Rhadine and Leontichus
Encyclopedia
In Greek mythology
, Rhadine (Ῥαδίνη) and Leontichus (Λεόντιχος) were star-crossed lovers from the town of Samus in Triphylia
(later Samicum; not to be confused with Samos
).
The story of Rhadine and Leontichus was recounted in a poem entitled Rhadine (now lost), misattributed to Stesichorus
. Strabo
in his Geography quotes the initial lines of the poem (invocation of the Muse
Erato
) and then gives a brief synopsis of the work, which is as follows. Rhadine was betrothed to a tyrant
of Corinth
and sent to him on board the ship as the west wind was blowing; meanwhile, her brother went with the same wind to Delphi
as chief of an embassy. Leontichus (referred to as "Rhadine's cousin" rather than by name) hurried to Corinth on his chariot to see Rhadine. Apparently, the tyrant was outraged on discovering that his fiancee had an affair with another man; he ordered to kill both Rhadine and Leontichus and to send their bodies away on the chariot. Later, however, he repented, sent for the chariot to be brought back and gave proper burial to the lovers.
Pausanias makes mention of the tomb of Rhadine and Leontichus, which, however, he places on the island Samos (rather than the town) on the road to Heraeum. The tomb, he wrote, was frequented by star-crossed lovers who came there to pray for a happy outcome of their misfortunes in love.
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, Rhadine (Ῥαδίνη) and Leontichus (Λεόντιχος) were star-crossed lovers from the town of Samus in Triphylia
Triphylia
Triphylia was an area of the ancient Peloponnese. Strabo and Pausanias both describe Triphylia as part of Elis, and it fell at times under the domination of the city of Elis, but Pausanias claims they reckoned themselves Arcadian, not Elean. They fell under the rule of Elis in the 8th century BC,...
(later Samicum; not to be confused with Samos
Samoš
Samoš is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Kovačica municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 1,247 people .-See also:...
).
The story of Rhadine and Leontichus was recounted in a poem entitled Rhadine (now lost), misattributed to Stesichorus
Stesichorus
Stesichorus was the first great poet of the Greek West. He is best known for telling epic stories in lyric metres but he is also famous for some ancient traditions about his life, such as his opposition to the tyrant Phalaris, and the blindness he is said to have incurred and cured by composing...
. Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
in his Geography quotes the initial lines of the poem (invocation of the Muse
Muse
The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
Erato
Erato
In Greek mythology, Erato is one of the Greek Muses. The name would mean "desired" or "lovely", if derived from the same root as Eros, as Apollonius of Rhodes playfully suggested in the invocation to Erato that begins Book III of his Argonautica....
) and then gives a brief synopsis of the work, which is as follows. Rhadine was betrothed to a tyrant
Tyrant
A tyrant was originally one who illegally seized and controlled a governmental power in a polis. Tyrants were a group of individuals who took over many Greek poleis during the uprising of the middle classes in the sixth and seventh centuries BC, ousting the aristocratic governments.Plato and...
of Corinth
Corinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
and sent to him on board the ship as the west wind was blowing; meanwhile, her brother went with the same wind to Delphi
Delphi
Delphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis.In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god...
as chief of an embassy. Leontichus (referred to as "Rhadine's cousin" rather than by name) hurried to Corinth on his chariot to see Rhadine. Apparently, the tyrant was outraged on discovering that his fiancee had an affair with another man; he ordered to kill both Rhadine and Leontichus and to send their bodies away on the chariot. Later, however, he repented, sent for the chariot to be brought back and gave proper burial to the lovers.
Pausanias makes mention of the tomb of Rhadine and Leontichus, which, however, he places on the island Samos (rather than the town) on the road to Heraeum. The tomb, he wrote, was frequented by star-crossed lovers who came there to pray for a happy outcome of their misfortunes in love.