#chrysomallos

I found this fresco mosaic in two posts on Facebook and Twitter. Apparently, it was found in the ancient city of Lembes, in Batna (Algeria), and is on display at the Tazoult Museum, but I haven't been able to find a better photo or any information on the museum's website😭😭😭

This is absolutely marvellous, absolutely magnificent, and I have been thinking a lot about it, but first I will try to identify them:

Obviously, the one in the middle is Phrixos, with Athamas next to him, his guardian (if he had one) on the other side, the girl on the ground is Hele, the one behind Athamas is Ino (mainly because she is the one offering at the altar, giving meaning to the queen's religious role), the blurred figure could be a servant, behind on the right are the golden ram and Nephele. The one at the other end could be Hermes or Apollo, because it is traditional that Hermes gave Nephele the golden ram, but I don't know if what he is carrying is a bow (therefore Apollo?) or a lyre (Apollo and Hermes?) I DON'T KNOW.

I have titled it "The Sacrifice of Phrixus" and not "The Sacrifice of Phrixus and Helle" because only Phrixus is crowned with pearls, which could be understood as a ceremonial sacrificial ribbon. Instead, I believe that Helle is begging her father not to allow this sacrifice. I think this is a good headcanon. Much more importance is usually given to the fact that both were sacrificed together, but most written sources only refer to Phrixus (although both are valid), and I like this interpretation much better. Not because Ino loves Helle or has any kind of affection for her (although I don't deny it either), but because Helle would not be a problem for his plans to make his son the heir to the throne of Orchomenus. 

I also find it absolutely brilliant that Phrixus lowers his head and seems to accept his fate, but I really think he is looking at Helle, crossing a straight line that goes directly to her eyes. The fact that he begs, clutching his father's knees, is part of the ritual or the Greek way of imploring a request, something I have always loved. 

I don't rule out the possibility that Helle is offering to be sacrificed as well (I'll leave that open). The fact that she doesn't look worried is also somewhat suspicious, or maybe she knows what's going on or knows something (WHO KNOWS???)

Maybe the other one isn't even a tutor or his pedagogue, I don't know, it's just a guess.

The looks are important, or I think it's worth noting that they all maintain eye contact with each other (the tutor with Athamas and Phrixus with Helle, Nephele looks at Chrisomallos), but Ino is looking at Phrixus and the god is looking at Ino. Absolutely brilliant, Ino looks at her crime and the god looks at Ino's crime. This is undermined by not knowing who the central figure is looking at😬 who may be looking at anyone present, but I think is looking and Phrixus and also according to my theory, it could be one of Ino's subordinates and therefore an extension of herself, placed as the central figure (but that's just a wild guess).

Perhaps Helle is cross-eyed, and the eye that cannot see is watching the god pointing to her mother and the ram, which is why she does not seem concerned. That would amuse me greatly😁😁

Triton - Son of Amphitrite and Poseidon - Poseidon’s messenger and herald

Benthesikyme - “Wave of the Deep” or “Lady of the deep swells” - Goddess of waves - Daughter of Amphitrite and Poseidon

Rhode - goddess and personification of the island of Rhodes. Wife of Helios.  Daughter of Amphitrite and Poseidon

Antaeus - Son of Poseidon and Gaea - Half Giant

(Heracles killing Antaeus)

Charybdis - daughter of Poseidon and Gaea (in some sources) she was a loyal child to Poseidon but since she kept covering land with water for him Zeus got mad and chained her to the sea floor, cursing her and turning her into a “bladder” and made her thirsty for seawater, which when she drank it, caused whirlpools. 

https://www.deviantart.com/c00lfr0g/art/Charybdis-388499917

Laestrygon - Son of Poseidon and Gaea, father of  Telepora (wife of Aeolus) possible parent/creator of the Laitsrygonians. 

Despoina - Daughter of Poseidon and Demeter - Goddess of Arcadian Mysteries/Veiled - born when poseidon went after demeter when both were horses.

Arion - Supernatural Horse (not sure if he’s a deity or just immortal creature) - Son of Demeter and Poseidon  born when poseidon went after demeter when both were horses.

