Marpessa of Aetolia

Lore & Background

Marpessa was the daughter of King Evenus of Aetolia and Princess Alcippe, making her a granddaughter of Ares. She was described as 'fair-ankled' and attracted the attention of both the hero Idas and the god Apollo. Idas, son of King Aphareus, came from Messenia to ask for her hand, but Evenus refused, wanting his daughter to remain a virgin. Idas then obtained winged horses from his father Poseidon, kidnapped Marpessa from a band of dancers, and carried her to Pleuron in Aetolia. Her father chased them but, unable to catch up, killed his horses and drowned himself in the river Lycormas, which was later renamed the Evenus after him.

In another version, Apollo also pursued Idas as he carried Marpessa away. When the two fought for her, Zeus intervened and asked Marpessa to choose between the mortal and the god. She chose Idas, reasoning that had she chosen Apollo, she would eventually grow old and lose his affections. In Homer's version, Marpessa was already married to Idas when Apollo carried her away, but Idas confronted Apollo with his bow. After Idas was slain by Polydeuces, one of the Dioscuri, Marpessa killed herself.

Reader's Guide

Marpessa's story is significant in Greek mythology as a rare instance where a mortal woman explicitly chooses a mortal husband over a god, prioritizing mortal love and fidelity over divine immortality. Her choice reflects themes of human agency and the value of earthly relationships. She is also the mother of Cleopatra, who married the hero Meleager, linking her to the broader heroic cycles. The myth survives in multiple versions, including those by Homer and later mythographers, showing variations in the abduction and the role of Apollo. Her name, meaning 'the robbed one,' echoes her abduction. In modern times, the name Marpessa was used for a Shell Oil supertanker that sank in 1969, becoming the world's largest oil tanker to sink up to that date.

Did You Know?

• Marpessa was a granddaughter of Ares through her father Evenus.
• Idas obtained winged horses from his father Poseidon to kidnap Marpessa.
• After Idas was killed by Polydeuces, Marpessa killed herself.
• A 206,000-ton Shell Oil supertanker named Marpessa sank in 1969, though not on its maiden voyage.