Helle was a mortal and Princess of Boeotia recorded in Greek Mythology. According to some accounts, she was turned into a marine goddess of the Hellespont- a body of water bridging the Aegean and Black Seas by Poseidon.
Genealogy and Family[]
Helle was born a mortal to King Athamas of Boeotia and Queen Nephele, a cloud nymph. She had a twin brother named Phrixus. She later became a lover of Poseidon and by him the mother of Almops and Paionia.
Myth[]
Helle's father King Athamas of Boeotia, divorced her mother- Nephele abandoning her, so he could marry the Theban Princess, Ino, who, as such became the stepmother of Phrixus and Helle. Ino however hated the children and plotted their deaths, by burning a field of crops, causing a famine in Boeotia and then bribing a local oracle to claim that this famine could be ended with the executions of Phrixus and Helle. Her plan was a success and she was nearly able to get the twins killed, until a flying golden ram sent by Nephele came and rescued Helle and her brother, carrying them on its back. On a journey above a sea, Helle swoon and fell off the ram into the sea, where in some accounts she drowned, while others say she was rescued by Poseidon who transformed her into a sea-goddess. The sea Helle fell into was named Hellespontos meaning 'Sea of Helle' after her.
In the account, she became a goddess, Helle would enter into a romantic relationship with Poseidon and became the mother of Almops and Paeon by him
Appearance and Personality[]
Relationships[]
Skills and Abilities[]
Trivia[]
Her name 'Helle' means 'of the Hellespont'.
Her official Greek name is Ἑλλη.
Helle's stepmother, Ino and half brother Melicertes were also turned into sea deities, under the names Leucothea and Palaemon.