| The Birth of Apollon |
| The Birth of Artemis |
| Leto and Niobe |
| Leto and Tityos |
| Leto and Orion |
| The Protective Mother |
| The Trojan War |
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Leto was the beautiful daughter of the Titans, Koios and Phoibe. The Titans were the first Immortals to have a human form but they were in no way humane. The children of the Titans were much more attuned to the realities of life on earth. Although they could be harsh and demanding, the children of the Titans showed great restraint towards the human population and sincere reverence for the ancient Immortals.
From the beginning, Leto was the most kind and gentle of the Immortals on Mount Olympos ... she drew the attention of Zeus and the two became lovers. Leto was one of the many consorts of Zeus and proudly bore him two children—Apollon and Artemis.
We know who Leto's parents were but little was recorded as to where on earth she was born. Her son Apollon made frequent trips and made many references to the land of the Hyperboreans ... it's obvious that they worshiped him but the origin of that reverence is vague. The "land of the Hyperboreans" has always been assumed to be somewhere north of Europe ... Hyper = above; Boreas = North Wind ... therefore the Hyperboreans lived somewhere above the abode of Boreas.
It's not mentioned in the poems of Homer and Hesiod (circa 750 BCE) but the historian Diodorus of Sicily (fl. 40 BCE) made note that Leto was born on an island of the Hyperboreans. Diodorus did not name the island but if Leto was indeed born there it would explain Apollon's frequent visits to the Hyperboreans as well as their devotion to him.
Zeus's sister-wife Hera was not pleased when she became aware that Leto was pregnant with twins. When it came time for her children to be born, Leto traveled far and wide to find a suitable birthplace. The Nymphs of the various islands and provinces were reluctant to allow their domains to be the home of Leto's twins because they knew Hera was angry with Zeus for his association with Leto ... the Nymphs were justifiably afraid Hera would vent her wrath on any Immortal who assisted Leto.
The goddess Delos had a rocky island in the southern Aigean Sea, which Leto thought would be the perfect birthplace for Apollon. Delos was aware of the dangers she faced by helping Leto but she also knew that Leto's children would be honored by mortal and immortal alike. To protect herself, Delos made Leto swear a great oath on the waters of Styx that her new son would never abandon his birthplace and always keep his temple on the humble island. An oath sworn of the waters of Styx was the most sacred and binding oath a god or goddess could make. Leto swore the oath and Apollon was soon to be born on the island of Delos.
The goddesses Rhea, Dione, Themis, Aphrodite (goddess of love), and two Hyperborean maidens went to Delos to attend Apollon's birth. Hera knew she couldn't prevent the birth of Apollon but she was determined to make it as difficult as possible. Hera distracted her daughter Eileithyia (goddess of childbirth) so Apollon's birth would be delayed and Leto would suffer for her presumed insult to the queen of the goddesses. Finally, the assembled goddesses dispatched Iris to bring Eileithyia to Delos ... Iris flew to Mount Olympos and waited until Hera was not looking to tell Eileithyia of the situation ... the two goddesses returned to Delos where Apollon's birth proceeded without further delay. Leto had been in labor for nine days and nights before Apollon was born.
Apollon was born on the seventh day of the month and that day is considered to be holy. He did not nurse at his mother's breast because he was given ambrosia and nectar, which are the food and drink of the Immortals. He burst from his crib and announced his intentions to play the lyre, carry the curved bow and declare the unfailing will of Zeus to the mortals of the earth.
The island of Delos became rich and beautiful with the presence of Apollon and Leto ... the mountains bloomed with flowers and people came from all regions to make generous donations to the shrine of Apollon. Games and dancing inspired the worshipers but the handmaidens of Apollon were the most amazing attraction on the island ... they had the ability to sing in such a way that each person heard them in his or her native tongue.
Although she was not born on Delos, Apollon's sister Artemis was considered to be his twin ... she was skillful with her silver bow and gave aid the people of the earth by comforting the weak and unfortunate. Artemis was often called the Virgin Goddess of the Hunt or simply Goddess of the Hunt.
The birth of Artemis was less dramatic because Hera had vented her wrath on Apollon and was content that Leto suffered to give him birth. Artemis was born on the island of Ortygia in the harbor of Syracuse, Sicily. After her birth, the island of Ortygia was given to Artemis by the Immortals and the oracles verified the sanctity of her dominion. To honor Artemis, the Nymphs of the island caused a great spring to gush forth that they named Arethusa. The spring was filled with a large variety and quantity of fish that were considered to be sacred to the goddess. The fish were not eaten by sensible people but on certain occasions, desperate men would eat the spring's fish and Artemis would inflict appropriate punishment on the offenders.
The various Nymphs who refused to give Leto sanctuary eventually paid the price for their lack of hospitality. When Apollon and Artemis reached adulthood, they visited and punished all who had shunned their mother in her time of need.
The story of Niobe is meant to be a lesson in humility as well as a warning against blasphemy.
Niobe was the daughter of Tantalos and the sister Pelops, eponymous founder of the Peloponnesian Peninsula. She was the mother of seven sons and seven daughters, of which she was very proud ... perhaps, too proud. She would frequently boast that she was more blessed with children than the goddess Leto ... after all, Niobe had fourteen children and Leto had only two.
Leto became weary of Niobe's arrogant boasting and sent Apollon and Artemis to kill Niobe's children. Apollon and Artemis did as their mother commanded but it seems that only twelve of the children were slain. One daughter and one son survived because of their prayers to Leto ... their names were Meliboea and Amyklas ... Meliboea was struck ghostly white from the frightening experience and was afterwards called Khloris (Pale).
