Laophonte

Minor Spiritwell-documentedGreek mythographyBiological/Zoological nomenclatureGreeceMediterranean (taxonomic records for genus)

Laophonte (Ancient Greek: Λαοφόντη) is attested in Greek mythographic genealogies as a mortal woman — daughter of Pleuron and Xanthippe and sister of Agenor, Sterope, and Stratonice. Some traditions name her as wife of Thestius and mother of Iphiclus, Leda, and Althaea; other authors (e.g., Alcman) offer conflicting parentage for Leda. The name is also reused in zoological taxonomy as a genus of copepods (family Laophontidae).

Origin

In the surviving mythographic record Laophonte is presented as a member of heroic-age pedigrees rather than as a figure with a narrative of her own. She is named as a daughter of Pleuron and Xanthippe and sister to Agenor, Sterope, and Stratonice. Several sources record traditions that make her wife of Thestius and mother of Iphiclus, Leda, and Althaea; other authors preserve variant genealogies (for example, the poet Alcman is cited as giving Leda a different father, Glaucus). The cited material treats Laophonte chiefly as a node in kinship lists that connect better-known mythic figures.

Appearance

No physical description of Laophonte appears in the cited mythographic sources. She is attested only by name in genealogical contexts. Separately, the zoological usage of Laophonte denotes a genus of copepods; species lists and taxonomic papers are cited, but the supplied excerpts do not provide a morphological diagnosis of the genus as a whole.

Abilities

The mythographic sources do not attribute supernatural powers, notable deeds, or characteristic behaviors to Laophonte; she functions in the sources as a mortal woman identified by familial relationships. As a taxonomic genus, Laophonte refers to harpacticoid copepods (family Laophontidae), but specific behavioral or ecological details for the genus are not supplied in the provided excerpts.

Weaknesses & Wards

Weaknesses

  • other
    none attested

Wards

  • other
    none attested

Community Record

Sources
  1. [1]
    Laophonte — Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 'Laophonte' entry (summarizing genealogical attestations including parentage and offspring; notes Alcman variant).wiki
  2. [2]
    Laophonte (person) — UVic Myth Index. University of Victoria, Myth Index entry for Laophonte (genealogical summary).academic
  3. [3]
    Laophonte | Facts, Information, and Mythology — Pantheon. Pantheon.org article summarizing Laophonte's genealogical attestations.other
  4. [4]
    Leda (mythology) — Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 'Leda' entry noting variant parentage traditions including Alcman's account.wiki
  5. [5]
    Wikidata: Laophonte (genus). Wikidata entry recording Laophonte as a genus of copepods.other
  6. [6]
    On a new species of Laophonte (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from Madras — Krishnaswamy, S.. Record from the Zoological Survey noting a new species description placed in the genus Laophonte.academic
  7. [7]
    Laophonte species listings — Lucio Pesce Copepod pages. Online species lists showing multiple species names under the genus Laophonte (e.g., Laophonte longistylata, Laophonte macani).other
  8. [8]
    Phylogenetic revision including Laophonte / Laophontidae discussion. Phylogenetic revision of related harpacticoid taxa referencing Laophonte and species such as Laophonte brevispinosa Sars, 1908.academic
well-documented