Leto

Also known as: gold-tressed Leto · Family: Olympians · Role: goddess · First appears: Hesiod’s Works and Days · Part 6

Leto, daughter of Coeus, bore Apollo; another account says she bore him on the first, fourth, and seventh days. At Olympus, Zeus killed a son of Leto with a thunderbolt. Leto interceded for Apollo, who otherwise would have been cast into Tartarus, and he became bondman to a mortal.

At Olympus, Hera kept Eilithyia from Leto and delayed her labor. When Eilithyia reached Delos, Leto’s labor began, and she gave birth to Apollo there; she had borne Artemis at Ortygia. Leto swore that Apollo would establish his altar and precinct on Delos. Another hymn celebrates Artemis and Apollo as children supreme among the immortals.

Relationship record

Life events

• Leto bore Apollo.(Hesiod’s Works and Days · Part 6)
  • With: Apollo
  • “on which Leto bare Apollo with the blade of gold”
• Zeus killed the son of Leto with a thunderbolt.(The Catalogues of Women and Eoiae · Fragments 81–100 · 📍 Olympus)
  • With: Zeus Apollo
  • “from Olympus he smote the son of Leto with a lurid thunderbolt and killed him”
• Leto interceded for Apollo, who became bondman to a mortal instead of being cast into Tartarus.(The Catalogues of Women and Eoiae · Fragments 81–100 · 📍 Tartarus)
  • With: Apollo
  • “Apollo) would have been cast by Zeus into Tartarus ; but Leto interceded for him, and he became bondman to a mortal.”
• Leto bore Phoebus Apollo.(Doubtful Fragments · Fragments 1–10 · 📍 Delos)
  • With: Apollo
  • “Phoebus Apollo with the golden sword, whom Leto bare.”
• Leto gives birth to Apollo on Delos.(Homeric Hymn III · To Delian Apollo · 📍 Delos)
  • With: Apollo
  • “And as soon as Eilithyia the goddess of sore travail set foot on Delos, the pains of birth seized Leto, and she longed to bring forth; so she cast her arms about a palm tree and kneeled on the soft meadow while the earth laughed for joy beneath. Then the child leaped forth to the light”
• Leto gives birth to Artemis on Ortygia.(Homeric Hymn III · To Delian Apollo · 📍 Ortygia)
  • With: Artemis
  • “her in Ortygia, and him in rocky Delos”
• Leto swears Apollo will establish his altar and precinct on Delos.(Homeric Hymn III · To Delian Apollo)
  • With: Apollo
  • “surely Phoebus shall have here his fragrant altar and precinct, and you he shall honour above all.”
• Hera keeps Eilithyia from Leto to delay her labor.(Homeric Hymn III · To Delian Apollo · 📍 Olympus)
  • With: Hera Eilithyia
  • “Only Eilithyia, goddess of sore travail, had not heard of Leto’s trouble, for she sat on the top of Olympus beneath golden clouds by white-armed Hera’s contriving, who kept her close through envy”
• Eilithyia arrives on Delos, and Leto's labor begins.(Homeric Hymn III · To Delian Apollo · 📍 Delos)
  • With: Eilithyia
  • “And as soon as Eilithyia the goddess of sore travail set foot on Delos, the pains of birth seized Leto”
• Leto bore Artemis and Apollo, children supreme among the immortals.(Homeric Hymn XXVII · To Artemis)
  • With: Artemis Apollo
  • “singing how neat-ankled Leto bare children supreme among the immortals both in thought and in deed.”

Hesiod’s Works and Days · Part 6

• child: Apollo “on which Leto bare Apollo with the blade of gold”

The Catalogues of Women and Eoiae · Fragments 81–100

• child: Apollo “Concerning Asclepius Hesiod says: ‘And the father of men and gods was wrath, and from Olympus he smote the son of Leto with a lurid thunderbolt and killed him, arousing the anger of Phoebus.’”

The Shield of Heracles · Part 2

• child: Apollo “And in the midst the son of Zeus and Leto played sweetly on a golden lyre.”

The Shield of Heracles · Part 3

• child: Apollo “because he used to watch for and violently despoil the rich hecatombs that any might bring to Pytho.”

Doubtful Fragments · Fragments 1–10

• child: Apollo “Phoebus Apollo with the golden sword, whom Leto bare.”

Homeric Hymn III · To Delian Apollo

• child: Apollo “queenly Leto rejoices because she bare a mighty son”
• child: Artemis “Rejoice, blessed Leto, for you bare glorious children, the lord Apollo and Artemis who delights in arrows”
• parent: Coeus “Leto, most glorious daughter of great Coeus”

Homeric Hymn III · To Pythian Apollo · Part 1

• child: Apollo “And they, even gold-tressed Leto and wise Zeus, rejoice in their great hearts as they watch their dear son playing among the undying gods.”

Homeric Hymn III · To Pythian Apollo · Part 3

• child: Apollo “And so, farewell, son of Zeus and Leto; but I will remember you and another hymn also.”

Homeric Hymn IV · To Hermes · Part 2

• child: Apollo “the all-glorious Son of Leto began and said to him.”

Homeric Hymn IV · To Hermes · Part 3

• child: Apollo “So Hermes the shepherd and Leto’s glorious son kept stubbornly disputing each article of their quarrel:”

Homeric Hymn IV · To Hermes · Part 4

• child: Apollo “Then Maia’s son nodded his head and promised that he would never steal anything of all the Far-shooter possessed, and would never go near his strong house; but Apollo, son of Leto, swore to be fellow and friend to Hermes,”

Homeric Hymn XXVII · To Artemis

• child: Artemis “Hail to you, children of Zeus and rich-haired Leto!”
• child: Apollo “Hail to you, children of Zeus and rich-haired Leto!”

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Extracted from the original text of Hesiod and Homerica. Made with Rho MD.