Melas

Role: son of Phrixus · First appears: Book II 9

Melas is the son of Phrixus and Chalciope, and the brother of Cytissorus, Phrontis, and Argus. After Phrixus died aged in the home of Aeetes, Melas and his brothers followed their father’s behests and journeyed to Orehomenus to claim the possessions of Athamas: “From those two are we sprung.”

In Book II, their ship was wrecked by a storm in the murky night, carrying Melas and his brothers onto the island of Ares. At sunrise they met Jason and the Argonauts, whom Argus recognized as kinsmen through Cretheus and Athamas; Jason gave the shipwrecked brothers clothing, while Zeus is named as having saved them harmless from the storm.

Relationship record

Life events

• A storm shatters the sons of Phrixus’ ship and carries them onto the island of Ares.(Book II 9 · 📍 island of Ares)
  • With: Argus son of Phrixus Cytissorus Phrontis
  • “And the force of the wind had snatched away their sails and shattered in twain the hull, tossed as it was by the breakers.”
• Jason recognizes the shipwrecked men as his relatives through Cretheus and Athamas.(Book II 9 · 📍 island of Ares)
  • With: Jason Argus son of Phrixus Cytissorus Phrontis
  • “Surely ye are our kinsmen on my father’s side, and ye pray that with kindly hearts we succour your evil plight.”
• Jason provides clothing and aid to the shipwrecked sons of Phrixus.(Book II 9 · 📍 island of Ares)
  • With: Jason Argus son of Phrixus Cytissorus Phrontis
  • “He spake, and out of the ship gave them raiment to put on.”
• The sons of Phrixus meet the Argonauts after surviving the shipwreck.(Book II 9 · 📍 island of Ares)
  • With: Argus son of Phrixus Cytissorus Phrontis
  • “and soon the two bands drew near and met each other, and Argus spoke first:”

Book II 9

• parent: Phrixus “And him did Aeetes receive in his palace, and with gladness of heart gave him his daughter Chalciope in marriage without gifts of wooing. From those two are we sprung. But Phrixus died at last, an aged man, in the home of Aeetes; and we, giving heed to our father’s behests, are journeying to Orehomenus to take the possessions of Athamas. And if thou dost desire to learn our names, this is Cytissorus, this Phrontis, and this Melas, and me ye may call Argus.”
• parent: Chalciope “And him did Aeetes receive in his palace, and with gladness of heart gave him his daughter Chalciope in marriage without gifts of wooing. From those two are we sprung. But Phrixus died at last, an aged man, in the home of Aeetes; and we, giving heed to our father’s behests, are journeying to Orehomenus to take the possessions of Athamas. And if thou dost desire to learn our names, this is Cytissorus, this Phrontis, and this Melas, and me ye may call Argus.”
• siblings with Cytissorus “From those two are we sprung. But Phrixus died at last, an aged man, in the home of Aeetes; and we, giving heed to our father’s behests, are journeying to Orehomenus to take the possessions of Athamas. And if thou dost desire to learn our names, this is Cytissorus, this Phrontis, and this Melas, and me ye may call Argus.”
• siblings with Phrontis “From those two are we sprung. But Phrixus died at last, an aged man, in the home of Aeetes; and we, giving heed to our father’s behests, are journeying to Orehomenus to take the possessions of Athamas. And if thou dost desire to learn our names, this is Cytissorus, this Phrontis, and this Melas, and me ye may call Argus.”
• siblings with Argus son of Phrixus “From those two are we sprung. But Phrixus died at last, an aged man, in the home of Aeetes; and we, giving heed to our father’s behests, are journeying to Orehomenus to take the possessions of Athamas. And if thou dost desire to learn our names, this is Cytissorus, this Phrontis, and this Melas, and me ye may call Argus.”
• cousins with Jason “Surely ye are our kinsmen on my father’s side, and ye pray that with kindly hearts we succour your evil plight. For Cretheus and Athamas were brothers. I am the grandson of Cretheus, and with these comrades here I am journeying from that same Hellas to the city of Aeetes.”
• patron: Jason “He spake, and out of the ship gave them raiment to put on.”
• patron: Zeus “even so hath he saved you harmless from the baleful storm.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Argonautica. Made with Rho MD.