Phaethon
Phaethon was the son of Helios who insisted on driving the chariot of the sun and lost control, nearly burning the earth to ashes.
The Legend of Phaethon
Son of Helios the sun god, Phaethon doubted his divine parentage and travelled to his father's palace in the east to demand proof. Helios swore by the Styx to grant any wish. Phaethon asked to drive the sun-chariot. Even Apollo and Athena could not have controlled the immortal horses. The chariot veered wildly, scorching the earth and freezing the heavens. Zeus, to prevent the world's destruction, struck Phaethon with a thunderbolt, and the boy fell into the river Eridanus. His sisters wept amber tears. Like Icarus and Bellerophon, Phaethon shows that mortal ambition cannot safely wield divine power.
Parents
Helios and Clymene
Symbols
Fun Fact
A "phaeton" became a type of open horse-drawn carriage and later a car body style — named for this disastrous charioteer.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Helios
⚡ godTitan who drove the sun chariot daily
Helios was the Titan god who drove the chariot of the sun across the sky each day — seeing everything that happened on earth from his vantage point above.
Helios
⚡ godTitan god of the sun
The Titan who drove the sun chariot across the sky each day, providing light to the world. Helios saw everything that happened under the sun.
Phaethon's Ride
💭 concepthubris, catastrophe
The myth of Helios's son who drove the sun chariot across the sky, lost control, and was struck down by Zeus to prevent the earth from burning.
Kebriones
🗡 heroChariot driving, combat
Illegitimate son of Priam who served as Hector's charioteer and died in a fierce struggle over his body
Helios
🏔 titanThe all-seeing Titan of the sun
The Titan who drove the sun chariot across the sky each day and saw everything that happened on earth below.
Oenomaus
🗡 heroNone recorded
A king of Pisa who killed the suitors of his daughter Hippodamia in rigged chariot races until Pelops defeated him through trickery and divine favour
Icarus
🗡 heroBoy who flew too close to the sun
Icarus was the son of Daedalus who escaped Crete on wings of wax and feathers but flew too high — the sun melted his wings and he fell into the sea.
Jason
🗡 heroLeader of the Argonauts
The hero who assembled the Argonauts and sailed to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece, aided by Medea's sorcery.
Bellerophon
🗡 heroThe hero who tamed Pegasus
The Corinthian hero who tamed the winged horse Pegasus and slew the Chimera, but fell from heaven when he tried to reach Olympus.
Pelops
🗡 herokingship
Son of Tantalus, restored to life by the gods with an ivory shoulder, who won his bride by cheating in a chariot race and cursed his line.
Bellerophon
🗡 heroTamer of Pegasus, slayer of the Chimera
The hero who tamed the winged horse Pegasus and used him to slay the monstrous Chimera. His story is a cautionary tale about hubris.
Glaucus of Corinth
🗡 heroHorses, Hybris, Divine Punishment
Corinthian king and charioteer who fed his mares on human flesh; they devoured him during the funeral games of Pelias.