The legend about this town (the modern Gaete, which is not far from Terracina, on the southern coast of Latium) tells how it had been founded in memory of Caieta, the nurse of Aeneas (or, according to other versions, of Ascanius, Aeneas's son, or even of Creusa, the wife of Aeneas). Some versions say that she had been buried there and others that she had quelled the fire which was threatening to burn Aeneas' ship. Yet another tradition gives the name of Gaete to Aeetes, the father of Medea, who had come to the district in pursuit of his daughters (see ARGONAUTS). According to this version, the town had originally been called Aeete, but the name was later changed to Gaete.
{E2 DICTIONARY OF CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY}
Table of Sources:
- Virgil, Aen. 7, 1ff. with Serv. ad loc
- Ovid, Met. 14, 441ff.
- Strabo 5, 3, 6, p. 233
- Solinus 2, 13
- Anon. De Orig. Gent. Rom. 10
- Dion. Hal. 1, 53, 3
- Diod. Sic. 4, 56