Phaethon in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Phaethon

20 passages from 6 ancient authors that tell of Phaethon, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Phaethon was a name given to different figures in Greek mythology, but the best known was the son of the Oceanid nymph Clymene and either the god Apol... For the story in one place, read our article on Phaethon.

Euripides (1)

Euripides, Hippolytus 732–789Second choral song; Phaedra hangs herselfThe Chorus wishes to be a bird in some pathless cavern, flying to the Adrian shore and the waters of the Eridanus, where Phaethon's sisters weep amber tears, and to the apple-bearing strand in the west. It sings of the ship that brought Phaedra from Crete to Athens, and says that Aphrodite has crushed her heart with unholy love so that she will tie a noose in her bridal chamber. A servant then cries that the queen has hanged herself, and the Chorus hears that she is dead.

Apollonius Rhodius (1)

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4.552–684Zeus' anger and the voyage to Circe's islandZeus is angry at the murder, and the speaking beam of Argo says that Circe must cleanse them. Argo sails up the Eridanus, where Phaethon fell, and through the Rhodanus, with Hera guiding them, past the Stoechades to the Tyrrhenian coast. They come to Aeaea and see Circe washing her hair.

Theocritus (1)

Theocritus, Idylls 25.138–281Idyll 25: Phaethon the bull and the Nemean lionThe great bull Phaethon charges at Heracles, who seizes him by the left horn and forces his neck to the ground, to the wonder of Augeas and Phyleus. On the road to the city Phyleus asks about the lion whose hide Heracles wears, and Heracles tells how Eurystheus set him the task, how he killed the Nemean lion with his bare hands, and how he flayed it with its own claws.

Diodorus Siculus (1)

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 5.19.1–5.23.5The Atlantic island, Britain and the amber islandThe historian describes a large fruitful island out in the ocean west of Libya, found by Phoenician traders and kept in reserve by the Carthaginians. The account then moves to Europe: Britain, its size and its tribes, then its tin, and finally the island Basileia where amber is washed up.

Ovid (4)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 2.101–297Phaethon drives the chariot of the SunThe Sun ends his warnings in vain, and at dawn the Hours harness the horses and Phaethon mounts the chariot. The horses, feeling the light load, leave their course, and Phaethon, terrified at the sight of the sky and the Scorpion, drops the reins. The earth burns, rivers dry up, and the peoples of Africa turn black, and Earth herself calls on Zeus (Jupiter) to save the world.
Ovid, Metamorphoses 2.298–400The fall of Phaethon; the Heliades and CycnusZeus (Jupiter, 'Jove' in More's translation) hurls his thunderbolt and Phaethon falls blazing into the river Eridanus, where the naiads bury him. His sisters, the Heliades, mourn for four months and are changed into poplars, and their tears become amber. Cycnus, a friend of Phaethon, grieves and is turned into a swan. The Sun, in his own grief, refuses to drive the chariot again until the gods, and Zeus with threats, entreat him.
Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.747–779Phaethon and EpaphusIo, restored, is worshipped in Egypt as a goddess and bears Zeus (Jupiter) a son, Epaphus. Epaphus boasts that he is the son of Zeus, and Phaethon, who claims that Apollo (the Sun, 'Phoebus' in More's translation) is his father, is mocked for it. Phaethon goes in shame to his mother Clymene, who swears that the Sun is his father and tells him to go and ask for himself, and he travels through Ethiopia and India to the land of the dawn.
Ovid, Metamorphoses 2.1–100The palace of the Sun; Phaethon's requestPhaethon comes to the palace of the Sun, with its columns of gold and its doors of silver, and stands before the god, who sits in splendour surrounded by the Day, the Month, the Year, the Hours and the Seasons. Helios, the Sun ('Phoebus' in More's translation), embraces him as his son and swears by the Styx to grant whatever he asks, and Phaethon asks to drive the chariot for a day. The Sun tries to dissuade him, describing the steep ascent, the beasts of the zodiac and the speed of the sky.

