In Greek mythology, Theano (/θiˈænoʊ/; Ancient Greek: Θεανώ) was the priestess of Athena in Troy.

Family

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Theano was the daughter of the Thracian king Cisseus and Telecleia[1] and thus the sister of Queen Hecuba, wife of King Priam of Troy. She was the wife of Antenor[2] and by him, mother of many sons possibly including, Archelochus, Acamas, Glaucus, Helicaon, Laodocus, Polybus, Agenor, Iphidamas, Coon, Laodamas, Demoleon, Eurymachus and Medon; and a daughter Crino.[3]

Mythology

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The household of Antenor and Theano advocated peace and advised Helen's return to the Greeks. Because of their support (some say treason[4]), the Greeks spared their household when they sacked the city.[5] One story has Theano and Antenor sailing with Aeneas to Italy and founding the city of Padua.[6] Another story is that she took the Palladium, an image of Athena that had fallen from the sky and supposedly provided Troy its protection, with her.[7] In Book VI of the Iliad, with Hecuba and the Trojan women, Theano offered a gift and plea to Athena for the life of the city, but was rebuffed.[8]

Notes

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  1. ^ Scholia on Euripides, Hecuba 3
  2. ^ Apollodorus, Epitome 3.34 ff see Greek version: "Ἀρχέλοχος καὶ Ἀκάμας Ἀντήνορος καὶ Θεανοῦς, Δαρδανίων ἡγούμενοι" is translated as "Archelochus and Acamas, sons of Antenor and Theano, leaders of the Dardanians"
  3. ^ Homer, Iliad 6.298–300 & 11.221
  4. ^ Tzetzes on Lycophron, 340–347
  5. ^ Dictys Cretensis, 5.5; Pausanias, 10.27.3
  6. ^ Servius ad Virgil, Aeneid 1.242
  7. ^ Scholia on Homer, Iliad 6.331; Suda s.v. Palladion; Dictys Cretensis, 5.8
  8. ^ Homer, Iliad 6.300 ff.

References

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