Helios

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Ancient Greek Gods for Kids - Helios
The myths and legends surrounding Helios, the Titan god of the sun

Helios for kids
Discover the myths surrounding Helios, the Titan god of the sun. Every morning he left his palace in the east and crossed the sky in a golden chariot. In the evening he rested in another palace in the west and then sailed to the east along the river Oceanus. The Titans were members of a mythological race of giants who ruled the Earth until overthrown by Zeus and the Olympian gods during the battle of the gods called the Titanomachy. Helios was the son of of Hyperion & Theia from the very first dynasty of Titan gods. Additional facts and information about the mythology of individual Greek gods and goddesses can be accessed via the following links:

Gods and Deities

Titans Mythology

Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses

 

 

Who was Helios?
Helios was the second generation of Titan gods and was worshipped as the gorgeous god of the sun - refer to the Myth of Helios. He was one of the extraordinary number of gods and goddesses worshipped by the Ancient Greeks. The Titans were the descendents of the first gods or divinities, called the primordial or primeval gods, who were born out of Chaos. The children of the Titans included the famous Olympian gods who included Zeus, Hera, Hestia, Hades and Poseidon and are shown on the Titans Family tree. The legend and myth about Helios, the god of the sun, and the Titans has been passed down through the ages and plays an important role in the history of the Ancient World of Greece and the study of the Greek classics. He was an extremely important god to the Romans, where he was also known as Sol, and was often referred to simply as Titan. In later times he was identified with Apollo, as shown in the following picture.

Apollo riding his golden chariot

Facts about Helios
Helios features in the Creation myth of the ancient Greeks which are based on the idea that these supernatural beings resembled mortals but possessed great magical and mystic powers. The following information, facts and profile provides a fast overview of Helios:

Helios Profile & Fact File
Name: Helios
Alternate Names: Helius or Sol (Roman counterpart)
Role & Function: The function of Helios is described as being the god of the sun
Status: A god in the second dynasty of Titans
Gender: Male
Name of Consorts: The names of the lovers of Helios were Aegle, Rhode, Clymene and Perseis
Name of Father: Hyperion
Name of Mother: Theia
Names of Brothers: None
Names of Sisters: Eos and Selene
Names of Children: The Three Graces (aka Charites), Phaethon, Pasiphae, Aeetes, Circe, the Heliadae, Electryone and the Heliades

The Children of Helios
The children of the handsome god of the son had many children including the Three Graces (aka Charities), Phaethon, Pasiphae, Electryone, Aeetes and Circe. The Heliadae and the Heliades were referred to as the "children of the sun".

  • The Three Graces, the essence of beauty, charm, and grace were Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne. They were the daughters of Helios by Aegle, the most beautiful of all the Naiads. (Some sources say they were the daughters of Zeus and the Oceanid called Eurynome)
  • The Heliadae were the seven sons of Helios and Rhode, the daughter of Poseidon. The Heliadae were highly intelligent and experts in astrology and seamanship. They established the division of the day into hours. The names of the Heliadae were Actis, Macareus, Tenages, Ochimus, Cercaphus, Triopas and Candalus.
  • Electyrone was a daughter of Helios and Rhode, sister to the Heliadae and a virgin goddess of the sun
  • Phaethon was the son of Helios and Clymene. Phaethon died after attempting to drive his father's chariot across the sky. He was unable to control the horses and fell to his death
  • The Heliades were five daughters of Helios and Clymene and the sisters of Phaethon. The Heliades grieved so badly for their brother and the gods turned them into poplar trees and their tears into amber
  • Pasiphae was the daughter of Helios by the eldest of the Oceanides called Perseis. Pasiphae was given in marriage to King Minos of Crete. Aphrodite cast a spell on Pasiphae causing her to fall in love with the Cretan bull. The result of their union was the monstrous Minotaur
  • Aeetes was the son of the Helios and Perseis, the brother of Circe and Pasiphae and a King of Colchis
  • Circe was the daughter of Helios and Perseis. She was an enchantress who was famous for her part in the adventures of Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey - refer to the Myth of Circe and Circe and Odysseus.
Picture of the Three GracesCirce

Picture of Three Graces

Picture of Circe

The Family of Helios - The Titan Gods Family Tree and Genealogy

Titans Family Tree and Genealogy

Helios - The Titan Gods Family Tree
The family members and genealogy of Helios can be established via the Titan gods family tree, providing an instant overview of the relationships between the major Titan gods and goddesses and their children. The Titans Family Tree is a 'who's who' of the family connections, genealogy and relationships between the main characters who feature in the mythology of the Titans.

Helios

  • Interesting information and Facts about the Titan god Helios
  • Helios, the Greek Titan god of the sun
  • Stories and Legends in Greek Mythology associated with Helios
  • Facts and information about the Gods and Deities of the Ancient World for schools and kids
  • Helios, the Titan god of the sun
 

 
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