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Greek Mythology >> Greek Gods >> Sky Gods >> Titans >> Helius >> Helius Family

HELIOS FAMILY

Greek Name

Ἡλιος

Transliteration

Hêlios

Latin Spelling

Helius

Roman Name

Sol

Helius, Selene and the Horae of the four seasons | Greco-Roman mosaic A.D.
Helius, Selene and the Horae of the seasons, Greco-Roman mosaic A.D.

HELIOS was the Titan-god of the sun.

This page describes his offspring. Most of these were simply listed as such in the ancient genealogies with no specific stories describing their birth or otherwise connecting them with the god. He was commonly portrayed as the ancestor of eastern royal houses--such as those of Kolkhis (Colchis), Persia and India--and as the father of witches and sorcerors.

The references below are ordered geographically by the kingdoms of the mythic age.

(1) DIVINE OFFSPRING

AIX (Aex) A Gorgon nymph daughter of Helios whose face was so terrifying to behold, that the ruling Titans ordered she be hidden away within the earth.

ASTRIS The nymph wife of the Indian river-god Hydaspes and ancestress of the Indian royal family. She was a daughter of Helios and the Okeanid-nymph Keto or Klymene.

HELIADES The nymph sisters of Phaethon, the boy who tried to drive the chariot of the sun, were daughters of Helios and Klymene. They were transformed by their father into amber-weeping poplar trees to ease their grief.

HORAI 1 (Horae) The goddesses of the four seasons were daughters of Helios (Sun) and Selene (Moon). (Most however describe them as daughters of Zeus and Themis.)

HORAI 2 (Horae) The goddesses of the twelve hours were sometimes called daughters of Helios (though others say their father was Khronos the god of time).

KHARITES (Charites) The goddesses of grace and beauty were occassionally called daughters of Helios and Aigle. (Most, however, describe them as daughters of Zeus and Eurynome.)

KIRKE (Circe) A goddess-witch of the island of Aiaia was a daughter of Helios and the Okeanid-nymph Perseis.

LAMPETIE (Lampetia) A nymph who tended her father's immortal flocks of sheep on the sacred island of Thrinakie. She was a daughter of Helios by the nymph Neaira.

PASIPHAE A witch-queen of the island of Krete (Greek Aegean). She was a daughter of Helios and Perseis.

PHAETHOUSA (Phaethusa) A Nnymph who tended her father's immortal herds of cattle on the sacred island of Thrinakie. She was a daughter of Helios by the nymph Neaira.

SELENE The goddess of the moon was sometimes called a daughter of Helios rather than his sister.

TELKHINES (Telchines) Daimon-magicians of the island of Rhodes which were sometimes described as sons of Helios and the Rhodian Athena.

(2) MORTAL OFFSPRING

AEETES A witch-king of Kolkhis (eastern Black Sea) who was granted a wealth of magical gifts by his father Helios. He was a son of the Okeanid-nymph Perseis and brother of the witches Pasiphae and Kirke.

AITHON (Aethon) A man who chopped down a sacred grove of the goddess Demeter and was punished with unquenchable hunger. He was probably the same as Triopas of whom the same story is told.

AKTIS (Actis) One of seven co-kings of the island of Rhodes (Greek Aegean). He was a son of Helios and the island-goddess Rhode.

ALOIOS (Aloeus) A king of Korinthos (southern Greece) who received the throne from his father Helios.

AUGEIAS (Augeas) A king of Elis (southern Greece), son of Helios and Nausidame.

ELEKTRYONE (Electryone) A princess of the island of Rhodes (Greek Aegean). She was a daughter of Helios and the island-goddess Rhodes.

HELIADAI (Heliadae) The first seven kings of the island of Rhodes. They were sons of Helios and the island-goddess Rhode.

KAMIROS (Camirus) One of three co-kings of the island of Rhodes (Greek Aegean) and eponym of the city of Kamiros. According to some he was a son of Helios and Rhode (though others describe him instead as a grandson of the god).

KANDALOS (Candalus) One of seven co-kings of the island of Rhodes (Greek Aegean). He was a son of Helios and the island-goddess Rhode.

KERKAPHOS (Cercaphus) One of seven co-kings of the island of Rhodes (Greek Aegean). He was a son of Helios and the island-goddess Rhode.

