#leukothea

[thefugitivesaint]

Friedrich Preller the Elder (1804-1878), 'Odysseus und Leukothea', 1863

[1nternetangel]

danbooru.donmai.us/posts/436064?q=jordh

[ebbpettier]

*sees you're into Simon Snow and also Percy Jackson*

*points*

YOU LIKE CHOSEN ONES AND THE INEVITABLY OF THE PROPHECY BUT NOT THE WAY THEY THOUGHT! YOU LIKE HEROES BURDENED WITH RESPONSIBILITY BUT WHO FEEL OBLOGATED TO GO THROUGH WITH IT DESPITE THE MORALLY QUESTIONABLE POWERS THAT BE THAT PUT THEM IN THIS SITUATION IN THE FIRST PLACE! HAHA!

(I also enjoy these things hello)

ALL OF THIS IS TRUE!!!! ADDITIONALLY I'M ALSO BISEXUAL AND I LIKE SWORDFIGHTING AND CHARACTERS WITH THEMES

also this picture is awful bc the lighting in here is awful but

[hildegardavon]

Edmund Friedrich Kanoldt, 1845-1904

Leukothea appears to Odysseus in a storm, n/d, oil on canvas, 41.5x25.5 cm (Copy after Friedrich Preller 1869)

Private Collection

[lazy4honey]

Line Drawn On Water

Contains: no smut, allusions to a siren orgy, breeding, and vore, possibly hypnosis?, influences of Florence and the Machine’s Mermaids and also H. P. Lovecraft’s Shadow over Innsmouth (though you might not be able to tell but that’s the vibe this time!)

Siren song tells of what you desire. Whatever you desire, be it money, fame, love, sex, or even death, you will hear it from their song, and it will entice you to get in the water.

As for everything else — people love to disagree and discuss. Are the sirens beautiful or ugly, enchanting or grotesque, out for love or out for blood, do they want your heart literally or just metaphorically… No one knows.

And when no one knows, there are naturally people who want to find out. After hearing enough stories from your parents at home, drunk sailors in the pub, and local fishermen at the beach, you decided to join one of these so-called siren expeditions.

The group had already visited multiple libraries to look through records about sirens, and were now on their way to one of these locations noted for frequent siren sightings. It was an idyllic seaside town, with many old stone houses and gardens full of bright flowers. Townsfolk carried happy smiles and dressed well — almost too well for such a small, no-name town.

Your companions felt that this town was way too peaceful for a place with siren reports, but you had an intuition that this was what you were looking for.

After some discussion, you agreed to stay in town for a while to observe. In this way, you found that the fisherman always returned with big catches of best quality, and there were weekly offerings of baked goods and fruits to the sea. It took quite some asking around to figure out from the mouth of a child that these offerings were for whom they called the merfolk. In return for these foods, the merfolk would help them catch a lot of fish and protect them when at sea.

You and your companions were convinced that these ‘merfolk’ were the sirens you were looking for.

When the raft decorated with candles and carrying the offerings was pushed out at night, your group took a boat and secretly followed. The dim candle light led your way over the dark waves and the silver moon silently watched your actions from high above, shining its light upon the greed and lust in your companions’ eyes.

The raft drifted with the waves until it bumped into a big rock peaking out of the water. On this rock, illuminated by the moon and candle light, a choir of sirens had taken their place. Long tails disappeared into the water, myriads of scales glittered and shimmered with even the slightest shift, and wet hair clung to bare skin in a manner that hid yet revealed.

Waves splashed against the rock, the raft and your boat. A soft hum, akin to the song of whales yet much more ethereal, floated in the salty air, drifting with the wind and surrounding you like a spell. The candles were extinguished. Only the silvern moonlight remained, evenly revealing the scene above the waves.

Hundreds of rocks jutted out from the sea, perched upon by countless sirens. They were all beautiful beyond words, almost in a way that was incomprehensible to the human mind and strangely bordering on the grotesque, making one unable to tell male from female. Yet amidst all this transcendental beauty, one pair stood out.

On the biggest rock, surrounded by the most sirens like servants attending royalty, a pair of sirens lounged, leaning close together, like two halves of the waning and waxing moon. The White Goddess’s ruby red eyes rested upon her companion, while the Dark Moon directed her emerald green eyes towards you.

