Research source

GREEK FESTIVALS-- ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES, 196 THESMOPHORIA, 197 DIONYSIA, 197 PANATHENAEA, 199 DAPHNEP

Date of account: Ancient material presented in a nineteenth-century survey
Source: Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome
Reference: Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome · selected passage 21
Rights: public_domain
Language: English retelling of Greek and Roman traditions
Translation: E. M. Berens
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

At last the unfortunate charioteer, blinded with the glare, and terrified at the awful devastation he had caused, dropped the reins from his trembling hands

Published source text

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Source passage

Source text · mention only

At last the unfortunate charioteer, blinded with the glare, and terrified at the awful devastation he had caused, dropped the reins from his trembling hands. Mountains and forests were in flames, rivers and streams were dried up, and a general conflagration was imminent. The scorched earth now called on Zeus for help, who hurled his thunderbolt at Phaethon, and with a flash of lightning brought the fiery steeds to a standstill. The lifeless body of the youth fell headlong into the river Eridanus,[27] where it was received and buried by the {66} nymphs of the stream. His sisters mourned so long for him that they were transformed by Zeus into poplars, and the tears they shed, falling into the waters, became drops of clear, transparent amber. Cycnus, the faithful friend of the unhappy Phaethon, felt such overwhelming grief at his terrible fate, that he pined and wasted away.

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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