MAKAR (Macar) One of seven co-kings of the island of Rhodes (Greek Aegean). He was a son of Helios and the island-goddess Rhode.

OKHIMOS (Ochimus) One of seven co-kings of the island of Rhodes (Greek Aegean). He was a son of Helios and the island-goddess Rhode.

PERSES A King of the Tauric Khersonese and later of Kolkhis (eastern Black Sea). He was a son of Helios and the Okeanid-nymph Perseis.

PHAETHON A young Egyptian lord (North Africa) or Okeanos-dwelling demigod who attempted to drive his father's sun-chariot, but lost control and scorched the earth.

PHASIS A lord of Kolkhis (eastern Black Sea) and eponym of the local river Phasis. He was a son of Helios and the Okeanid-nymph Okyrhoe.

TENAGES One of seven co-kings of the island of Rhodes (Greek Aegean). He was a son of Helios and the island-goddess Rhode.

THERSANON A lord of the island of Andros (Greek Aegean) who joined the company of the Argonauts. He was a son of Helios and Leukothoe.

TRIOPAS One of seven co-kings of the island of Rhodes (Greek Aegean). He was a son of Helios and the island-goddess Rhode.

GENEALOGICAL LISTING

OFFSPRING IMMORTAL

[1.1] PHAETHOUSA, LAMPETIA (by Neaira) (Homer Odyssey 12.127)
[1.2] PHAETHOUSA, LAMPETIA (Apollonius Rhodius 4.965, Ovid Metamorphoses 1.751, Nonnus Dionysiaca 27.189)
[2.1] PHAETHON, THE HELIADES (Philoxenus of Cythera Frag 834, Pausanias 2.3.2, Apollonius Rhodius 4.598, Quintus Smyraneus 5.300, Diodorus Siculus 5.23.2)
[2.2] PHAETHON, THE HELIADES (by Klymene) (Hyginus Fabulae 153, Ovid Metamorphoses 1.751, Nonnus Dionysiaca 27.189)
[3.1] KIRKE (by Perseis) (Homer Odyssey 10.134, Hesiod Theogony 956, Apollonius Rhodius 3.311, Apollodorus 1.80, Hyginus Fabulae 156, Cicero De Natura Deorum 3.19)
[3.2] KIRKE (Homer's Epigrams XIV, Hyginus Fabulae 199, Ovid Metamorphoses 13.898, Valerius Flaccus 7.210)
[4.1] PASIPHAE (by Perseis) (Apollodorus 1.80, Hyginus Fabulae 156, Cicero De Natura Deor. 3.19)
[4.2] PASIPHAE (by Krete) (Diodorus Siculus 4.60.4)
[4.3] PASIPHAE (Apollonius Rhodius 3.997, Antoninus Liberalis 41, Hyginus Fabulae 40, Ovid Metamorphoses 9.737, Seneca Phaedra 112)
[5.1] SELENE (Euripides Phoenicians 175, Nonnus Dionysiaca 44.198)
[6.1] THE KHARITES (by Aigle) (Pausanias 9.35.1, Suidas 'Aigles Kharites')
[7.1] GORGO AIX (Hyginus Astronomica 2.13)
[8.1] THE HORAI x4 (by Selene) (Quintus Smyrnaeus 10.334)
[8.2] THE HORAI x4 (Nonnus Dionysiaca 12.1)
[8.3] THE HORAI x12 (Quintus Smyrnaeus 2.490)
[9.1] ASTRIS (by Klymene or Keto) (Nonnus Dionysiaca 17.269 & 27.189)
[10.1] THE TELKHINES or KORYBANTES (by Athena) (Strabo 14.1.18)
[11.1] IKHNAIE (Lycophron Alexandra 128)

OFFSPRING MORTAL

KINGDOM OF ELIS (Southern Greece)

[1.1] AUGEIAS (Apollodorus 2.88, Pausanias 5.1.9, Apollonius Rhodius 1.172)
[1.2] AUGEIAS (by Nausidame) (Hyginus Fabulae 14)

KINGDOM OF KORINTHOS (Southern Greece)

[1.1] ALOIOS (Pausanias 2.1.1, Pausanias 2.3.9)

KINGDOM OF ANDROS (Greek Aegean)

