---
title: Cassandra
description: The myth of Cassandra and the gift of prophecy.
author:
  name: Graciela Paula Caldeiro
  url: http://graciela-caldeiro.idoneos.com
canonical: https://mitologiagrecorromana.idoneos.com/en/casandra/
source: en/casandra/index.md
---

<h2 id="casandra">Cassandra</h2>

Cassandra, daughter of the Trojan kings **Hecuba** and **Priam**, was a priestess of **Apollo**, with whom she had made a pact: in exchange for a carnal encounter, she would receive the gift of **prophecy**.

<figure class="commons-illustration" data-commons-id="83791588">
  <img src="/casandra/resources/commons-83791588.jpg" width="1151" height="1600" alt="Cassandra predicts the fall of Troy. Bernard Picart (1731), Rijksmuseum." loading="lazy" decoding="async">
  <figcaption>Cassandra predicts the fall of Troy. Bernard Picart (1731), Rijksmuseum.<br>Source: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cassandra_voorspelt_de_ondergang_van_Troje,_RP-P-1906-2810.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wikimedia Commons</a>. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en" rel="license">CC0</a>.</figcaption>
</figure> <figure class="commons-illustration" data-commons-id="164750581">
  <img src="/casandra/resources/commons-164750581.jpg" width="936" height="1200" alt="Cassandra. Frederick Sandys, Ulster Museum." loading="lazy" decoding="async">
  <figcaption>Cassandra. Frederick Sandys, Ulster Museum.<br>Source: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frederick_Sandys_(1829-1904)_-_Cassandra_-_BELUM.U168_-_Ulster_Museum.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wikimedia Commons</a>. Public domain.</figcaption>
</figure>

When Cassandra obtained the faculty of divination, she broke her promise to yield to the sexual favors requested by Apollo, who, feeling betrayed, decided to punish her: without taking away her gift, he transformed it into a curse. Cassandra could see the future, but no one would ever believe her predictions. Thus, when she announced the **fall of Troy**, no one took her prophecy seriously.