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Gender Feminine
Usage Ancient Greek
Scripts Λέαινα(Ancient Greek)
Other Forms FormsLeaena, Leæna (Latinized forms)
Meaning & History
From Greek λέαινα (leaina) meaning "lioness", the feminine form of λέων (leôn) "lion" (see Leon). This was borne by a 6th-century BC Athenian hetaira whose lover Aristogeiton plotted to overthrow the tyrants Hippias and Hipparchus, which eventually led to the establishment of democracy in Athens. Leaina was captured and, refusing to divulge the names of the conspirators, tortured to death. According to Pausanias, the Athenians later set up a bronze statue of a lioness on the Acropolis in her honour.