LEUCIPPE IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Leucippe was one of the two daughters of the seer Thestor in Greek mythology. Leucippe is famous for her search for her missing sister and father.
Leucippe Daughter of Thestor
Leucippe was one of the two daughters of Thestor, born perhaps to a woman named Polymela; the other daughter being Theonoe. Leucippe also had two brothers, Calchas and Theoclymneus, both seers like their father.
Leucippe in Delphi
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One day, Leucippe’s sister, Theonoe was kidnapped by pirates; and Thestor set out seeking his lost daughter, Time would pass, and neither Thestor nor Theonoe returned, so Leucippe herself set out to find both.
Leucippe would travel to Delphi to seek the guidance of the Oracle. The Oracle of course did not give an exact answer as to where Leucippe’s father and sister were, but instead that they would be found, if Leucippe travelled the earth wearing the garbs of a priest of Apollo. |
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Leucippe thus cut her hair short and disguised as a male priest of the Greek god.
Leucippe in Caria
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Years passed, as Leucippe sought Theonoe and Thestor, but eventually Leucippe arrived in Caria. Caria of course being the location where both Theonoe and Thestor had ended up, although at the time unbeknownst to each other. Theonoe was a concubine of King Icarus, whilst Thestor was a servant in the palace.
Leucippe herself would end up in the palace herself, and Theonoe, having spied the handsome priest fell in love with him, of course unaware that the priest was her own sister. Leucippe also did not recognise her sister, but she rejected the advances of Theonoe. A rejected Theonoe now sought revenge against the priest who had spurned her. Word was sent to the servants to kill Leucippe, and of course the job would fall to Leucippe’s father, Thestor. Thestor would enter the room of the “priest”, but he could not bring himself to kill an innocent guest, and so he would seek to kill himself instead, Before he did so though, Thestor told the priest of his tale; and so Leucippe came to recognise her father, and of course she stayed Thestor’s hand, revealing himself as one of his daughters. Leucippe and Thestor now plotted against the woman who had sent Thestor to kill Leucippe. The pair would enter the chamber of Theonoe, but before a killing blow could be delivered, Thestor once again told his tale; and now Theonoe revealed herself to be Thestor’s other missing daughter. So, Leucippe, was now reunited with sister and father, and a benevolent King Icarus, now had the three returned to Mycenae. |
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Colin Quartermain - Leucippe - 6th September 2025