< Athamas, son of Aeolus >

1 Origin

In 1445 BC, Athamas was born in Melitaea, Thessaly.

Athamas' father was Aeolus, son of Hellen.

2 Family

Athamas married Themisto, daughter of Hypseus.

Athamas and Themisto had sons, Leucon, Erythrius, Schoeneus, Ptous, Sphincius, and Orchomenus.

Athamas and Themisto had a daughter, Eurycleia.

Athamas had a wife named Nephele (or Nebula).

Athamas and Nephele had a son Phrixus and a daughter Helle.

3 Others

3.1 Emigration to Arne

In 1435 BC, Achaeus, son of Xuthus, invaded Melitaea from Aegialus in northern Peloponnesus.

Xuthus was the brother of Aeolus, whom Athamas' father had driven out of Melitaea.

Mimas, son of Aeolus, who was driven out of Melitaea by Achaeus, migrated northwestward from Melitaea and founded Arne.

Mimas' brothers, Sisyphus and Athamas, also migrated from Melitaea to Arne.

3.2 Founding of Halus

In 1415 BC, Athamas migrated from Arne to the western shore of the Pagasetic Gulf and founded Halus.

At that time, the northern side of the Pagasetic Gulf was inhabited by Pelasgians.

Halus was the first town of Aeolis built around the Pagasetic Gulf.

3.3 Emigration to Boeotia

In 1390 BC, a great tsunami in the Aegean Sea washed away Halus on the western shore of the Pagasetic Gulf.

Athamas lost his town and migrated to Boeotia.

Athamas founded Acraephnium (or Acraephium) on the east side of Lake Copais.

Athamas lived on the Athamantian plain between Acraephnium and Lake Copais.

3.4 Marriage to the daughter of Cadmus

Around Lake Copais lived the Encheleans, who migrated with Cadmus in 1420 BC.

The Encheleans migrated to Illyria, and the cause of their migration is thought to have been the pressure exerted by the settlement of the Aeolis led by Athamas.

Thus, it is presumed that Athamas and Cadmeia did not have a good relationship.

There is a tradition that Athamas and Ino, daughter of Cadmus, were married, but it is believed to be a fiction.

3.5 Settlement of Andreus

In 1380 BC, Andreus emigrated from Arne of Thessaly, relying on Athamas.

Andreus was the son of Aeolus, son of Hippotes, son of Mimas, brother of Athamas.

Athamas gave the land to his brother's great-grandson Andreus.

Athamas gave his granddaughter Euippe to Andreus as his wife.

3.6 Adoption

In 1371 BC, Athamas adopted two sons of Thesander, son of his brother Sisyphus, Coronus and Haliartus.

Leucon, who was to succeed Athamas, died of illness, and Phrixus emigrated elsewhere and was never heard from again.

3.7 Successor

In 1370 BC, Phrixus' two sons, Melas and Presbon, emigrated from Colchis to Athamas.

Melas and Presbon were grandsons of Athamas, who was born in Colchis.

Athamas married Melas to his daughter Eurycleia, making Melas his heir.

Athamas' adopted son Coronus founded Coroneia southwest of Lake Copais.

Athamas' adopted son Haliartus founded Haliartus on the south side of Lake Copais.