Athamas
- I.A Son of Aeolus, grandson of Hellen, king in Thessaly (first in Boeotia in Ἀθαμάντιον πεδίον, among the Orchomeni, O. Müll. Orchom. I. p. 161), the father of Helle and Phrixus by Nephele, and of Melicerta and Learchus by Ino; in a fit of madness he pursued Ino, who, with Melicerta, threw herself into the sea, and both were changed to sea-deities, Ino to Leucothea (Matuta), and Melicerta to Palaemon (Portunus), Ov. M. 3, 564; 4, 420 sq.; id. F. 4, 903; 6, 489; Hyg. Fab. 2; Serv. ad Verg. A. 5, 241; cf. Apollod. 3, p. 171; Paus. Att. p. 108: Athamante dementior, Cic. Pis. 20, 47.—
- B Derivv.
- 1 Ăthămantēus, a, um, adj., = Ἀθαμαντεῖος, pertaining to Athamas, named after him, Athamantic: sinus, Ov. M. 4, 497: pinus, Stat. S. 5, 3, 143: aurum, i. e. the golden fleece of Phrixus, Mart. 8, 28.—
- 2 Ăthămantĭădes, ae, m. patr., = Ἀθαμαντιάδης, son of Athamas, i. e. Palaemon, Ov. M. 13, 919 (this word also stands by conj. of Hertzberg in Prop. 4, 6, 22).—
- 3 Ăthămantis ĭdis, f. patr., = Ἀθαμαντίς, daughter of Athamas, i. e. Helle, Ov. F. 4, 903; id. H. 18, 137.—
- II A mountain in Thessaly, Plin. 4, 8, 15, § 29.
- —Hence, Ăthă-mantĭcus, a, um, adj., = Ἀθαμαντικός, Athamantic: meum, a plant, bear's-wort: Athamanta meum, Linn.; Plin. 20, 23, 94, § 253 (by many of the ancients referred to Athamas, I., as named by him, v. Plin. l. l.).
(Ἀθάμας). The son of Aeolus and Enareté, and king of Orchomenus in Boeotia. At the command of Heré, Athamas married Nephelé, by whom he became the father of Phrixus and Hellé. (See Phrixus.) But he was secretly in love with the mortal Ino, the daughter of Cadmus, by whom he begot Learchus and Melicertes. Having thus incurred the anger both of Heré and of Nephelé, Athamas was seized with maduess, and in this state killed his own son, Learchus. Ino threw herself with Melicertes into the sea, and both were changed into marine deities—Ino becoming Leucothea, and Melicertes, Palaemon. Athamas, as the murderer of his son, was obliged to flee from Boeotia, and settled in Thessaly. Hence we have Athamantiades, son of Athamas, i. e. Palaemon; and Athamantis, daughter of Athamas, i. e. Hellé.
- Hdt. 7.58
- ritual of human sacrifice connected with his family: Hdt. 7.197
- son of Aeolus, leads Minyans to Teos: Paus. 7.3.6
- Apollod. 1.7.3, Paus. 7.3.6
- rules over Boeotia: Apollod. 1.8.6
- banished from Boeotia: Apollod. 1.9.1
- settles on Mount Laphystius: Paus. 9.34.7
- dwells in Athamantian plain: Paus. 9.24.1
- brother of Sisyphus: Paus. 9.34.7
- husband of Ino: Apollod. 3.4.2
- marries Themisto: Paus. 9.23.6, Apollod. 1.9.1
- father of Leucon: Paus. 6.21.11, of Phrixus: Paus. 1.24.2, and of Ptous: Paus. 9.23.6
- slays his son Learchus: Apollod. 1.9.1, Paus. 1.44.7, Paus. 9.34.7
- driven mad by Hera, hunts and kills his son Learchus as a deer: Apollod. 3.4.3
- purposes to sacrifice Phrixus and Helle: Paus. 9.34.5
- attempts to sacrifice his son Phrixus: Apollod. 1.8.6
- lays hands on his son Melicertes: Paus. 9.34.7
- adopts his nephew's sons: Paus. 9.34.7
- takes vengeance on Ino and her children: Paus. 1.44.7
- rears Dionysus as a girl: Apollod. 3.4.3
- Paus. 7.4.8