Swan maiden vs Asteria (mythology)

Swan maiden

The swan maiden is a mythical creature who shapeshifts from human form to swan form. The key to the transformation is usually a swan skin, or a garmen...

The swan maiden is a mythical creature who shapeshifts from human form to swan form. The key to the transformation is usually a swan skin, or a garment with swan feathers attached. In folktales of this type, the male character spies the maiden, typically by some body of water (usually bathing), then snatches away the feather garment (or some other article of clothing), which prevents her from flying away (or swimming away, or renders her helpless in some other manner), forcing her to become his wife.There are parallels around the world, notably the Völundarkviða and Grimms' Fairy Tales KHM 193 "The Drummer". There are also many parallels involving creatures other than swans.

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Asteria (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Asteria (; Ancient Greek: Ἀστερία, "of the stars, starry one") was a name attributed to the following eleven individuals: Aster...

In Greek mythology, Asteria (; Ancient Greek: Ἀστερία, "of the stars, starry one") was a name attributed to the following eleven individuals: Asteria, a Titaness. Asteria or Astris, daughter of Helios and Clymene or Ceto, one of the Heliades. She married the river god Hydaspes (the modern Jhelum River) and became mother of Deriades, king in India. Asteria, one of the Danaïdes, daughters of Danaus who, with one exception, murdered their husbands on their wedding nights. She was, briefly, the bride of Chaetus. Asteria, one of the Alkyonides. Along with her sisters, she flung herself into the sea and was transformed into a kingfisher. Asteria, daughter of Hydeus, was the mother of Hydissos by Bellerophon. Her son is known for having founded a city in Caria which was named after him. Asteria, daughter of Coronus, and Apollo were possible parents of the seer Idmon. Asteria or Asterodia, mother of Crisus and Panopeus by Phocus. Asteria, daughter of Teucer and Eune of Cyprus. Asteria, the ninth Amazon killed by Heracles when he came for Hippolyte's girdle. Asteria, an Athenian maiden who was one of the would-be sacrificial victims of Minotaur, portrayed in a vase painting.Christoph Willibald Gluck gave the name Asteria to one of the characters in his 1765 opera Telemaco, though the name did not appear in Homer's Odyssey on which the opera was based.

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