Helios
Family: gods · Role: god · First appears: Book I 2
In Book I, Helios was named as the father of Augeias, “whom fame declared to be the son of Helios.” By Book II, Aeetes likewise claimed to be his son. In Book III, Helios had taken Hephaestus up in his chariot when the god was faint from the Phlegraean fight; in thanks, Hephaestus fashioned bronze bulls and an adamant plough for Aeetes, honoring Helios. Helios also warned Aeetes of treachery from his own offspring and their schemes.
By Book III, Pasiphae was identified as a daughter of Helios. In Book IV, Aeetes shone in a shapely chariot with steeds given by Helios, while Circe was named his daughter. His daughters Phaethusa and Lampetia tended the sheep and kine, carrying a silver crook and a staff of glowing orichalcum.
Relationship record
Life events
- Hephaestus fashioned bronze bulls and an adamant plough for Aeetes, honoring Helios.(Book III 2 · 📍 Aeetes’ palace)
- With: Hephaestus Aeetes
- “And he wrought for him bulls with feet of bronze, and their mouths were of bronze, and from them they breathed out a terrible flame of fire; moreover he forged a plough of unbending adamant, all in one piece, in payment of thanks to Helios”
- Helios prophesies that Aeetes must beware treachery from his own offspring.(Book III 5)
- With: Aeetes
- “for once he had heard a baleful prophecy from his father Helios, that he must avoid the secret treachery and schemes of his own offspring and their crafty mischief.”
Book I 2
- child: Augeias “Augeias, whom fame declared to be the son of Helios”
Book II 10
- child: Aeetes “And he boasts himself to be the son of Helios;”
Book III 2
- protégé: Hephaestus “Moreover he forged a plough of unbending adamant, all in one piece, in payment of thanks to Helios, who had taken the god up in his chariot when faint from the Phlegraean fight.”
- with Hephaestus (Helios rescued or carried Hephaestus in his chariot.) “Moreover he forged a plough of unbending adamant, all in one piece, in payment of thanks to Helios, who had taken the god up in his chariot when faint from the Phlegraean fight.”
Book III 3
- child: Aeetes “I marked it once, whirled along in the chariot of my father Helios”
- child: Augeias “And here, if thou hast heard at all of the seed of Helios, thou dost behold Augeias;”
Book III 5
- child: Aeetes “for once he had heard a baleful prophecy from his father Helios”
Book III 8
- child: Pasiphae “the maiden whom Pasiphae daughter of Helios bare.”
Book IV 2
- with Aeetes (Helios gave the steeds to Aeetes.) “in his shapely chariot Aeetes shone forth above all with his steeds, the gift of Helios, swift as the blasts of the wind.”
Book IV 5
- child: Circe “Circe, daughter of Perse and Helios”
Book IV 8
- child: Phaethusa “Phaethusa, the youngest of the daughters of Helios, tended the sheep, bearing in her hand a silver crook”
- child: Lampetia “Phaethusa, the youngest of the daughters of Helios, tended the sheep, bearing in her hand a silver crook; while Lampetia, herding the kine, wielded a staff of glowing orichalcum as she followed.”
⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →
Extracted from the original text of The Argonautica. Made with Rho MD.