Phaëthon

[ fey-uh-thuhn, -thon ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Classical Mythology.

a son of Helios who borrowed the chariot of the sun and drove it so close to earth that Zeus struck him down to save the world.

Phaethon

/ ˈfeɪəθən /

an asteroid (6.9 km in diameter) that has an orbit approaching close to the sun and releases fragments of dust that enter the earth's atmosphere as meteors

Phaëthon

/ ˈfeɪəθən /

Greek myth the son of Helios (the sun god) who borrowed his father's chariot and nearly set the earth on fire by approaching too close to it. Zeus averted the catastrophe by striking him down with a thunderbolt

< Greek Phaéthōn, special use of present participle of phaéthein to shine

The horses were harnessed, the gates unbarred, Phaëthon seized the reins, and away they flew!

So Phaëthon grew careless, and when the zenith was reached the horses paid no heed to his guidance.

Phaëthon then boldly asked the great god of the sun for permission to drive his horses for a single day.

She holds him bound with pleasing chains, the fetters of her charms,— Remember how scorched Phaëthon ambitious hopes alarms.

How Phaëthon managed to get there I have never heard; but I suppose his mother was able to tell him the secret way.

April 25, 2024firkin

[fur-kin ]

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