#athamas

[laiapolypharmakos]

The Sacrifice of Phrixus:

I found this fresco mosaic in two posts on Facebook and Twitter. Apparently, it was found in the ancient city of Lembes, in Batna (Algeria), and is on display at the Tazoult Museum, but I haven't been able to find a better photo or any information on the museum's website😭😭😭

This is absolutely marvellous, absolutely magnificent, and I have been thinking a lot about it, but first I will try to identify them:

Obviously, the one in the middle is Phrixos, with Athamas next to him, his guardian (if he had one) on the other side, the girl on the ground is Hele, the one behind Athamas is Ino (mainly because she is the one offering at the altar, giving meaning to the queen's religious role), the blurred figure could be a servant, behind on the right are the golden ram and Nephele. The one at the other end could be Hermes or Apollo, because it is traditional that Hermes gave Nephele the golden ram, but I don't know if what he is carrying is a bow (therefore Apollo?) or a lyre (Apollo and Hermes?) I DON'T KNOW.

I have titled it "The Sacrifice of Phrixus" and not "The Sacrifice of Phrixus and Helle" because only Phrixus is crowned with pearls, which could be understood as a ceremonial sacrificial ribbon. Instead, I believe that Helle is begging her father not to allow this sacrifice. I think this is a good headcanon. Much more importance is usually given to the fact that both were sacrificed together, but most written sources only refer to Phrixus (although both are valid), and I like this interpretation much better. Not because Ino loves Helle or has any kind of affection for her (although I don't deny it either), but because Helle would not be a problem for his plans to make his son the heir to the throne of Orchomenus. 

I also find it absolutely brilliant that Phrixus lowers his head and seems to accept his fate, but I really think he is looking at Helle, crossing a straight line that goes directly to her eyes. The fact that he begs, clutching his father's knees, is part of the ritual or the Greek way of imploring a request, something I have always loved. 

I don't rule out the possibility that Helle is offering to be sacrificed as well (I'll leave that open). The fact that she doesn't look worried is also somewhat suspicious, or maybe she knows what's going on or knows something (WHO KNOWS???)

Maybe the other one isn't even a tutor or his pedagogue, I don't know, it's just a guess.

The looks are important, or I think it's worth noting that they all maintain eye contact with each other (the tutor with Athamas and Phrixus with Helle, Nephele looks at Chrisomallos), but Ino is looking at Phrixus and the god is looking at Ino. Absolutely brilliant, Ino looks at her crime and the god looks at Ino's crime. This is undermined by not knowing who the central figure is looking at😬 who may be looking at anyone present, but I think is looking and Phrixus and also according to my theory, it could be one of Ino's subordinates and therefore an extension of herself, placed as the central figure (but that's just a wild guess).

Perhaps Helle is cross-eyed, and the eye that cannot see is watching the god pointing to her mother and the ram, which is why she does not seem concerned. That would amuse me greatly😁😁

I would love to get a better image so bad🥺🥺 also I'm in love with the borders themselves. GORGEOUS😎😎😎

[theoihalioistuff]

Schol. D Hom. Il. 7. 86. (FGrHist 1751 F 24)

Athamas, son of Aiolos and king of Thebes, married Ino, the daughter of Kadmos, and had two children by her, Learchos and Melikertes. But at Hera's command he divorced Ino and took Nephele as his second wife, and had two children by her, Helle and Phrixos. When Nephele spied Athamas and Ino having sex in secret, she deserted him, and Ino once again took over the household, and started plotting against Nephele’s children. [...]

Schol. Th2 Tr1/2 on Aristoph. Clouds 257a.

Athamas had two children by Nephele, Phrixos and Helle. Having abandoned Nephele, though she was a goddess, he united with a mortal woman. Therefore Nephele, out of jealousy, flew away from the sky and punished her husband’s land with drought. [...] But Nephele exacted punishment for herself on Athamas, on account of the children. Having been led up, crowned with garlands, to the altar of Zeus to be sacrificed, he was saved by Herakles [at the last moment]. For so Sophokles described it in a drama.

Ps-Apollodoros 1.9.1

But Nephele snatched him and her daughter up and gave them a ram with a golden fleece, which she had received from Hermes, and borne through the sky by the ram they crossed land and sea.

Ps-Hyginus Fabulae 3

While Phrixus and Helle, under madness sent by Liber, were wandering through the forest, Nebula their mother is said to have come there bringing a gilded ram, offspring of Neptune and Theophane. She bade her children to mount it, and journey to Colchis to King Aeetes, son of Sol, and there sacrifice the ram to Mars.

[aliciavance4228]

Schol. D Hom. Il. 7. 86. (FGrHist 1751 F 24):

"Athamas, son of Aiolos and king of Thebes, married Ino, the daughter of Kadmos, and had two children by her, Learchos and Melikertes. But at Hera's command he divorced Ino and took Nephele as his second wife, and had two children by her, Helle and Phrixos. When Nephele spied Athamas and Ino having sex in secret, she deserted him, and Ino once again took over the household, and started plotting against Nephele’s children."

Okay, so this fragment makes it clear that Ino was initially Athamas' first wife, then he divorced her and married Nephele but then he cheated on Nephele with Ino and re-married Ino again. At least this makes Ino's actions more justified (though not forgivable). Also, I have to read more about Nephele and why would Hera want to intervene in the first place.

[deathlessathanasia]

Ino, Nephele, Themisto, Demodike, Gorgopis - all of these are names attributed to the various wives of Athamas and almost all of them (Nephele is the sole exception) play the role of wicked stepmother in one account or another.

[amymor-theend]

7-8🏞️

The one/second chapter 🏛️

Гера: Чёртов лжец! Я сотру его в порошок! Нет, я уничтожу пацана! Никто не займёт трон кроме моих сыновей! Я найду его, чего бы мне это ни стоило!

Позже

Гермес: Пока, спасибо, теперь это ваша дочь. Аривидерчи!

Глава 2

6 лет спустя: они были счастливой семьёй...

Гермес: Простите, в целях общей безопасности, я забираю его... Её в безопасное место. Спасибо большое! Пока!

* Афомант был сведен с ума Герой и погубил сына Ино

Гора Нис

Ди: Но как я выживу здесь один?

Гермес: Бро, ты реально думаешь я оставлю тебя одного? Идем

[sarafangirlart]

Did Cadmus and Harmonia ever have a child that wasn’t stupid and/or evil?

[athamad]

I'm bored, l need asks

[poseidons-trident]

Λευκοθεα

Leukothea was a sea goddess who came to the aid of sailors in distress. She was once a mortal princess named Ino, a daughter of King Kadmos of Thebes. She and her husband Athamas incurred the wrath of Hera when they fostered the infant god Dionysos. As punishment the goddess drove Athamas into a murderous rage and he slew his eldest child. Ino then grapped the other, and in her flight leapt off a cliff into the sea. The pair were welcomed into the company of the sea-gods and renamed Leukothea and Palaimon. Leukothea later came to the aid of Odysseus when his raft had been destroyed by Poseidon, and wrapped him in the safety of her floating veil.