The woes of Ino

Explanation

Ino, daughter of Cadmus, married Athamas and bore two sons, Learchus and Melicertes, and a daughter Eurycleia. These Athamas in his madness shot down with arrows. Then Ino, with Melicertes, threw herself into the sea by Molouris. The Megarians, when she was washed ashore at Megara, took her up, gave her splendid burial, and called her Leucothea. The Corinthians, burying Melicertes when he was washed ashore at Corinth, hold the Isthmian games in his honour. Hence "the woes of Ino" — for achos is grief, which makes those who suffer it gape (achanēs). Menecrates of Tyre will explain this. Ino so suffered for the following reason. Athamas had previously had as wife Nephele, by whom he had two children, Helle and Phrixus. After Nephele's death he took Ino as second wife. She, plotting against Nephele's children, persuaded the women of the country to parch the seed-grain. The earth, receiving the parched seed, did not yield its yearly fruits. Athamas sent to Delphi to inquire about the dearth. Ino, persuading the messengers with gifts, instructed them to say on returning that the god had answered that Helle and Phrixus must be sacrificed, if they wished release from the dearth. Athamas, persuaded, brought Helle and Phrixus to the altar. But the gods, taking pity, snatched them up into the air on a golden-fleeced ram. Helle, unable to hold on, fell into what was thereafter called the Hellespont. Phrixus was preserved to the land of Colchis. The gods, casting madness on Athamas, contrived that Ino should so suffer.