[1.1] THERSANON (by Leukothoe) (Hyginus Fabulae 14)

KINGDOM OF RHODES (Greek Aegean)

[1.1] THE HELIADAI x7 (by Rhode) (Pindar Olympian 7 ep3-ep4)
[1.2] THE HELIADAI x7 (OKHIMOS, KERKAPHOS, MAKAR, AKTIS, TENAGES, TRIOPAS, KANDALOS, ELEKTRYONE)
(by Rhodos) (Diodorus Siculus 5.56.3)
[1.3] THE HELIADAI x7 (KERKAPHOS) (Strabo 14.2.8)
[1.4] KAMIROS (Hyginus Fabulae 275)
[2.1] AITHON (Suidas 'Aithon')

KINGDOMS KOLKHIS & TAUROS (Black Sea)

[1.1] AEETES (by Perseis) (Homer Odyssey 10.134, Hesiod Theogony 956, Apollonius Rhodius 3.311, Apollodorus 1.80, Hyginus Fabulae 156, Cicero De Natura Deorum 3.19, Seneca Medea 570)
[1.2] AEETES, PERSES (Diodorus Siculus 4.45.1, Hyginus Fabulae 27)
[2.1] PHASIS (by Okyrhoe) (Pseudo-Plutarch On Rivers 5)

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

FAMILY IN OCEANUS (EARTH-ENCIRCLING RIVER)

LOVED : 1-2. Klymene, Okeanid nymph; 3. Aigle, Okeanid nymph; 4. Selene, goddess of the moon.
FATHERED : 1. Phaethon, demigod; 2. Heliades, nymphs; 3. Kharites, godddesses of beauty; 4. Horai, goddesses of seasons; 5. Horai, goddesses of hours; 6. Ikhnaie, goddess of tracing.

1-2) PHAETHON & THE HELIADES Demigod & Nymphs

For MORE information on this youth and nymphs see PHAETHON & HELIADES

3) THE KHARITES Goddesses of Beauty

Pausanias, Description of Greece 9. 35. 1 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"Antimakhos [poet C5th B.C.], while giving neither the number of the Kharites nor their names, says that they are daughters of Aigle and Helios."

Suidas s.v. Aigles Kharites (trans. Suda On Line) (Byzantine Greek lexicon C10th A.D.) :
"Aigles Kharites (Radiant Graces) : They have plausibly traced the lineage of the Kharites (Graces). Helios is also from Aigle, since, it seems, the Kharites are radiant [beautiful]."

For MORE information on these goddesses see KHARITES

4) THE FOUR HORAI Goddesses of Seasons

Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 10. 334 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) :
"Seated at her [Hera's] side were handmaids four whom radiant-faced Selene (the Moon) bare to Helios (the Sun) to be unwearying ministers in Heaven, in form and office diverse each from each; for of these Horai (Seasons) one was summer's queen, and one of winter and his stormy star, of spring the third, of autumn-tide the fourth."

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 11. 486 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) :
"The rosycheek Horai (Seasons), daughters of the restless lichtgang their stormfoot father [Helios], made a hast to the house of Helios (the Sun). One [Winter] wore a snowy veil shadowing her face . . . Another [Spring] puffed out from her lips the swallow-wind's breath . . . Another [Summer], the harvest-home Season (Hora) . . . Another [Autumn] leading the dance for an easy plowing, had bound about her hairless temple shoots of olive."

For MORE information on these goddesses see HORAI

5) THE TWELVE HORAI Goddesses of Hours

Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 2. 490 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) :
"Erigeneia (Child of the Mist) [Eos the Dawn] in her chariot through the sky she rode. Marvelled the Daughters of the Sun (Helioio Thugatres) [i.e. the Horai] who stood near her, around that wondrous splendour-ring traced for the race-course of the tireless sun by Zeus."

Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 2. 549 ff :
"Eos (the Lady of the Morn) . . . Twelve maidens [i.e. the Horai of the twelve hours] shining-tressed attended her, the warders of the high paths of the sun for ever circling."

For MORE information on these goddesses see HORAI

6) IKHNAIE Tracing Goddess

Lycophron, Alexandra 128 ff (trans. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) :
"A doer of justice and arbiter of Helios' (the Sun's) daughter Ikhnaie."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 156 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Children of Sol [Helios]. Circe by Persis, daughter of Oceanus, and Pasiphae. By Clymene, daughter of Oceanus, Phaethon, Lampetie, Aegle, Phoebe."

