Athamas

Athamas (Greek Ἀθάμας ) In Greek mythology, the king of Boeotia and the founder of the city of Halos in Thessaly.

He is the son of Aeolus and Enarete. He has six brothers - Cretheus, Sisyphus, Salmoneus, Deion, Magnes and Perieres - and five sisters - Canace, Alcyone, Peisidike, Calyce and Perimede.

With his first wife Nephele (not to be confused with Nephele, the cloud) he has two children: Phrixus and Helle. With his second wife Ino he has the children Learchus and Melikertes. From hatred of her two stepchildren Ino manipulated first harvest, then the messenger who is sent to the oracle of Delphi to inquire the reason for crop failure. The messenger reported back on their statement that the gods are only to vote graciously by Phrixus be sacrificed to Zeus. Phrixus be abducted together with Bright in time by his mother and saved.

Later Hera Athamas a curse, so he kills his son Learchus in mania. Ino and Melikertes flee and plunge into the sea.

Athamas must leave Boeotia, but settled down after a long pilgrimage and marries Themisto, the daughter of Hypseus. With her he got the sons Leukon, Erythrios, Schoineus, Ptoos, Sphingios and Orchomenus.

Both Aeschylus and Sophocles and Euripides devoted Athamas the saga several tragedies, none of which is completely preserved.