Pegasus - immortal winged-horse, Son of Poseidon and Medusa (or just sprang from Medusa’s blood when Perseus beheaded her)

Chrysaor - Son of Poseidon and Medusa - "he who has a golden sword" - might be the father of Echidna

Herophile -Sea-nymph,  Daughter of Poseidon and Aphrodite, possibly a Delphic Sybil

Ergiscus - son of Poseidon and Aba (a naiad), the city of Ergisce in Istanbul was named after him. 

Aethusa - Daughter of Poseidon and Alcyone (a pleiad) - caught Apollo’s eye and had two kids with him Eleuther and Linus- ancestor of Orpheus.

Hyrieus - Son of Poseidon and Alcyone (a pleiad) - possible father of Orion, most account call him a king of various places. (Boeotia, Thrace or Chios)

Hyperenor - son of Poseidon and Alcyone

Hyperes - son of Poseidon and the Pleiad Alcyone He was the father of Arethusa, mother of Abas by Poseidon. Founded the city of Hyperea.

Anthas - Son of Poseidon and Alcyone, founder of Anthea

Abas - son of Poseidon and Arethusa (yes his own granddaughter).  Abas founded a tribe known as the Abantians or Abantes. He reigned over them as king. Possibly killed by his own grandson. 

Halirrhothius - Son of Poseidon and Euryte or Bathycleia. He was killed by Ares for raping his daughter Alcippe. 

Chrysomallos - Son of  Bisalpis or Bisaltis or Theophane - Golden winged ram, rescued some people, was them sacrificed to Zeus and skinned. 

Minyas - Son of Poseidon and somebody (there was a very long list of potential moms) a city founder. 

Lycus - son of Poseidon and Celaeno, one of the Pleiades. Together with his brother Eurypylus, they ruled over the Isles of the Fortunate which their father blessed.

Nycteus - (possibly a son of Poseidon and Somebody) - King of Thebes

Eurypylus - Son of Poseidon and Celaeno, either ruled over the isles of the blessed with lycus or was a king of cyrene

Asopus - possibly a son of Poseidon, a river deity

Parnassus - unkown

Eumolpus - possibly a son of Poseidon and Chione - King of Thrace

Phaeax - Son of Poseidon and Korkrya - from whom the Phaeacians derived their name.

Eirene - daughter of Poseidon and  Melantheia - gave her name to an island.

Amykos - Son of Poseidon and Melia - a king who would force people to box with them so he could kill them. Challenged the best of the Argonauts Polydueces, who killed him with a blow on the elbow. 

Mygdon - Son of Poseidon and Melia, also a king, killed by Heracles on his way to his ninth labour. 

Aspledon, a son of Poseidon and the nymph Mideia, a city in Boetia was named after him. 

Astacus - son of Poseidon and the nymph Olbia, eponymous founder of Astacus, Bithynia.

Leches  - son of Peirene and Poseidon, who was abducted by Poseidon. (squinty eyes at you mr. no-consent)

Evadne - daughter of Poseidon and Pitane who was raised by Aepytus of Arcadia. She fell in love with Apollo and of course got pregnant, the pregnancy was discovered by Aepytus, he was furious and left to consult the Oracle of Apollo. During the childbirth, Apollo sent Eileithyia and the Moirae to assist his lover and ease her pain. Evadne gave birth in the wilderness and left the child, Iamus, exposed to the elements. Five days later, Aepytus returned from the Delphi, where he had been told by Apollo's Oracle that Evadne's child was indeed the son of Apollo and destined to be a gifted prophet. He demanded that the child be brought to him, and so Evadne retrieved Iamus from the patch of violets where she had left him. Iamus had been nurtured for those five days by the honeybees that were sent by Apollo, or by the Fates. Evadne named the child Iamus (“Boy of the Violets”) He went on to found the Iamidae, a family of priests from Olympia.

Phocus - son of Poseidon and Pronoe

Ogyges - maybe a son of Poseidon or a Titan -  ruler in ancient Greece, generally of Boeotia, but an alternative tradition makes him the first king of Attica.

Achaeus was the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea and Larissa, daughter of Pelasgus, the son of Triopas, meaning he is of Argive descent through his mother's parentage. He is the brother of Phthius and Pelasgus.

