or Leucate, in Ancient Geography, a promontory of Leucadia, according to Strabo, a white rock projecting into the sea towards Cephalenia, on which stood a temple of Apollo surnamed Leucadius. At his festival, which was annually celebrated here, the people were accustomed to offer an expiatory sacrifice to the god, and to avert on the head of the victim all the calamities with which they might be threatened. For this purpose, they made choice of a criminal condemned to die; and leading him to the brink of the promontory, precipitated him into the sea amidst the loud shouts of the spectators. The criminal, however, seldom perished in the water: for it was the custom to cover him with feathers, and to fasten birds to his body, which by spreading their wings might serve to break his fall. No sooner did he touch the sea, than a number of boats stationed for the purpose flew to his assistance, and drew him out; and after being thus saved, he was banished for ever from the territory of Leucadia. (Strabo, lib. x. p. 452).

According to ancient authors, a strange opinion concerning this promontory prevailed for some time among the Greeks. They imagined that the leap of Leucata was a potent remedy against the violence of love. Hence disappointed or despairing lovers, it is said, were often known to have come to Leucadia; and, having ascended the promontory, offered sacrifices in the temple, and engaged by a formal vow to perform the desperate act, to have voluntarily precipitated themselves into the sea. Some are reported to have recovered from the effects of the fall; and among others mention is made of a citizen of Buthroton, in Epirus, whose passions always taking fire at new objects, he four times had recourse to the same remedy, and always with the same success. As those who made the trial, however, seldom took any precaution to render their fall less rapid, they were generally destroyed; and women often fell victims to this act of desperation. At Leucata was shown the tomb of Artemisia, that celebrated queen of Caria, who gave so many proofs of courage at the battle of Salamis. Inflamed with a violent passion for a young man who indelibly refused her love, she surprised him in his sleep and put out his eyes. Regret and despair soon brought her to Leucata, where she perished in the waves notwithstanding every effort to save her. Such likewise was the end of the unhappy Sappho. Forsaken by her lover Phaon, she came hither to seek relief from her sufferings, and found her death. (Menand. op. Strab. lib. x. p. 452.)