Niobe was supposedly turned to stone and placed on Mount Sipylos to eternally weep for her children. When the traveler-historian Pausanias was on Mount Sipylos, he observed, "When you are near, it is a beetling crag with not the slightest resemblance to a woman, mourning or otherwise; but if you go further away you will think you see a woman in tears, with head bowed down."
Niobe's husband was also punished for his participation in the mockery of Leto ... after his death, he was given a harsh but unelaborated treatment in the House of Hades ... knowing Zeus's affection for Leto, we can be assured that his punishment was appropriate for his crime.
Tityos was a son of Ge (Earth) but his exalted birthright could not mitigate his punishment for trying to rape Leto.
As she was traveling towards Apollon's shrine at Delphi, Leto passed through an area called Panopeus, noted for its dancing floors and beautiful lawns. Tityos encountered Leto and tried to manhandle her ... he was either killed or severely wounded by arrows from Apollon and Artemis.
For his dastardly crime, Tityos was sent to the Underworld and stretched over a field to be tortured ... two vultures sit, one on either side, and tear at his liver ... they plunge their beaks into his flesh but he is positioned in such a way that he cannot fend them off ... thus his punishment continues to this day.
The hunter Orion was placed in the heavens as the most recognizable constellation in the night sky. His elevation to such an honored position was due to the intervention of Leto and Artemis even though it's very possible that Artemis killed him.
Orion had a history of indulgent behavior and suffered the punishments for his extravagant lifestyle. After being blinded by Poseidon (lord of the sea) and healed by Helios (Sun), it seems that Orion learned nothing from the experience ... vanity and brutality remained his trademark. One of two things happened at that point:
1) He became the consort of Eos (Dawn) and incurred the ill will of some of the Immortals ... Artemis was called upon to kill him; or
2) While hunting with Leto and Artemis on the island of Krete, Orion threatened to kill every wild beast on the earth. Ge (Earth) was so annoyed with Orion she sent a giant scorpion to sting and kill him.
After his death, regardless of how it happened, Artemis and Leto persuaded Zeus to place Orion in the heavens as a constellation.
Leto has always been interested in the activities of her children but it's rarely necessary for her to become directly involved in their affairs. Assuming her role as the protective mother, Leto stepped in to save Apollon from being cast into Tartaros (the Pit) when he defied Zeus.
Apollon's son Asklepios was a phenomenal healer ... he was without doubt the most gifted physician who ever lived but his skill and reputation blinded him to his humble mission in life. Asklepios incurred the wrath of Zeus when he took money to restore a dead man to life ... he had clearly crossed the line of propriety ... punishment was swift and deadly. Zeus struck Asklepios and the man he had restored to life with a lightning bolt ... both died in a fiery flash.
Strangely, Apollon was angry with Zeus for killing Asklepios and not necessarily angry with Asklepios for his self-serving, egotistical behavior. Apollon became so enraged that he lost sight of his place in the hierarchy of the Immortals ... in his rage, Apollon killed the Cyclopes who forged the thunderbolts for Zeus. As you can imagine, Zeus was not going to let such blatant disrespect go unpunished ... he condemned Apollon to Tartaros, but Leto intervened and Zeus agreed to forgive Apollon if he would serve as a bondsman for a mortal ... Apollon wisely agreed, otherwise he would have been imprisoned with the Titans in the depths of the Underworld.
Zeus sentenced Apollon to serve for one year as a slave for the King Admetos of Pherai in Thessaly. Admetos was a kind master and treated Apollon with respect.
This incident took place before the Trojan War ... Asklepios had two sons who participated in the war as physicians—Makhaon and Podaleirios.
Leto, Apollon, and Artemis supported the Trojans during the Trojan War. Leto worked behind the scenes on one occasion and in another instance, actually took part in the combat.
Leto became involved when Aphrodite's son Aineias was seriously wounded on the battlefield. Apollon shielded Aineias's prone body but without immediate and divine intervention, Aineias was going to die from his injuries. Apollon created a doppelganger—a counterfeit Aineias—to remain on the battlefield while the real Aineias was transported to Apollon's temple at Pergamos to be treated by Leto and Artemis.
The survival of Aineias was crucial to Zeus's Trojan War masterplan. Zeus wanted the bloodline of Dardanos, the first Trojan king, to survive the fall of Troy ... Aineias could trace his lineage back five generations to Dardanos. According to the Romans, descendants of Aineias laid the foundations of the Roman Empire. Leto was instrumental in achieving that end.
Zeus lifted his ban and allowed the Immortals to fight on the battlefield at Troy. Leto entered the fray on the side of the Trojans. Standing face to face with Hermes, the messenger-god, Leto was prepared to fight but Hermes backed away ... he said he had no desire to fight with a bride of Zeus ... he then told Leto she should boast to the other Immortals that she had bested him in combat ... he was quite sincere in his humility.
The goddess Hera showed no sympathy for Artemis when the two goddesses met in battle ... Hera scolded the younger goddess and casually knocked her to the ground, scattering her bow and arrows in the dust. Leto helped Artemis to her feet and sent her back to Mount Olympos ... Leto returned to the brutal warfare.
The Iliad
The Odyssey
Theogony
Works and Days
Astronomy
Catalogues of Women and Eoiae
Shield of Herakles
Hymn to Delian Apollon
Hymn to Pythian Apollon
Hymn to Hermes IV
Hymn to Artemis XXVII
Hymn to Aphrodite V
Doubtful Fragments
The Histories by Herodotos
Odes of Pindar
Description of Greece by Pausanias
Library of History by Diodorus of Sicily
The Argonautika by Apollonius of Rhodes