Actor, the Epean son of Poseidon and Agamede, daughter of King Augeas. He was the brother of Belus and Dictys.

Bellerophon - was a divine Corinthian hero of Greek mythology, the son of Poseidon and Eurynome, and the foster son of Glaukos. He was "the greatest hero and slayer of monsters, alongside Cadmus and Perseus, before the days of Heracles". Among his greatest feats was killing the Chimera. Bellerophon was also known for capturing and taming the winged horse Pegasus with the help of Athena's charmed bridle, and earning the disfavour of the gods after attempting to ride Pegasus to Mount Olympus.

Eurypylus of Cos - was the son of Poseidon and Astypalaea or Mestra.He was the husband of Clytie and father of Chalciope, Chalcon and Antagoras.

Calaurus -  was the eponym of the island of Kalaureia near Troezen. He was the son of Poseidon

Delphus was said to be the son of Poseidon and Melantho, daughter of Deucalion (Though also could be the son of Apollo). He was from whom the town of Delphi was believed to have derived its name.

Elasippus, one of the ten sons of Poseidon and Cleito in Plato's myth of Atlantis. Elasippus, along with his nine siblings, became the heads of ten royal houses, each ruling a tenth portion of the island, according to a partition made by Poseidon himself, but all subject to the supreme dynasty of Atlas who was the eldest of the ten.

Geren was the eponym of the town of Geren in Lesbos. He was the son of Poseidon.

Hippothoon was the son of Poseidon and Alope, Cercyon's daughter. Hippothoon  is a figure in Greek mythology, often described as the King of Eleusis, succeeding to the throne after the death of Cercyon. He is the Attic hero and the eponym of the Athenian phyle called Hippothoontis. Although Cercyon had Alope buried alive, Poseidon turned her into the spring, Alope, near Eleusis. Hippothoon was stated to be present in the missions of Triptolemus and was mentioned along with Eumolpus as an Eleusinian hero who was worshiped according to honorary decrees dating to the 4th century BC. According to Pausanias, a heroon was dedicated to him for worship by hereditarily assigned priests.

Kymopoleia - was a daughter of sea god Poseidon and the wife of Briareus, one of the three Hundred-Handers.

Lamia  - was a daughter of Poseidon, and mother, by Zeus, of the Libyan Sibyl.It was perhaps this Lamia who, according to Stesichorus, was the mother of Scylla.

Megareus was king of Onchestus in Boeotia. In some myths, he was the eponymous king of Megara. Megareus was either son of Poseidon and Oenope, daughter of Epopeus, or of Onchestus (eponym of their kingdom),or of Apollo or of Aegeus,or of Hippomenes.

Nauplius,son of Poseidon by Amymone, daughter of Danaus. This Nauplius was reputed to have been the eponymous founder of Nauplia (modern Nafplion) in Argolis,and a famous navigator who discovered the constellation Ursa Major (Great Bear).

Palaestinus was a son of Poseidon and father of Haliacmon. From grief at the death of his son, Palaestinus threw himself into the river, which was called after him Palaestinus, and subsequently Strymon.

Sarpedon, a Thracian son of Poseidon, eponym of Cape Sarpedon near the outlet of the River Hebrus, and brother to Poltys, King of Aenus. Unlike the other two Sarpedons, this Thracian Sarpedon was not a hero, but an insolent individual who was shot to death by Heracles as the latter was sailing away from Aenus.

c. 2023

When Pony Island, a game I’ve played since 2007, recently revealed their Sheep Ponies, I immediately started trying to figure out which Monster High character would work best as a sheep for my Monster High account.

When the only answer I could come up with was “none”, I, of course, went looking to see what sort of sheep monsters the world held. Basically all I could come up with was Chrysomallos, the ram who had the golden fleece in Greek mythology.

While debating how urgently I needed a ‘daughter of the ram with the golden fleece’ (’cause that’s not a long title or anything!) I remembered I had a spare Gilda Goldstag that I’d been trying to come up with a use for. I mean, I had ideas, but nothing that I 100% needed. 

I needed a sheep monster.

mythology aesthetics

CHRYSOMALLOS