Nonnus of Panopolis (12)

Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 38.318–434Book 38: Phaethon's drive and fall; the Heliades become treesPhaethon loses control of the horses and drives off the course of the zodiac, throwing the stars and constellations into confusion, while Lucifer warns him in vain. Zeus strikes him with a thunderbolt into the river Eridanos, restores order, and sets him in the sky as the Charioteer, while his sisters the Heliades are changed into trees that shed precious dew.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 38.0–102Book 38: An omen at midday; Idmon and Hermes interpret itThe truce lasts until the seventh year of the war, when a darkness at midday and an eagle carrying a snake that slips into the Hydaspes appear as omens. Idmon, asked by Erechtheus, says they foretell Deriades' drowning in his father's river, and Hermes tells Dionysos that the omen means his own victory, as the sun returns after darkness. Dionysos asks to hear the story of Phaethon.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 38.212–317Book 38: Phaethon begs for the chariot; Helios' instructionsMoved by Phaethon's tears, Helios gives way and explains the zodiac, the planets' paths and the route the chariot must follow through the year. He crowns the boy with his rays, and Phaethon sets out in the chariot while Clymene watches.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 2.109–240Book 2: The nymph's lament; Victory rouses ZeusA nymph runs through every means of escape for her maidenhood, as bird, tree, spring or stone, and finds none safe. Night falls and the stars keep watch over Olympos while Zeus sits alone. Victory comes in the shape of Leto to reproach him, listing the gods who have fled and urging him to fight.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 27.144–240Book 27: The armies meet at the Indus; Dionysos arms his hostDionysos divides his Bacchic host into four divisions near the mouth of the Indus and addresses them. He promises to spare Hydaspes if he submits, orders Deriades to be taken captive and made a Bacchic worshipper, and threatens Phaethon and the Sun's daughter Lampetie if they help the Indians. The Bacchic army then advances with music, torches and snakes.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 38.103–211Book 38: Hermes' tale: the birth and youth of PhaethonHermes begins the story of Phaethon: Helios marries Clymene, daughter of Oceanos, and their son grows up playing at driving his father's chariot with a toy car. As a youth he begs to drive the chariot of the sun, and Helios warns him that even the gods do not wield one another's powers, citing the fate of Zagreus.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 5.0–121Book 5: Cadmos founds Thebes and its seven gatesCadmos sacrifices the cow to Athena, fights the neighbouring peoples and lays out the city of Thebes with seven gates named for the seven planets. Harmonia's wedding is celebrated with dances, music and the gods' attendance, and Zeus sits at the same table as Cadmos.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 7.255–368Book 7: Zeus woos SemeleZeus, struck by Eros's arrow, goes back to heaven and calls on Helios to hasten the night. He crosses to Thebes in two bounds and comes to Semele in the shapes of a bull, a lion, a panther, a bridegroom and a snake. He tells her that she will bear a son who will make men forget their troubles, and that she will be called immortal.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 29.291–381Book 29: At the ford; Rheia's dream sends Ares awayAt the ford Dionysos' shout drives the Indians into the water, and he challenges Deriades to a duel. Pan kills Melaneus to avenge Hymenaios. At night a false dream sent at Rheia's bidding tells Ares that Aphrodite has returned to Hephaistos, and he leaves the battlefield for Cyprus and Lemnos.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 30.100–159Book 30: Morrheus kills Phlogios; Eurymedon kills TectaphosHephaistos carries his wounded son from the field and heals him. Morrheus kills the dancer Phlogios, and Tectaphos, whom Deriades once starved in a pit, cuts down several Satyrs before Eurymedon kills him with a battle-axe. The dying Tectaphos calls for his daughter's help.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 33.105–194Book 33: Aglaia's message; Eros wounds Morrheus with desireAglaia brings Aphrodite's message, and Eros offers to fight anyone who has wronged his mother. Aphrodite tells him that Ares is helping Deriades and asks him to help Dionysos by making Morrheus fall in love with the Bacchic girl Chalcomede. Eros flies to the Indian host and shoots his arrow into Morrheus.
Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 36.96–197Book 36: Hermes ends the gods' quarrel; the armies closeHermes persuades Poseidon and Apollo to stop their quarrel, and Deriades rallies his troops with a threatening speech. Dionysos sends his wild beasts and serpents against the Indian army, and the Indians flee before them.