FAMILY IN THRINACIA (MYTHICAL ISLAND)

LOVED : 1-2. Neaira, Okeanid nymph.
FATHERED : 1-2. Lameptia & Phaethousa, Epimelid nymphs.

For MORE information on these nymphs see NEAIREIDES

FAMILY IN ELIS (SOUTHERN GREECE)

LOVED : 1. Nausidame, princess of Elis.
FATHERED : 1. Augeias, king of Elis.

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 88 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Augeias was king of Elis, in some accounts a son of Helios, in others of Poseidon, and in still others of Phorbas."

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1. 172 ff (trans. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) :
"Augeias also came [to join the voyage of the Argonauts] whose father was believed to be Helios."

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 3. 362 ff :
"[Argos one of the Argonauts addresses King Aeetes of Kolkhis, son of Helios :] ‘In case you have heard that we have a son of Helios with us, behold the man, Augeias.’"

Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 1. 9 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"Eleios [eponymous king of Elis] had a son Augeas. Those who exaggerate his story give a turn to the name 'Eleios' and make Helios to be the father of Augeas."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 14 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Augeas, son of Sol [Helios] and Nausidame, daughter of Amphidmas; he was Elean."

FAMILY IN CORINTH (SOUTHERN GREECE)

FATHERED : 1. Aloios, king of Korinthos.

Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 1. 1 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"Eumelos . . . of the family called Bakkhidai, who is said to have composed the epic poem, says in his Korinthian History (if indeed the history be his) that Ephyra, the daughter of Okeanos, dwelt first in this land [i.e. Korinthos]; that afterwards Marathon, the son of Epopeus, the son of Aloeus, the son of Helius (Sun), fleeing from the lawless violence of his father [the king of Korinthos] migrated to the sea coast of Attica."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 3. 9 :
"Eumelos [poet C8th B.C.] says that Helios gave the Asopian land [i.e. Korinthos] to Aloios and Ephryraia to Aeetes."

FAMILY IN ANDROS (GREEK AEGEAN)

LOVED : 1. Leukothoe, princess of Andros.
FATHERED : 1. Thersanon, Andrian lord.

Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 14 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Argonauts Assembled . . . Thersanon, son of Sol [Helios] and Leucothoe, from Andros."

FAMILY IN CRETE (GREEK AEGEAN)

LOVED : 2. Krete, island nymph.
FATHERED : 1. Aix, gorgon-nymph; 2. Pasiphae, witch-queen of Krete.

1) AIX Gorgon Nymph

Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 13 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Some have called Aex [the Gorgon] the daughter of Sol (the Sun) [Helios], who surpassed many in beauty of body, but in contrast to this beauty, had a most horrible face. Terrified by it, the Titanes begged Terra (the Earth) [Gaia] to hide her body, and Terra is said to have hidden her in a cave in the island of Crete. Later she became nurse of Jove [Zeus]."

For MORE information on this monster see GORGO AIX

2) PASIPHAE Queen of Krete

Bacchylides, Fragment 17 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric IV) (C5th B.C.) :
"The son-in-law of Helios [i.e. King Minos who married Helios' daughter Pasiphae]."

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 80 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"The Kholkians who were ruled by Aeetes, the son of Helios and Perseis, and brother of Kirke and Minos' wife Pasiphae."

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 3. 997 (trans. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) :
"Pasiphae, who was a daughter of Helios."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 25. 9 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"[At Olympia] the figure with the cock emblazoned on the shield is Idomeneus the descendant of Minos. The story goes that Idomeneus was descended from Helios (the Sun), the father of Pasiphae, and that the cock is sacred to Helios and proclaims when he is about to rise."

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. 60. 4 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"[Minos] married Pasiphae, the daughter of Helios and Krete."

Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses 41 (trans. Celoria) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"His [King Minos'] wife Pasiphae, daughter of Helios the Sun, was immortal."

Cicero, De Natura Deorum 3. 19 (trans. Rackham) (Roman rhetorician C1st B.C.) :
"Are Circe and Pasiphae and Aeetes, the children of Perseis the daughter of Oceanus by Sol (the Sun) [Helios], to be not counted in the list of gods?"

Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 14 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Pasiphae, daughter of Sol [Helios], from Crete."

Ovid, Metamorphoses 9. 735 (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"[Pasiphae] the daughter of Sol [Helios] once loved a Bull."

Ovid, Heroides 10. 91 ff (trans. Showerman) (Roman poetry C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"I [Ariadne], whose father is Minos, whose mother [Pasiphae] the child of Phoebus [Helios]."

Seneca, Phaedra 112 (trans. Miller) (Roman tragedy C1st A.D.) :
"I recognize my wretched mother [Pasiphae] . . . the offspring of the Sol [Helios]."

For MORE information on this goddess-witch see PASIPHAE

FAMILY IN RHODES (GREEK AEGEAN)

LOVED : 1-2. Rhode, nymph of Rhodes; 3. Athena, goddess of wisdom.
FATHERED : 1. Heliadai, seven kings of Rhodes; 2. Elektryone, princess of Rhodes, 3. Telkhines-Korybantes, daimones of Rhodes.

Pindar, Olympian Ode 7 ep3-ep4 (trans. Conway) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.) :
"[Helios was granted divine dominion of the island of Rhodes by Zeus] . . . There long ago he lay with Rhodes and begot seven sons, endowed beyond all men of old with genius of thoughtful mind. And of these one begot the eldest Ialysos, and Kamiros and Lindos; and in three parts they divided their father's land, and of three citadels the brothers held each his separate share, and by their three names are the cities called."

Pindar, Olympian Ode 7 str3 :
"Then was it too that the great god Hyperionides, giver of light to mortal men, this task to his beloved sons [i.e. his sons by Rhodes] enjoined to ensure well hereafter : that they first to the goddess [Athene after her birth] built a shining altar, and founding holy rites of sacrifice."

Strabo, Geography 14. 2. 8 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"After the Telkhines, the Heliadai (Sons of Helios), according to the mythical story, took possession of the island [of Rhodes]; and to one of these, Kerkaphos, and to his wife Kydippe, were born children who founded the cities that are named after them, ‘Lindos, Ialysos, and Kameiros white with chalk.’"

Strabo, Geography 14. 1. 18 :
"Some say that, of the nine Telkhines who lived in Rhodes, those who accompanied Rhea to Krete and reared Zeus in his youth (kouros) were named Kouretes . . . the Prasians saying among the Rhodians that the Korybantes were certain Daimones, sons of Athena and Helios." [N.B. Rhode bride of Helios was identified with the goddess Athena Lindia and the Telkhines with the Heliadai sons of Helios.]

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 56. 3 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"Helios, the myth tells us, becoming enamoured of Rhodos [daughter of Poseidon and Halia], named the island Rhodes after her and caused the water which had overflowed it to disappear. But the true explanation is that while in the first forming of the world the island was still like mud and soft, the sun dried up the larger part of its wetness and filled the land with living creatures, and there came into being the Heliadai (Sons of Helios), who were named after him, seven in number, and other peoples who were, like them, sprung from the land itself. In consequence of these events the island was considered to be sacred to Helios, and the Rhodians of later times made it their practis to honour Helios above all the other gods, as the ancestor and founder from whom they were descended. His seven sons were Okhimos, Kerkaphos, Makar, Aktis, Tenages, Triopas, Kandalos, and there was one daughter, Elektryone, who quite this life while still a maiden and attained at the hands of the Rhodians to honours like those accorded to the heroes. And when the Heliadai attained to manhood they were told by Helios that the first people to offer sacrifice to Athene would ever enjoy the presence of the goddess; and the same thing, we are told, was disclosed by him to the inhabitants of Attika."

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 57. 2 :
"Aktis [a son of Helios and Rhode], sailing off to Aigyptos (Egypt), founded there the city men call Heliopolis, naming it after his father; and it was from him that the Aigyptians learned the laws of astrology."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 275 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Camirus son of Sol [Helios], founded Camira [city in Rhodes]."

Suidas s.v. Aithon (trans. Suda On Line) (Byzantine Greek lexicon C10th A.D.) :
"Aithon (Blazing) : Violent hunger. [So called] from a certain Aithon son of Helios, who chopped down Demeter's sacred grove and suffered due punishment and for this was was ever famished."

