Mestra

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For the butterfly genus, see Mestra (butterfly).

Erysichthon Sells His Daughter Mnestra. Engraving by Bauer

In Greek mythology, Mestra was a daughter of Erysichthon, King of Thessaly.

Her father cut down trees in a grove, sacred to Demeter. Demeter punished him by placing Aethon, the god of famine, in his stomach while he was sleeping, making him permanently hungry. He sold all his possessions, including his daughter, Mestra, to buy food but was still hungry. Mestra was freed from slavery by Poseidon, her lover, who gave her the gift of shape-shifting to escape her bonds. Erysichthon sold Mestra and her abilities numerous times to make money to feed himself. Eventually, Erysichthon ate himself in hunger.

Some accounts relate that Mestra married the thief Autolycus, becoming the grandmother of Odysseus.