then describes the first-fruits sent to Delos from the north, the dance of Theseus at the image of Cypris, and the sailors' rite at the altar.

Theocritus (1)

Theocritus, Idylls 18.1–58Idyll 18: Helen's wedding songTwelve Spartan maidens sing outside the bridal chamber on the wedding night of Helen and Menelaus. They praise Helen, tease Menelaus for sleeping too early, and wish the pair children and lasting happiness. They promise to return at dawn and sing again.

Aristophanes (1)

Aristophanes, Thesmophoriazusae 101–293Prologue: Agathon's house and the disguiseAgathon is wheeled out in a woman's dress and sings a lyric, and Mnesilochus mocks him for his looks and his ways. Euripides begs him to go to the festival of the women and plead for him, but Agathon refuses, so Mnesilochus agrees to go in his place. Euripides shaves and dresses him as a woman, makes him a promise on oath to help him, and leaves him on his way to the assembly.

Ovid (2)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 6.146–312NiobeThe fate of Arachne spreads through Lydia, but Niobe, queen of Thebes, takes no warning, and rebukes the women who are honouring Leto (Latona), boasting of her own noble birth, her husband's power and her fourteen children. Leto, angered, calls on Apollo and Artemis (Diana), and Apollo kills Niobe's seven sons as they ride and wrestle, and Artemis her seven daughters in their mother's presence. Niobe, bereft of all, turns to stone, and is carried by a whirlwind to Mount Sipylus, where she weeps.
Ovid, Metamorphoses 6.313–411The Lycian peasants; Marsyas; PelopsAfter Niobe's fate men worship Leto (Latona) more zealously, and one recalls the peasants of Lycia, who refused Leto water to drink when she came, wandering with her twins, and who were turned into frogs. Another tells of the satyr Marsyas, who challenged Apollo to a contest on the pipes and was flayed alive for his presumption. Pelops, the brother of Niobe, mourns for her, and his ivory shoulder, which the gods made for him after Tantalus served him up at a banquet, is shown.

Quintus Smyrnaeus (1)

Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 3.293–421Aias and Odysseus rescue Achilles' bodyAias fights on beside Odysseus, who kills Maenalus, Atymnius and Proteus and is wounded by Alcon, whom he kills. When Paris draws his bow on Aias, Aias strikes his helmet with a stone, and Paris is carried off to Troy behind Hector's horses. Aias drives the rest of the Trojans into the city and then strides back across a plain covered with the dead, and the kings bring Achilles' body to his tent, where the army wails for him.

Nonnus of Panopolis (6)

Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 48.328–473Book 48: Aura insults Artemis; Nemesis is sent against herBathing beside Artemis, Aura stares at the goddess and mocks her breasts and her claim to virginity, boasting of her own boyish strength. Artemis, furious, appeals to Nemesis for vengeance. Nemesis pursues Aura in her griffin car and strikes her with her whip, and Eros makes Dionysos mad with love for the girl.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 2.109–240Book 2: The nymph's lament; Victory rouses ZeusA nymph runs through every means of escape for her maidenhood, as bird, tree, spring or stone, and finds none safe. Night falls and the stars keep watch over Olympos while Zeus sits alone. Victory comes in the shape of Leto to reproach him, listing the gods who have fled and urging him to fight.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 8.122–177Book 8: Hera borrows the girdle of DeceitHera flatters Deceit and asks for the girdle with which Rheia once deceived Cronos. She complains that a mortal woman has taken her husband and threatens to leave heaven. Deceit gives her the girdle, saying it will charm Zeus and bring Ares home.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 2.241–390Book 2: Typhon's boast and the first assault on ZeusTyphoeus wakes shouting threats: he will overturn the heavens, bring up Cronos and the Titans, and take Hera for his bride. Zeus laughs, and the battle opens with the Giant hurling trees and rocks against the thunderbolt.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 9.169–228Book 9: The boy Dionysos hunts; Semele's boastAt nine years old Dionysos hunts hares, stags and tigers and drives lions for Rheia. He grows up among the Pans in the Phrygian hills. Semele, in Olympos, boasts over Hera that Zeus himself brought her son to birth and that Rheia nursed him.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 27.241–341Book 27: Zeus' council of the gods on OlymposOn Olympos Zeus appeals to Apollo, Athena and Hephaistos to defend Dionysos, reminding each of their ties to him, and complains that Hera, Athena and Ares seem to side with Deriades. The gods depart: Apollo, Athena and Hephaistos go to help Dionysos, while Hera leads Ares and Hydaspes to the other side, with Deo supporting her.