Creusa of Troy

Creusa of Troy

Kreousa

HeroTrojan Princess, Lost on the Last Night

Daughter of King Priam and Hecuba of Troy, first wife of Aeneas and mother of Ascanius (Virgil *Aeneid* 2.562, 2.597, 2.675–804). In the chaos of the last night, as Aeneas led his family up and out of the burning city toward Mount Ida, she fell behind in the dark streets — Virgil never quite explains how — and was lost. Her ghost appeared to Aeneas on the mountain and spoke the prophecy that he would find a kingdom and a royal wife in the west ('regna et regia coniunx,' 2.783), releasing him from his marriage to her in the very moment he realised she was dead (2.735–794). The Attic tradition preserved by Pausanias 10.26.1 (walking the Polygnotan *Iliupersis* at Delphi) names her Κρέουσα. Distinct from Creusa daughter of Erechtheus of Athens (wife of Xuthus, mother of Ion) and from Creusa wife of Jason at Corinth (the Euripidean Medea's rival, also called Glauce) — three different Creusas across three different cycles that the ancient sources keep distinct.

Origin

Daughter of Priam and Hecuba of Troy; first wife of Aeneas, mother of Ascanius (Virg. *Aen.* 2; Paus. 10.26.1).

Family

Parents

Consorts

Children

Associated Places

Troy