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	Aries, the Ram

	Aries, the Ram, was placed in the heavens by Jupiter to honor the Ram for his heroism in saving the children from King Athamus' first marriage to Nephele. King Athamus ruled Boetia, a province of Greece. He had two children with Nephele; a son, Phrixus, and a daughter, Helle. Phrixus and Helle spent their time tending to their flock of sheep which including the Ram with the golden fleece. The golden fleeced ram was given to Nephele as a present from the god Hermes (Mercury).

	King Athamus eventually tired of Nephele and abandoned her. He took a new wife, Ino, and they had two sons. Ino was very jealous of Phrixus and Helle, and plotted a way to have them destroyed. Her plan was to create a famine in the province by having the women roast the corn seed before planting it. By doing this there would be no crops. When the famine took place, the King wanted to know the cause and sought the answer from the Oracle of Delphi. The King sent a messenger but the messenger was bribed by Ino into telling the King that the crops would not grow until his children Helle and Phrixus were sacrificed to the god Jupiter. In order to save his people, the King was willing to do this.

	In the meantime, Nephele (mother of Helle and Phrixus) received news of the plot. She went to the golden Ram and begged him to save her children. The Ram agreed and told the children of their danger. He told them to climb on his back; he would fly them across the strait that divides Europe and Asia and take them away from the danger. During the crossing, Helle became dizzy and fell off the Ram's back and drowned. The strait where she drowned is known today as Hellespoint. Phrixus was carried to safety to Colchis. Phrixus sacrificed the golden ram to Jupiter in thanks. Jupiter then placed the Ram in the stars to honor his good deed.