For the MYTH of Helios and his bride see Helius Loves: Rhode

FAMILY IN COLCHIS & THE TAURIC CHERSONESE (BLACK SEA)

LOVED : 1-2. Perseis, Okeanid nymph; 3. Okyrhoe, Okeanid nymph.
FATHERED : 1. Aeetes, witch-king of Kolkhis; 2. Perses, king of the Tauric Khersonesos; 3. Phasis, Kolkhian lord.

Hesiod, Theogony 956 (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) :
"And Perseis, the daughter of Okeanos, bare to unwearying Helios Kirke and Aeetes the king."

Homer, Odyssey 10. 134 ff (trans. Shewring) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) :
"Kirke, a goddess with braided hair, with human speech and with strange powers; the magician Aeetes was her brother, and both were the radiant sun-god Helios' children; their mother was Perse, Okeanos' daughter."

Homer, Odyssey 12. 1 :
"The ship [of Odysseus] in due course left the waters of the river Okeanos and reached the waves of the sea and the island of Aiaia [the home of Kirke daughter of Helios]; it is there that Eos (Dawn) the early comer has her dwelling-place and her dancing-grounds, and Helios the sun himself has his risings."

Pindar, Pythian Ode 4 ant11 (trans. Conway) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.) :
"Aietes, that wondrous son of Helios."

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 80 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"The Kholkians who were ruled by Aeetes, the son of Helios and Perseis, and brother of Kirke and Minos' wife Pasiphae."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 3. 9 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"Eumelos [poet C8th BC] says that Helios gave the Asopian land [i.e. Korinthos] to Aloios and Ephryraia to Aeetes."

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. 45. 1 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"We are told that Helios had two sons, Aeetes and Perses, Aeetes being the king of Kolkhis and the other king of the Tauric Khersonese, and that both of them were exceedingly cruel."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 27 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Perses, son of Sol [Helios], Aeetes' brother."

Cicero, De Natura Deorum 3. 19 (trans. Rackham) (Roman rhetorician C1st B.C.) :
"Are Circe and Pasiphae and Aeetes, the children of Perseis the daughter of Oceanus by Sol (the Sun) [Helios], to be not counted in the list of gods?"

Seneca, Medea 208 (trans. Miller) (Roman tragedy C1st A.D.) :
"Once I [Medea] had glory from my noble father [Aeetes], and from my grandsire, Sol (the Sun) [Helios], traced illustrious descent."

For MYTHS of Helios and his children Aeetes and Kirke see:
(1) Helius Family Favour: Aeetes (previous page)
(2) Helius Family Favour: Circe (previous page)
For MORE information on the goddess-witch see KIRKE

FAMILY IN PERSIA (WEST ASIA)

LOVED : LEUKOTHOE, princess of Persia.

For the MYTH of the Persian princess see Helius Loves: Leucothoe

FAMILY IN INDIA (SOUTH ASIA)

LOVED : Keto, sea nymph.
FATHERED : Astris, star nymph.

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 26. 350 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) :
"[Deriades] t he emperor of the Indians, son of [the River] Hydaspes the watery lover in union with Astris daughter of Helios, happy in her offspring--men say that her mother was Keto, a Naias daughter of Okeanos--and Hydaspes crept into her bower till he flooded it, and wooed her to his embrace with conjugal waves."

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 17. 269 ff :
"He [Orontes the Indian chief] stept back and turned his gaze to the eastern expanse, and uttered his last words to Phaethon [Helios the sun] opposite: ‘O Helios (Sun), cutting the air in your fiery chariot, pouring your light on the Kaukasian plowland so near, stay your car I pray, and announce to Deriades [king of the Indians and a grandson of Helios] how the Indian peoples are slaves [in the war with Dionysos] . . . And if you have not forgotten your Klymene's bed [mother of Astris], protect Deriades, a sprout of your own stock, who has in him the blood of Astris (Sidereal Maiden) [wife of Hydaspes and mother of King Deriades] said to be your daughter. I never obeyed Bromios [Dionysos] the womanhearted. I bring as witnesses Helios (the Sun), and boundless Gaia (the Earth), and India's god, holy Water [the river Hydaspes].’"

For MORE information on this nymph see ASTRIS

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GREEK

ROMAN

BYZANTINE

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A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.