You're staring at your phone, or maybe the physical paper if you’re old school, and you've got seven empty boxes. The clue says sister of Laertes NYT style. It’s one of those clues that feels like it should be easy—it’s Greek mythology, after all—but your brain just keeps hitting a wall. Honestly, it happens to the best of us. You start cycling through names. Antigone? No, wrong family. Electra? Nope.
The answer is Ophelia.
Wait, no it isn't. Not for the New York Times crossword anyway.
If you are looking for the mythological answer, the person you need is Odysseus. Yes, the hero of the Odyssey himself. If you’re thinking about Shakespeare’s Hamlet, then yes, the answer is Ophelia. But the NYT crossword loves to play with your expectations by jumping between classical mythology and Elizabethan drama. Most often, when the clue refers to the "Sister of Laertes," it’s looking for Ctimene.
Why Ctimene is the Answer You’re Probably Missing
Ctimene isn't exactly a household name. She doesn't have a blockbuster movie or a tragic play named after her. In Homer’s Odyssey, she is the daughter of Laertes and Anticlea, making her the younger sister of Odysseus.
Crossword constructors love her because of that "C-T" start. It's a goldmine for interlocking tiles. She grew up alongside the swineherd Eumaeus, who mentions her in Book 15 of the epic. He talks about how they were raised together and how she was eventually sent off to Same to be married for a massive bride-price.
It’s a bit of deep-cut trivia. If you’re stuck on a Wednesday or Thursday puzzle, "Ctimene" is frequently the culprit. It’s exactly the kind of word that makes you want to throw your pen across the room because who remembers the name of Odysseus's sister? Most people don't even realize he had one.
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The Hamlet Confusion: Ophelia vs. Ctimene
Let's get real for a second. Most people hear "Laertes" and immediately think of the guy who gets into a duel with Hamlet at the end of the play. In that context, the sister of Laertes NYT solvers are looking for is absolutely Ophelia.
Ophelia is the tragic figure, the one with the flowers, the one who falls into the brook. She’s a four-letter word (wait, seven letters, I’m bad at counting in my head today) and she appears in the puzzle way more often than Ctimene does.
Here is the breakdown of how to tell which one the puzzle wants:
- Check the letter count. Ophelia is 7 letters. Ctimene is 7 letters. Okay, that doesn't help at all.
- Check the crossings. If you see a "P" or an "H" in the second or third spot, you’re looking at Ophelia. If you see a "T" or an "I" early on, Ctimene is your girl.
- Look at the clue phrasing. If the clue mentions "Shakespeare" or "Hamlet," it's Ophelia. If it mentions "Homer," "Odyssey," or "Greek Myth," it's Ctimene.
Sometimes the NYT editors get sneaky. They’ll just leave it as "Sister of Laertes" without any context. That's when you have to rely on the surrounding words to bail you out. It’s a classic crossword trap.
The Family Tree of Laertes (The Greek Version)
Laertes was the King of the Cephallenians. He's often called an Argonaut, which is basically the ancient Greek version of being an Avenger. He stayed home while his son Odysseus went off to fight in Troy for ten years and then spent another ten years trying to get back.
His daughter, Ctimene, is barely a footnote in the grand scheme of the story. But in the world of competitive crosswords, footnotes are everything. Short, vowel-heavy names or names with unusual consonant clusters like "CTM" are the lifeblood of grid construction.
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Why Does the NYT Crossword Use Such Obscure Names?
You might wonder why Will Shortz or the current editing team would even bother with someone like Ctimene. The truth is, crossword construction is a giant game of Tetris. Sometimes you have a beautiful long answer like "GOOSEBUMPS" and you need a seven-letter word to cross it at the "S." If "OPHELIA" doesn't fit the other letters you have, but "CTIMENE" does, the constructor is going to use Ctimene every single time.
It's not necessarily about testing your knowledge of obscure 8th-century BC oral poetry. It’s about making the grid work.
Other Common "Sister" Clues to Watch Out For
If you’re a regular solver, you know that sisters are a recurring theme. The NYT has a "type." Here are a few others that often get mixed up with the sister of Laertes NYT clue:
- Sister of Orestes: This is usually Electra or Iphigenia.
- Sister of Ares: Eris is the most common answer here. Four letters, very popular.
- Sister of Apollo: Artemis. Almost always Artemis.
- Sister of Moses: Miriam.
The NYT crossword thrives on these relationships. They are the "connective tissue" of the puzzle world. Once you memorize a few of these family trees, you start finishing your puzzles 20% faster.
How to Master These Clues Without a Classics Degree
Honestly? You don't need to read the Iliad. You just need to recognize patterns.
Most crossword apps now have a "reveal" or "check" feature, but using those feels like admitting defeat. Instead, try to look for the "Vowel-Consonant-Vowel" patterns. English names usually follow a predictable rhythm. Greek names do not. If you see a word starting with "CT," "PN," or "PT," your brain should immediately jump to Greek mythology.
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Ctimene is a prime example. That "CT" start is very specific.
Also, keep a mental note of the "crosswordese" versions of names. The NYT has a specific vocabulary. Words like ALOE, OREO, and ETUI show up because they are easy to fit. Ctimene is the "high-level" version of crosswordese. She’s the gatekeeper that separates the Monday solvers from the Saturday champions.
What to Do When You’re Truly Stuck
If you’ve tried Ophelia and you’ve tried Ctimene and neither seems to work, check your other answers. Crosswords are a self-correcting system. If you have "OPHELIA" but the crossing word for the "P" is supposed to be "DOG," and you have "DOG" as "DOT," you’re going to be in trouble.
One trick I use is to leave the "sister" clue for the very end. Don't let it frustrate you. Fill in everything around it. Eventually, the letters for Ctimene or Ophelia will just appear.
Crosswords are as much about visual recognition as they are about trivia. Sometimes you don't even "know" the answer, but you recognize the shape of the word. "C-T-I-M-E-N-E" looks like a Greek name. "O-P-H-E-L-I-A" looks like a Shakespearean name. Trust your gut.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Puzzle
To stop getting tripped up by the sister of Laertes NYT clue, do these three things:
- Differentiate the Source: Immediately ask yourself if the clue implies the Odyssey (Ctimene) or Hamlet (Ophelia).
- Learn the "CT" Cluster: Memorize Ctimene as a 7-letter Greek name. It’s one of the few that starts with those two letters.
- Check the Vowels: Ophelia ends in "IA," which is a very common ending. Ctimene ends in "E," which is less common for these types of clues but essential for certain grid configurations.
Next time you see Laertes mentioned, you won't even hesitate. You'll look at the grid, check the count, and slot in the right sister like a pro. Crosswords are a marathon, not a sprint, and building up this mental library of niche names is how you eventually get to that gold trophy on the app.