Phrixos

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Phrixos is a figure in Greek mythology, most famously known as the son of Athamas, the king of Boeotia, and his first wife, Nephele, a cloud nymph. His story is deeply entwined with themes of family betrayal, divine intervention, and the quest for safety. The myth of Phrixos begins with a tragic turn in the family dynamics. Athamas, after abandoning Nephele, married Ino, who became jealous of Phrixos and his sister, Helle. Ino attempted to kill the children by manipulating a famine in Boeotia, leading to the desperate act of sacrificing Phrixos and his sister to the gods.

However, the divine intervention of Nephele saved her children. In response to her prayers, the god Hermes sent a golden ram to carry Phrixos and Helle away from danger. The ram, with its golden fleece, flew through the sky, transporting the children to safety. Tragically, Helle fell off the ram during the journey and drowned in what became known as the Hellespont (the strait that separates Europe from Asia), but Phrixos safely reached the kingdom of Colchis (in modern-day Georgia).

In Colchis, Phrixos was warmly received by King Aeetes, who was impressed by the ram’s golden fleece. As a token of gratitude for the safe arrival of Phrixos, the ram was sacrificed, and its golden fleece was hung in a sacred grove guarded by a dragon. This golden fleece would later become the focal point of the famous myth of Jason and the Argonauts, who embarked on a perilous journey to retrieve it.