Leukothea and Lilith.

The queens of the merfolk.

Siren witches and children of the sea.

You held your breath, unable to tear your gaze away yet afraid to disturb them. The White Goddess and her Dark Moon were not to be sullied by your petty desires, only to be revered and worshipped from afar. Their beauty was that of the ocean, of the waves on the surface and the currents in the deep, the life it nourished and the death it brought. It was their grace not to kill you trespassers on the spot.

A few sirens slipped into the water and resurfaced by the raft. Their webbed hands glittering with fine scales reached for the simple construction and brought it before their queens. Decked in fragrant flowers from the local gardens, various fruits and freshly baked breads and pastries were laid out on large leaves, presenting a banquet to the sirens.

The White Goddess was the first to reach for something. She took a cluster of grapes and fed it to the Dark Moon, leisurely watching her reaction before feeding her more and leaning over for a passionate kiss.

You averted your eyes. The queens flirting was a sight to see, but it was rude to stare.

Trying to divert your attention, you looked at your companions. They didn’t seem to have noticed the siren queens and were instead fully focused on the other sirens. The soft humming of the sirens lured them to lean out of the boat in an attempt to get closer. Normally hidden or restrained emotions were endlessly amplified, urging them to give in to their desires and jump into the fathomless depths, to reach out and grasp their want…

The sirens grinned, revealing frighteningly sharp teeth. Their singing swelled as they stretched out their arms as if inviting one for a hug, yet in reality it was the embrace of death. One after another, your companions jumped into the water, some even tearing their clothes off to reveal their erect genitals dripping with lust. You could see them clinging to the sirens and sinking beneath the waves as they lost themselves.

Soon, only you were left on the boat.

The White Goddess played with her Dark Moon’s her, who once more turned her emerald gaze towards you. She opened her maw, and her singsong voice drilled through your ears and into your mind, conveying her meaning without speaking a single human word.

We accept your offering.

You lowered your head. As the records had warned, humans offered to the choir of sirens were to be bred and then devoured. And because they were under the choir’s spell, they would enjoy every single minute.

As for why they let you off—

You may request an offering from Us.

You shook your head. There was nothing you particularly needed or wanted. You’d seen the sirens, heard their song, and were about to leave unscathed. There was no need to push for more in your opinion.

At this moment, a siren grabbed your boat. Their head surfaced from the waves, wet hair flowing like a waterfall of liquid gold, obsidian black eyes seemingly filled with stars as they looked at you. A single gaze, and you knew your heart was lost as it thumped in your chest.

The siren lifted themself out of the water. Like pearls, the water drops rolled down their skin glittering with golden scales, and thin, long fins akin to veils could be faintly seen adorning their tail. A webbed hand reached up to your cheek, cold against your warm skin. Then they slowly sank back, holding eye contact with you as they were about to disappear.

You grabbed their hand.

And they smiled.

It was nothing like that threatening, toothy grin. It was soft and gentle, even as she pulled you into the water and beneath the waves.

The choir’s singsong wrapped around you in a comforting embrace.

Welcome home.

[faytears]

rotating the idea of percy interacting w the sea gods that are part of his dad's retinue all the time in my mind. little palaemon who rides around on dolphins and leukothea who both originally died tragic deaths before becoming deities, proteus whose job is to herd seals, glaucus who used to be a regular mortal fisherman but became a merman god by literally just eating a plant, the other 49 nereids and ESPECIALLY thetis omg.........

[tylermileslockett]

From the heights of Mount Olympus, I, Zeus, observe the mortal realm and bless those with pure hearts and noble actions, like Asclepius, Ganymede, and Semele, elevating them to divinity. Their virtues reflect the gods' benevolence, inspiring reverence through the ages.

I, Zeus, favor the Dioscuri twins, Castor and Pollux, renowned for their bond and protection of sailors. Castor, son of Tyndareus, excels in horsemanship, while Pollux, born of myself, is a skilled boxer. Despite their mixed parentage, I grant Pollux immortality and ensure his eternal companionship with Castor, immortalized as the constellation Gemini.

I, Zeus, am captivated by Ganymede’s beauty. Disguised as an eagle, I abduct him and make him the gods' cupbearer, replacing Hebe. Ganymede, now immortal, serves nectar on Olympus, embodying eternal youth and beauty.

