MESTRA IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Appearing in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Mestra was the beautiful daughter of Erysichthon, and one time lover of Poseidon.
Mestra Daughter of Erysichthon
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Mestra was the daughter of Erysichthon, son of Triopas, born to an unnamed woman. Mestra grew to become a beautiful woman, with such beauty, that it attracted the attention of the god Poseidon.
Poseidon was said to have abducted Mestra from her homeland to have his way with her. Some say that this union brought forth three sons, Ancaeus, Eurypylus and Periclymenus, although it is more common to name the mother of these three sons as Astypalea, or others. |
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Mestra and her Father
Mestra would at some point be returned to her father, but Erysichthon was an impious man, a man who had desecrated a sacred grove of Demeter.
The gods punished Erysichthon to suffer from insatiable hunger, and no matter how much he ate he was never satisfied. Soon all the food from the household was gone, and all the livestock eaten. Everything of value in the house was also sold to buy more food, but to no avail.
Then Erysichthon realised that the only thing of value left was his daughter, Mestra. Erysichthon thus sold Mestra, either into slavery, or to be someone’s wife.
Mestra had no wish to be owned by anyone, and so she prayed to her former lover, Poseidon, for help. Poseidon thus endowed Mestra with the ability to shape-shift. Mestra thus transformed herself into an animal, or another person, enabling her to escape.
For some reason, Mestra returned to her father, and Erysichthon quickly realised he now had an unlimited source of money, for now, time after time, he could sell Metra, only for her to return.
This supply of money though proved insufficient, for he still remained hungry, and eventually he ended up eating himself, killing himself.
Some tell of Mestra marrying Autolycus, although the famed thief, is normally said to have been married to Amphithea.
The gods punished Erysichthon to suffer from insatiable hunger, and no matter how much he ate he was never satisfied. Soon all the food from the household was gone, and all the livestock eaten. Everything of value in the house was also sold to buy more food, but to no avail.
Then Erysichthon realised that the only thing of value left was his daughter, Mestra. Erysichthon thus sold Mestra, either into slavery, or to be someone’s wife.
Mestra had no wish to be owned by anyone, and so she prayed to her former lover, Poseidon, for help. Poseidon thus endowed Mestra with the ability to shape-shift. Mestra thus transformed herself into an animal, or another person, enabling her to escape.
For some reason, Mestra returned to her father, and Erysichthon quickly realised he now had an unlimited source of money, for now, time after time, he could sell Metra, only for her to return.
This supply of money though proved insufficient, for he still remained hungry, and eventually he ended up eating himself, killing himself.
Some tell of Mestra marrying Autolycus, although the famed thief, is normally said to have been married to Amphithea.
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Colin Quartermain - Mestra - 12th September 2025