Hero and Leander is a narrative poem written by Christopher Marlowe in 1598. It tells the story of two lovers, Hero and Leander, who are separated by the Hellespont, a strait of water between Turkey and Greece. Leander, a young man from Abydos, is in love with Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite who lives in Sestos. He swims across the Hellespont every night to be with her. One night, a storm arises and Leander is swept away by the waves. Hero, in despair, throws herself into the sea and drowns. The poem is a tragic love story, but it also serves as a warning against the dangers of passion and the power of fate. It is a timeless tale of love, loss, and the fragility of life.
By Christopher Marlowe · First published 1598 · Genre: Romance, Classical Literature, Drama · 2 chapters