I, Dionysus, see my mother Semele die when Zeus reveals his true form. I descend to the Underworld to plead with Hades for her release, bringing her back to life and welcoming her to Olympus as an immortal.

I, Poseidon, witness Ino and her son Melicertes escape Hera’s wrath by leaping into the sea. I transform them into sea deities, Leukothea and Palaimon, protectors of sailors. Leukothea even saves Odysseus on his journey home from Troy. I, Hermes, save Apollo's son Asclepius from the funeral pyre. Raised by the centaur Chiron, Asclepius masters healing and even resurrection, earning his place among the gods as the deity of medicine and healing.

[likethexan]

Reading about Poseidon’s lovers and his story with Halia is honestly really tragic…

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 55. 4 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :

"Poseidon, the myth continues, when he had grown to manhood, became enamoured of Halia, the sister of the Telkhines (Telchines), and lying with her he begat six male children and one daughter, called Rhodos (Rhode), after whom the island was named . . . And while these were still young men, Aphrodite, they say, as she was journeying [after her birth from the sea] from Kytherea (Cytherea) to Kypros (Cyprus) and dropped anchor near Rhodes, was prevented from stopping there by the sons of Poseidon, who were arrogant and insolent men; whereupon the goddess, in her wrath, brought a madness upon them, and they lay with their mother against her will . . . Halia cast herself into the sea, and she was afterwards given the name Leukothea (Leucothea) and attained to immortal honour in the eyes of the natives."

Halia is implied to be his first love, and to avenge her Poseidon had to trap their children underneath the sea. I don’t feel sympathy for their kids, they were said to be arrogant and i’m sure they were already pretty awful towards native people before Aphrodite rolled around, but Aphrodite was truly… Aphrodite here.

[agape-mou]

Hey nerds!

My name's Elias. I've been a Hellenic polytheist since 2021, and it's been a chaotic blast ever since. The θεοί bring me joy, and that's the point of life.

Σύντροφος of Apollon, devotee of Demeter and Hestia, altar space for Artemis, Hermaphrodite, Leto, and Leukothea, less intense relationships with everyone else.

Queer, trans, autistic, PTSD, Jewish American working on my relationship to both.

Put your age in bio please! or I block.

Call me in if I say/reblog something gross. I'm here to learn and spread joy, not harm.

This is a side blog, I follow from ninth-tentacle

[poetpony6890]

Late nights and common thoughts (tw animal abuse)

If the darkened sky blooming with stars wasn’t quite done its glowing yet, and the only son of two would not go through the effort of knocking on his uncles door, just greet the most often alert redcaps, then head inside.

When he came in most nights, Kieran was sleeping soundly, light swirls in lavender and royal arose out from him. This night, however, he was awake and reading a hard cover book, beside him his mother was using her turtle grinder gently, listening to the sound of his voice and the shake of the weed.

“Hi bubba, come cuddle” Leukothea soothed, as she say his worried appearance and his ruffled nightgown.

Something he had learned to stop being so horrified of, was people calling him over. He had learned that not everyone called you when they needed a place to put out their cigarette, most now only wished to will with him.

“I had a nightmare.” Kit stated, ignoring the book in Kierans hands and moving under them to be held.

“Poor thing. You sleep right here.” Kieran stated, quickly kissing the top of his knotted curls.

The king of the court began to read again, a story about a young boy and a turtle, as beside him his mother, who had never learned to read seelie, even when given the opportunity, listened with all her might.

After a few moments, she had grabbed a tray and begun rolling with an ivory rose petal.

It didn’t take long for Kit to fall asleep, he listened to the sound of Kierans heart beat, the inhale of Thea’s breath, the crickets outside of the tower, the shouting from a nearby lords section.

“What was your nightmare about?” Kieran finally asked, setting the book aside.

“A puppy” Kit muttered, groaning gently before coming to lay between the two, watching Thea with his bright eyes, as she wiped some of the cracked drool from his chin.

“That does not sound very scary.” She teased, letting him sit up into her silk covered arms.

“It was about the time I found a stray on the street and I brought it inside and give it the last of my food, and when my dad came home he was drunk, the dog pissed on the deck I thought that was normal I didnt know any better and he- he grabbed the dog by the tail and he threw it against the grass so hard- that- his neck, spine and ribs snapped, I could see them coming out of his skin at all angles, but it didn’t break. I just kept hearing the sound of his frail bones on the floor.” Kit muttered, as Thea whipped the tears that had formed on his cheeks and down his neck with her now darkened hair.

