White Wolf Cave

The White Wolf Cave was a cave near the Lost Shrine of Poseidon in the Lover's Bay on the island of Lesbos, Greece.

History[edit | edit source]

At some point during the 5th century BCE, the cave was claimed by an exceptionally large, white wolf. Seen then and again, the cave was named after the animal.^[1]

During the Peloponnesian War, two hunters from Mytilene sought to gain glory and fame by bringing down the wolf. After killing a large wolf outside the cave, they discovered it to be an expectant female. Surprised by the revelation, one of the hunters was slain by the wolf's mate. The other hunter the wolf dragged into the cave.^[1]

Soon after, the Spartan misthios Kassandra discovered what had happened, as a Mytilenian woman, the wife of one of the hunters, had asked her to find her husband, and Kassandra had followed the bloody trail to the cave.^[1]

Within the cave, Kassandra stood between the hunter and the wolf, and made her choice about who should live, and how.^[1]