THE SEER THESTOR IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Thestor was a seer in Greek mythology. Arguably, Thestor is today best known as the father of another seer, Calchas, but a tale is told in Greek mythology, of Thestor’s travails in keeping his family together.
The Family of ThestorThestor is normally named as the son of Idmon and a woman named Laothoe. Idmon was also a seer, a son of Apollo, and the soothsayer who was said to have been numbered amongst the Argonauts, and died in the quest for the Golden Fleece.
Thestor himself, would become father to two sons Calchas and Theoclymenus, and two daughters Leucippe and Theonoe. |
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It is not commonly said who the wife of Thestor was, and therefore who the mother of Calchas, Theoclymenus, Leucippe and Theonoe was; although the name of Polymela occasionally appears.
Theonoe Taken, and Thestor Shipwrecked
Theonoe would be kidnapped by pirates, who took Theonoe to Caria, where the daughter of Thestor was sold to King Icarus; Theonoe would become one of the king’s concubines.
Thestor soon realised that Theonoe was missing, and set out to search for her. Thestor though, would himself suffer misfortune for whilst off the coast of Caria, his ship was wrecked. A stranger in a strange land, Thestor was promptly arrested and made a prisoner in the palace of Icarus, although he was soon released from his chains, to become a servant of the king. Whilst in the palace of Icarus though, the paths of Thestor and Theonoe never crossed.
Thestor soon realised that Theonoe was missing, and set out to search for her. Thestor though, would himself suffer misfortune for whilst off the coast of Caria, his ship was wrecked. A stranger in a strange land, Thestor was promptly arrested and made a prisoner in the palace of Icarus, although he was soon released from his chains, to become a servant of the king. Whilst in the palace of Icarus though, the paths of Thestor and Theonoe never crossed.
Leucippe Searches
Now, with a missing father and sister, Leucippe consulted the Oracle of Delphi to find out what she should do. The Pythia informed Leucippe that she must search for Thestor and Theonoe, and to do this she would have to disguise herself as a priest of Apollo and go throughout the earth.
Thus, Leucippe cut her hair, and donned the robes of a priest and started her search; and eventually, Leucippe would herself arrive in Caria. Theonoe RejectedTheonoe would espy Leucippe upon the arrival of her sister in Caria, but not recognising Leucippe for who she was, Theonoe simply saw a male priest. The sight of the male priest though, was sufficient for Theonoe to fall in love with Leucippe.
Now perhaps Leucippe did not recognise Theonoe, but certainly she did not reveal herself, and instead Leucippe rejected the advances of Theonoe. This rejection angered Theonoe, and so the king’s concubine sent orders to the king’s servants to kill the priest. The order passed from servant to servant, for none wished to kill a priest of Apollo, but eventually the order ended up with the lowest servant of the royal court, Thestor, who had no choice but to obey. |
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Thestor and his Family Reunited
With a sword in hand, Thestor entered the room of Leucippe, but despite his prophetic powers, Thestor failed to recognise his daughter.
Thestor did not immediately strike though, and instead spoke aloud, telling Leucippe of his own tale of woe, but as Thestor ended his tale, the seer did not seek to kill the priest, but instead started to turn the sword upon himself, to commit suicide.
Leucippe though intervened, and dashed the sword away, and she revealed herself to her father, and so father and one daughter were reunited.
Now Thestor and Leucippe plotted together to kill the women who had given the orders to kill a priest; and so the pair entered the room of Theonoe. Again though, before striking, the tale of Thestor and Leucippe was recited, thus giving Theonoe the opportunity to reveal who she was as well. Thus, father and daughters were happily reunited.
The tale of Thestor and his daughters was told to King Icarus, who taken by the tale, released Thestor and Theonoe from their servitude, and made provision for Thestor and his daughters to return home. Icarus even provided gifts to the family making their lives, thereafter, comfortable.
Thestor did not immediately strike though, and instead spoke aloud, telling Leucippe of his own tale of woe, but as Thestor ended his tale, the seer did not seek to kill the priest, but instead started to turn the sword upon himself, to commit suicide.
Leucippe though intervened, and dashed the sword away, and she revealed herself to her father, and so father and one daughter were reunited.
Now Thestor and Leucippe plotted together to kill the women who had given the orders to kill a priest; and so the pair entered the room of Theonoe. Again though, before striking, the tale of Thestor and Leucippe was recited, thus giving Theonoe the opportunity to reveal who she was as well. Thus, father and daughters were happily reunited.
The tale of Thestor and his daughters was told to King Icarus, who taken by the tale, released Thestor and Theonoe from their servitude, and made provision for Thestor and his daughters to return home. Icarus even provided gifts to the family making their lives, thereafter, comfortable.
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