“That poor pup didn’t deserve that, it wasn’t your fault.” Kieran stated, taking the joint from his mother and took a few puffs as she adjusted Kit so he was on his back, for such a skinny woman, she was surprisingly strong, and began to rub it, telling him to take deep breaths.

“Fall asleep, and Kieran will make sure your dreams are well but not deceitful” she soothed, listening to the sound of both of them now smoking, then Kieran speaking of one of his many brothers, then a cow for whatever the reason.

[autumncrowcus]

Of all the heroines associated with Dionysos, Ino has perhaps the richest tradition. As noted in Chapter 2, where she is compared to Herakles, she is one of the few heroines who can compete with male heroes in range of action. The earliest reference to her is in the Odyssey, where she appears to save Odysseus from drowning. Here she is identified as "Kadmos' daughter, slender-ankled Ino-- Leukothea, who once was a mortal endowed with human speech, but now deep in the sea has a share of honor among the gods," (5.333-35). The general outline of her myth is as follows: Entrusted with the baby Dionysos after the death of her sister Semele, Ino incurs the enmity of Hera, who is no friend to the lovers of Zeus and their children. Both Ino and her husband Athamas are driven mad by the goddess, and he kills their son Learchos. Ino at this point leaps into the sea holding her other son, Melikertes. The sea-leap changes them both: she becomes Leukothea, "the white goddess," and her son, now known as Palaimon, becomes the hero of the Isthmian games at the Isthmos of Corinth.

This heroine, like the others associated with Dionysos, becomes immortal and like Semele, she acquires a new name. Dionysos is not directly responsible for her transformation into a goddess, although in one version he does save her from the anger of Athamas (Hyginus, Fab. 2). The sea-leap is, however, a characteristically Dionysiac manoeuvre familiar from the Iliad passage discussed above. In this way the apotheosis of Ino takes place as much under the sign of Dionysos as does that of Semele.

… In Ino we have as problematic a figure of motherhood as possible. Ino's maternity in different versions is by turns threatened, interrupted, and perverted. As the foster mother of Dionysos, she takes the place of a real mother and attracts Hera's enmity as if she were the real mother. She destroys the children of a rival, either out of pure jealousy or in order to protect her own. Nonetheless, her conduct toward her own children is not above suspicion. Under the influence of madness, she tries to kill them or perhaps to rescue them. The lebes (cauldron) in which one of them is placed could be called the ultimate projection of maternal ambivalence. Is this her attempt to resuscitate or immortalize the child killed by its father, or is she herself engaged in murder? According to Apollodorus (3.4.3), Ino throws Melikertes into a boiling cauldron before leaping with him into the sea. Another source offers an equally confusing picture: either she herself throws Learchos into the lebes or she grabs Melikertes just as his father is about to throw him in (schol. Lycoph. 229). That the cauldron embodies simultaneously the threat of death and the promise of rebirth is clear from the myth of Medea, and it should undoubtedly be read as ambivalent in this context as well. Finally, even the leap into the sea with her son Melikertes is ambiguous. For Ino it is an escape from Athamas, and the path to divinity. For Melikertes it seems to bring only death, albeit a heroic one. It is true that Hyginus (Fab. 224) counts him among mortals who become gods, but elsewhere he is clearly a hero.

-Gender and Immortality: Heroines in Ancient Greek Myth and Cult by Deborah J. Lyons

[aaronofithaca05]

Guys, Leukothea is the bus driver, trust

I go home ✅

Og i found in a random reel

[spacecadetspe]

Mar. 12, 2024

I've been spending time with Hades' children. As you know, dear reader, they keep my spirits up despite their father's stoic attitude.

I got a petition from the goddess of the foam, Leukothea, for help with an ongoing problem. Athena has outright banned dreaming and prophecy in the lands Olympus oversees, including Poseidon's depths. Unfortunately, this decree has come with some severe implementation; those who identify as seers have their eyes burned out, and many are cursed before being cast out of their dwellings.

Leukothea brought me one such seer, Lothios. He insisted I only return one of his eyes, to avoid Athena's wrath, but in the meantime I offered Leukothea the idea of starting an underground Railroad, which she immediately took up in practice.

