HERO, in fabulous history, a famous priestess of Venus, lived at Abydos, in a tower situated on the banks of the Hellepont. She being beloved by Læander, who lived at Sestos on the other side of the strait, he every night swam over to visit her, being directed by a light fixed on the tower. But the light being put out in a stormy night, the youth missed his way, and was drowned; on which Hero threw herself into the sea, and perished.