Marpessa is also the name of an Amazon Queen In Greek mythology, Marpessa was an Aetolian princess, and a granddaughter of Ares. She was kidnapped by Idas but loved by Apollo as well. Zeus made her choose between them. According to another myth she was the daughter of Eveno and Alcippe. She married Idas after he kidnapped her with a winged chariot. Idas did this as a challenge to her father, who after chasing the couple for a long time, killed his horses and then drowned himself in a nearby river, which took his name. Marpessa then, to please Idas, rejected Apollo’s love. Marpessa (206,000 tons) was a Shell oil company supertanker (VLCC) which, in December 1969, became the world's largest oil tanker to sink up to that date. Marpessa had been on her maiden voyage from Europort, Rotterdam, when an explosion ripped through her hull and she foundered 50 miles off the west coast of Africa. Fortunately, her tanks were empty and pollution was minimal.
External links
- (French) Amazones source for the Amazon Queen
