Marpessa
Also known as: the Widow · Family: Tegea · Role: priestess of Athene · First appears: Book 4 · Chapter 2
In Book 4, it is recorded that Ides had a daughter, Cleopatra, by Marpessa. In Book 5, Idas led her away from the temple after Apollo had taken her for himself; the account says she went “by no means against her will.”
Book 8 says Marpessa had been a priestess of Athene when she was a girl. At the Laconian war in Tegea, she was called the Widow and “excelled all the other women in daring” as they routed the Lacedæmonians; Charillus was among the Spartans taken prisoner.
Relationship record
Life events
- Idas leads Marpessa away after Apollo snatched her for himself.(Book 5 · Chapter 18)
- Marpessa excelled in daring as the women routed the Lacedæmonians.(Book 8 · Chapter 48 · 📍 Tegea)
- “then they say the women appeared on the scene, and caused the rout of the Lacedæmonians, and Marpessa, called the Widow, excelled all the other women in daring”
Book 4 · Chapter 2
- child: Cleopatra (daughter of Idas) “but Ides had by Marpessa a daughter Cleopatra”
Book 5 · Chapter 18
- with Idas (Idas is leading Marpessa away from the temple.) “Idas is leading away from the temple by no means against her will Marpessa of the beautiful ancles, whom Apollo snatched away for himself.”
- with Apollo (Apollo had snatched Marpessa away for himself.) “Idas is leading away from the temple by no means against her will Marpessa of the beautiful ancles, whom Apollo snatched away for himself.”
Book 8 · Chapter 47
- with Athene (Marpessa served as Athene's priestess.) “She was a priestess of Athene when a girl, how long I do not know but not after she grew to womanhood.”
Book 8 · Chapter 48
- enemies with Charillus (They opposed one another in the Laconian war.) “And when the armies engaged, and the men on both sides exhibited splendid bravery, then they say the women appeared on the scene, and caused the rout of the Lacedæmonians, and Marpessa, called the Widow, excelled all the other women in daring, and among other Spartans Charillus was taken prisoner”
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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.