When asked what I was going to do, I said "Nothing." Athena is all but handing her populace to me on a silver platter. Not only can they not dream, but she has done grave harm to the people she is supposed to be protecting, all because she's trying to hoard the Rainbow Fire to herself. If I do nothing, Athena will soon become queen of a dirt pile. I'm more or less untouchable, and I will hold all the cards when her tantrum burns itself out.

The floodgates opened, and refugees from both realms came pouring in, all wounded, many cursed.

It was then that Hedate appeared, carrying the head of Zag's latest aspect. As it turns out, curses and hexes from gods require blood and life sacrifices to break, so having an entity that revives itself on its own periodically made the de-cursing much simpler. I found it a clever use of an otherwise wasted pile of flesh, and made sure to praise Hedate for it. As Hades' youngest, and a goddess made from the genetic material from Hecate, Aphrodite, and Ares, it's been hard to adjust to the loss of her parents, as well as to develop new expectations from her role.

Melinoë's part of the Underworld slightly overlaps with the Nightmare Cliffs, so she came upon her share of refugees too. She and Hedate have been working to release the curses on them but had to call me when they realized that their cursed patients had tracking spells on them.

Melinoë and Hedate both had ideas on how to handle the goings on, and if worse comes to worst, I'll confidently be able to say I had nothing to do with any of it.

The idea in question? Install Hedate as the new Headmistress of Spells in Olympus. The argument they presented to Athena, along with a small group of refugees, was that they didn't want the rift in the family to grow so wide it became insurmountable.

As of right now, we don't know where the refugees are. Likely enduring torture, or else they will wind up in the Underworld again.

As for Hades' part, he's been as stoic and distant as ever. I opened up to Melinoë and Hedate about my troubles with him, and how I'm quite tired of leading him by the hand to decisions that could save him and his kingdom.

Melinoë pointedly told me that instead of attempting to separate one of her father's aspects, it was likely that Hades was in need of a new love interest; someone to reconnect him to others, as the isolation tends to make him cold. Not only that, but she said that I need not hold hand, and that it's high time for some "hand-pointing" now. As if I could instruct Hades into bed whenever I wished.

At the time, the idea made me laugh, and then, somehow very sad.

That following night, Hades had a dream. He lay naked in bed, exposed to the lamplight. His body was stiff and straight, hands balled into fists at his side, although his magnificent arousal was clear. I recall the view from above him as I climbed into bed, straddled his hips. But Hades made no move to participate; he wanted this to happen, and his body was ready, but it was as if he was enduring it rather than inviting it.

And, of course, I lost interest. I'm not in this relationship to just use him for sex, even if he does want it.

He called on me the following morning to ask me what I wanted, and if I'm honest, I want a hundred things that aren't there, none of which he ever considered.

I want someone else besides me to be the one reaching out. I've done my part to forge a connection, and I want someone else to do it. Being the only one who makes an effort gets exhausting.

I want to feel like I'm wanted. Obviously. But when I go see Hades he always makes it about what I want from him; a transaction. As long as it's a quid pro quo situation, Hades isn't seeing me in all that.

I'm tired of being strung along. I like spending time with Hades. I like sleeping with him. But I can't help but feel like I'm just "filling a need" or "venting frustrations," and I'm not something he can't replace if he wanted it. I'm not sure if he even sees my worth beyond meeting his own needs.

I want him to make a decision; accept the help and love he's being offered, or turn it away entirely. No more of this wishy-washy back and forth. I deserve clarity.

He replied that it was simply a matter of not knowing how to love me, but I cut him off. Everyone talks about love, but love isn't just words. It's what you do that defines your love for another person.

"Stop talking about love. Every asshole in the world says he loves somebody. It means nothing. It still doesn't mean anything. What you feel only matters to you. It's what you do to the people you say you love, that's what matters. It's the only thing that counts."

He asked me to wait, but I put a time limit on it. Three days. And it's almost up. I can feel him present, pressing me for my attention, but it's been hard to bear.

He called Elpis to help him figure it out, and she had a long sigh at him once he explained the dream and my lecture.

"So, do you want her?"

"It's not that simple."

