Hero and Leander
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Hero and Leander is the Greek myth relating the story of Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite who dwelt in a tower in Sestos on the European side of the Hellespont, and Leander, a young man from Abydos on the opposite side of the strait. Leander falls in love with Hero and swims every night across the Hellespont to spend time with her. Hero lights a lamp at the top of her tower to guide his way.
The Last Watch of Hero by Frederic Leighton, depicting Hero anxiously waiting for Leander during the storm
Hero laments the dead Leander by Jan van den Hoecke
Hero mourns the dead Leander by Gillis Backereel
Hero and Leander by Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1604
Sestos
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Sestos was an ancient city in Thrace. It was located at the Thracian Chersonese peninsula on the European coast of the Hellespont, opposite the ancient city of Abydos, and near the town of Eceabat in Turkey.
Decree from Sestos during the Hellenistic period in the British Museum