Zetes and Calais
heroWinged sons of Boreas who joined the Argonauts and chased the Harpies away from the blind prophet Phineus.
The Myth
They could fly — the only mortal-born Argonauts with wings. Sons of the North Wind Boreas and the Athenian princess Oreithyia, Zetes and Calais had wings on their backs (or feet, depending on the source). Jason recruited them specifically for the Phineus problem: Harpies were snatching the blind seer's food. The Boreads chased the Harpies across the sky until Iris intervened, promising the creatures would leave Phineus alone. Later, Heracles killed both brothers — either because they convinced the Argonauts to abandon him, or as revenge for a chariot-race dispute. Their tomb was said to shake when Boreas blew.
Symbols
Fun Fact
Their tomb stones supposedly swayed whenever the north wind blew — a tribute from their father Boreas.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Phineus (Prophet)
heroA blind Thracian king and prophet punished by Zeus for revealing divine secrets, tormented by...
Boreas
godBoreas was the god of the cold north wind, bringer of winter.
Oreithyia
heroAthenian princess abducted by the North Wind Boreas, mother of the winged Argonauts Zetes and...
Phineus the Seer
heroBlind Thracian king and prophet cursed by Zeus to have his food snatched by Harpies until the...
Heracles
heroThe greatest hero of Greek mythology, son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. Famous for his...
Heracles (Labours)
heroHeracles performed twelve seemingly impossible labours as penance for killing his family in a...
Jason
heroThe hero who assembled the Argonauts and sailed to Colchis in quest of the Golden Fleece. Jason's...
Argo (Ship)
placeThe Argo was the ship built by Argus for Jason's quest — the first long-voyage ship in Greek myth,...
Argonauts
conceptThe Argonauts were the band of heroes who sailed with Jason on the Argo to retrieve the Golden...
Harpy
creatureThe Harpies were winged spirits who snatched people and things away without warning, personifying...
Hera
godQueen of the Olympian gods and goddess of marriage. Known for her jealous rages against Zeus's...
Hera Teleia
godAn epithet of Hera as goddess of marriage and its fulfilment, worshipped as the divine model of the...