Leucothea the Sea Goddess

photo of Leukothea and Odysseus

Leucothea ("white goddess") is a Sea Goddess. She was a mortal woman (Ino or Halia), who was driven insane by Hera. She leapt into the sea with her son Melicertes in her arms, out of pity the Olympian gods turned them both into sea-gods.

Leucothea appeared to the shipwrecked Odysseus, telling him to discard his cloak and raft and offers him a veil to wind round himself to save his life and reach land.