In the mythology of Ancient Greece, Asteria (sometimes Asterie) was one of the second generation of Titans, a group of powerful giants whose history predates that of the Olympian gods.
Description[]
The offspring of two of the first-generation Titans, Phoebe and Coeus, Asteria was the Titan goddess of nocturnal oracles and falling stars, but is most notable for giving birth to the Olympian goddess of witchcraft Hecate by her cousin Perses.
History[]
Whilst living among the gods on Mount Olympus, Asteria became the object of King of the Gods Zeus' sexual advances. In Zeus's typical manner, he chased the Titaness disguised as a member of the animal kingdom, in this case a great eagle. To escape her amorous pursuer, Asteria transformed herself into a quail and threw herself into the Aegean Sea, in the process becoming the island which later bore her name, and was said to have fallen from the heavens.
When Asteria's sister Titan Leto later fell pregnant to Zeus, Asteria offered her sanctuary on the island after the goddess was hunted by Zeus's irate wife Hera. This was the only place in the known world willing to take in the unfortunate Leto.