The mystery of LEGO Ideas 21335 Motorised Lighthouse’s rowboat remains unsolved

The newly-released LEGO Ideas 21335 Motorised Lighthouse’s rowboat includes a curious sticker – but the designers are keeping its origins a mystery.

While much of what 21335 Motorised Lighthouse has to offer is right there on the box – including its rotating Fresnel lens, concealed treasure cave and pair of appropriately-attired minifigures – there are a few details that the latest LEGO Ideas set isn’t broadcasting to the world. One of those is the reason behind calling its white rowboat ‘Leda’, a name that (at face value) seems like a strange choice.

In Greek mythology, Leda is an Aetolian princess who later became a Spartan queen, and was eventually mother to Helen of Troy. How that relates to a LEGO lighthouse, and in particular a rowboat – the stern of which is stickered with ‘LEDA’ in all caps – is not immediately clear, and Senior Model Designer Luka Kapeter is keeping his cards close to his chest.

“This one has a personal connection to me, but I like to think that it can be an abbreviation of LEGO and Denmark,” Kapeter told Jay’s Brick Blog. “It doesn’t have any real-world significance, and it’s for people to interpret.”

lego

If we’re not drawing on ‘real-world significance’, and so can leave behind any connections to the Leda of Greek mythology, interpretations of the name mostly begin and end with Kapeter’s initial suggestion.

References in LEGO sets from both official and fan designers are nothing new, but the reasons for them are typically well-known (or at least shared by the designer involved). For 21335 Motorised Lighthouse, though, it looks like we’ll never learn the real reason behind the Leda sticker on the rowboat’s stern.

21335 Motorised Lighthouse is available now. Click here for our verdict on the towering LEGO Ideas set.

Support the work that Brick Fanatics does by purchasing your LEGO using our affiliate links.

Author Profile

Chris Wharfe
I like to think of myself as a journalist first, LEGO fan second, but we all know that’s not really the case. Journalism does run through my veins, though, like some kind of weird literary blood – the sort that will no doubt one day lead to a stress-induced heart malfunction. It’s like smoking, only worse. Thankfully, I get to write about LEGO until then.

Chris Wharfe

I like to think of myself as a journalist first, LEGO fan second, but we all know that’s not really the case. Journalism does run through my veins, though, like some kind of weird literary blood – the sort that will no doubt one day lead to a stress-induced heart malfunction. It’s like smoking, only worse. Thankfully, I get to write about LEGO until then.

3 thoughts on “The mystery of LEGO Ideas 21335 Motorised Lighthouse’s rowboat remains unsolved

  • 15/09/2022 at 08:11
    Permalink

    could it be Adel and not Leda the real meaning of the boat’s name?
    maybe someone related to the designer?

    Reply
  • 14/09/2022 at 18:17
    Permalink

    Not sure if this helps but in ‘Leda and the Swan’ painted by Leonardo Da Vinci and Il Sodoma there is a lighthouse on the cliff side in the top right corner.
    Could this have been a nod to the creators love for a very old and beautiful painting?
    I’d love to think so.

    Reply
    • 14/09/2022 at 19:15
      Permalink

      Sorry, My memory isn’t as sharp.as it was…it’s the top left corner not right as I previously stated.
      Thanks

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *