Hero and Leander, in Greek legend, are a maiden and her lover whose names are always mentioned together. Hero lived in the town of Lesbos, on the Thracian coast, and was a priestess of Aphrodite. Leander lived in Abydos on the coast of Asia. Since Hero was a priestess her parents regarded her lover with disfavor. Every night Leander swam the Hellespont to visit Hero, who placed a light in a high tower to guide him as he swam across the strait. One stormy night the light went out. Leander was drowned. Hero looking from the tower saw his dead body as the waves rolled it to the shore. She cast herself from the tower in despair and perished in the sea. It was at one time regarded as impossible for a man to swim the Hellespont, but Lord Byron proved it possible by doing it himself. He has told the story of Hero and Leander in the
Bride of Abydos. Schiller, Moore, and other poets have made use of this story in their writings.
The night-wind is moaning with mournful sigh,
There gleameth no moon in the misty sky,
No star over Helle's sea;
Yet, yet there is shining one holy light,
One love-kindled star throught the deep of night,
To lead me, sweet Hero, to thee.
-Moore
