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In Greek mythology, Cleothera () is one of the daughters of Pandareus and Harmothoë, natives of western Asia Minor or the island of Crete. After the deaths of their parents, she and her sister Merope were adopted by Aphrodite, the goddess of love and sensuality, and in time they came to serve the Erinyes, goddesses of rage and revenge.
After the deaths of their parents, the orphaned Cleothera along with Merope were raised by the goddesses Aphrodite,Homer, Odyssey 20.66-78 while Aëdon, the eldest daughter, married Zethus, the king of Thebes. The other Olympian goddesses also blessed the girls with gifts and blessings; Hera gave them wisdom and beauty, Artemis high stature, and Athena taught them women's arts and crafts.Pausanias 10.30.1 Cleothera and her sister both grew to be beautiful women, so when they were of age Aphrodite tried to seek suitable husbands for them. But while she was away in heaven trying to consult Zeus in order to secure them happy marriages, they were kidnapped by the Erinyes with the help of either the Anemoi or the Harpies,Pausanias 10.30.2 and were made handmaidens to them, never to be seen again.
In another version, after the theft of the dog, Pandareus fled with his entire family to Athens and then Sicily, where he and his wife were killed as punishment by Zeus; Zeus then set the Harpies on all three of the girls, including Aëdon. They snatched and carried them off to the Erinyes, who then made them work for them.Scholia on Hom. Od. 20.66-67
The second-century traveller Pausanias mentions an ancient painting of the myth made by Polygnotus, who has labelled the maidens as Cameiro and Clytie instead, and are depicted crowned with flowers and playing dice.
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