IN GREEK MYTH, "LEUCOTHEA" THREW HERSELF AND HER INFANT SON INTO THE SEA TO ESCAPE "HERA'S "WRATH. HOWEVER, "DIONYSUS "WOULD NOT LET HER DIE AND TRANSFORMED HER INTO THE WHITE GODDESS OF THE WAVES. HER SON BECAME THE SEA GOD," PALAEMON." NOT ONLY WAS SHE DEIFIED INTO A SEA GODDESS, BUT SHE ALSO BECAME A SOURCE OF SALVATION TO OTHERS, IN PARTICULAR SAILORS FACING ANNIHILATION IN SEA BORN STORMS. ODYSSEUS", FOR INSTANCE, EXPERIENCED HER RESCUING POWER, WHILE ON HIS WAY FROM THE ISLAND OF "CALYPSO, "WHEN HIS SHIP WAS WRECKED, AND HE HIMSELF WAS PERISHING IN THE WATERS, POSEIDON HAVING CAUSED A MIGHTY STORM. HOMER, IN THE "ODYSSEY", THUS DESCRIBES IT:
"THE ROLLING FLOOD, NOW HERE, NOW THERE, IMPELL'D THE FLOATING WOOD."AND NOW THE SOUTH, AND NOW THE NORTH, BEAR SWAY,"AND NOW THE EAST THE FOAMY FLOODS OBEY,"AND NOW THE WEST WIND WHIRLS IT O'ER THE SEA."THE WANDERING CHIEF WITH TOILS ON TOILS OPPRESS'D,"LEUCOTHEA SAW, AND PITY TOUCH'D HER BREAST."(HERSELF A MORTAL ONCE, OF CADMUS STRAIN,"BUT NOW AN AZURE SISTER OF THE MAIN.)"SWIFT AS A SEA-MEW SPRINGING FROM THE FLOOD,"ALL RADIANT ON THE RAFT THE GODDESS STOOD:"THEN THUS ADDRESS'D HIM: "THOU WHOM HEAVEN DECREES"TO NEPTUNE'S WRATH, STERN TYRANT OF THE SEAS!"Strip off thy garments; Neptune's fury brave,
With naked strength, and plunge into the wave. "THIS HEAVENLY SCARF BENEATH THY BOSOM BIND,"Soon as thy arms the happy shore shall gain,
Return the gift, and cast it in the main,
Observe my orders and with heed obey,
Cast it far off, and turn thy eyes away." THUS "ODYSSEUS", RESCUED BY THE GODDESS, REACHED IN SAFETY THE ISLAND OF PHAEACIA.
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