She gave him a flat look. "You are not that stupid, Hades." She steepled her fingers as if in a plea to maintain her own sanity. "Do. You. Want. Her."

Hades managed to look surprised that she was pressing the issue. "I... yes, I desire her."

"Then why don't you show her that?"

Hades looked away. "I don't feel like I deserve her."

"Would a man who does deserve her constantly be pushing her away?" Elpis asked pointedly. "You're never going to become the man who deserves her if you keep this up."

Hades rolled his eyes at her. "I can't just let my libido make all my decisions for me."

"Again, you are not that stupid, Hades. At least your body is honest about its wants and needs."

Hades ran his hand through his hair and gave a half-hearted nod. "As true as that may be, I don't want to use her."

"You're using her now, Hades."

Hades stared at her, wide-eyed.

"She's been doing an awful lot of work to make sure you and your family are loved and supported." Elpis held up both hands. "But first let's look at that idea of 'using' Hope for a moment. First off, that is what she was made for."

"But I-"

"I'm not done. Everybody uses Hope. Not everybody replenishes her. Your kids have a good idea of how this works; it's like being given a meal. Do you pick at it, ungrateful? Do you gorge yourself when you've done no work to earn it, and then do nothing afterward? Or do you set it aside for some magical future time that may or may not exist?"

Hades rubbed his mouth thoughtfully, and then cut his gaze up at her. "Implying I'm anorexic?" he asked.

"You're skinny enough," she retorted.

Hades thought about this seriously. "So she's been supporting us for all this time, and I've just..."

"Been being an idiot," Elpis replied. "Treat it like a sumptuous meal. Enjoy it. Be grateful for it instead of thinking what might be owed for it. Then put work in so she isn't the only one cooking or cleaning up afterward." She sighed at him once more. "Best not wait too long, Hades, or it'll spoil!"

[tylermileslockett]

Each week we offer surprising and lesser known trivia facts about the selected mythic tale. So here we go! 7 fascinating facts you may or may not know 1. Semele's Tragic Fate: Before her transformation, Semele's excessive pride led to her demise, as she demanded to see Zeus in his full divine glory, resulting in her incineration.

2. Asclepius' Mortal Origins: Despite his divine status, Asclepius was originally a mortal son of the god Apollo and the mortal woman Coronis.

3. Asclepius' Healing Symbols: The snake wrapped around Asclepius' staff represents the cyclical nature of life and death, symbolizing the healing process.

4. Caduceus' Ancient Origins: The caduceus actually originated from ancient Mesopotamia as a symbol of peace and negotiation, not specifically associated with trade or communication.

5. Ganymede's Celestial Reward: As a reward for his service, Ganymede was placed among the stars as the constellation Aquarius.

6. Dioscuri Twins' Divine Bond: The Dioscuri twins were known for their unwavering loyalty and brotherly bond, often appearing together in myths and religious practices.

7. Leukothea's Tragic Past: Before her transformation, Leukothea was a mortal woman who was forced to sacrifice herself to save her brother from drowning.

[eleemosynecdoche]

Update: Artemisia of Cara wants to know if she can get a "dory" like mine, and if this is a blessing of Atalanta, Leukothea, or Cybele. Trying to remember the Iphis and Iphigenia story from Ovid to adapt for an answer.

"Red" Dorakeen from Roger Zelazny's _Roadmarks_: Runs guns to the Athenians at Marathon to try and reopen the sheaf of timelines that includes our own.

Me, presumably not from any novel: Shows up shapeshifted to be seven feet tall and outrageously proportioned, with a "muscle" cuirass and armored codpiece to fit, offering my services as a mercenary to the Great King Xerxes, all so I can make Herodotus froth and foam at the mouth when he hears about it.

[poseidons-trident]

Λευκοθεα

Leukothea was a sea goddess who came to the aid of sailors in distress. She was once a mortal princess named Ino, a daughter of King Kadmos of Thebes. She and her husband Athamas incurred the wrath of Hera when they fostered the infant god Dionysos. As punishment the goddess drove Athamas into a murderous rage and he slew his eldest child. Ino then grapped the other, and in her flight leapt off a cliff into the sea. The pair were welcomed into the company of the sea-gods and renamed Leukothea and Palaimon. Leukothea later came to the aid of Odysseus when his raft had been destroyed by Poseidon, and wrapped him in the safety of her floating veil.