Wife of Ligdus near Phaestus, who defied her husband's vow to expose a daughter after Isis forbade the deed in a dream — she raised Iphis as a boy until the eve of the wedding, when she prayed with her child in the goddess' temple and saw the sex-change granted.1
When Telethusa was with child, Ligdus swore that if the infant were a girl he would kill it, for poverty forbade a dowry. She wept and pleaded, but his resolve held firm. In the middle of the night before the birth Isis appeared in dream, crowned with the moon's horns and attended by Anubis, and commanded her not to obey the cruel order.2
Telethusa bore a daughter and deceived Ligdus, naming the child Iphis after the grandfather and binding the nurse to silence. Only she knew the truth as the girl grew toward marriage with Ianthe.3
Fearing the wedding, Telethusa delayed with pretended illness and omens until she could bring Iphis to Isis' altar. When the goddess granted the change, mother and son left the temple together — the deception ended at last.4
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the spine ignites as you read · hover a bond on the card — every mention of them lights in the story