Larry Ferebee
Mythology project
Jan. 13, 2010
What is a myth?
I think a myth is a story that explains the actions of gods and humans or the
Causes of natural phenomena. Myths explain the relationship between gods and humans.
Myths may seem impossible due to supernatural events, yet they are told or written as to
Send a message that expresses important social or religious meanings.
Who is Aries?
Aries is the first astrological sign in the Zodiac named for the constellation of
Aries called The Ram in the Greek tradition after the golden ram that rescued Phrixos
taking him to the land of Colchis. In Tropical astrology this sign is no longer ali8gned
with the constellation as a result of the precession of the equinoxes. Under the tropical
Zodiac the sun is Aries roughly from March 21st to April 19 by definition beginning at
vernal equinox. Under the sidereal Zodiac it is currently there roughly from April 15 to
May 15. Individuals born when the sun was in this sign are considered "Aries
individuals" or "Arians. In Western astrology, Aries is considered a "masculine. It is also
considered afire signs, and is one of four cardinal signs. Aries is ruled by the planet Mars.
Being the first sign in the zodiac, Aries is associated with the astrological first house. The
Sanskrit name of Aries in Hindu astrology is Meṣa.
The myth that surrounds Aries?
Athamas, king of croneus and his first wife, Nephele, were blessed with two
children and a son named Phrixus and a daughter named Helle. Growing tired of
Nephele, Athamas sent her away and married Ino, daughter of Cadmus, the king of
Larry Ferebee
Mythology project
Jan. 13, 2010
Thebes. Together, Ino and Athamas also had two children and over time the new queen
grew horribly jealous of Nephele’s offspring. She wanted the kingdom for her own sons
and decided to resort to treachery and deceit in order to obtain it.
Corn was the major crop of the realm at the time and a plentiful harvest meant that the
people and animals in the region would be well fed in the months to come. Knowing this
Ino convinced the women of the kingdom to roast the seeds of corn before the men
unaware of what was happening, planted them in the fields. When the ruined corn field
failed to grow, nobody imagined that the queen was the originator of the disaster and no
blame was laid at her door. As was the custom of the day, Athamas consulted an oracle in
order to find out what could be done to appease the gods and bring back the crops. He
sent messengers to the oracle at Delphi but the devious Ino bribed them into lying about
the advice given. According to the message they brought back Phrixus and Helle were the
cause of the famine and would have to be sacrificed to the gods before the kingdom
would once again have corn. The despairing king obeyed. Although he grieved deeply for
the fate of Phrixus and Helle he did to not want cause his kingdom to starve so he decided
to follow what he