Phaeton
Helios and
Clymene's son, whose only wish was to drive his father's chariot that pulled
the sun across the sky. Although Helios knew that noone but him could drive
it, he granted his son's wish after a hasty decision.
Phaeton could of course not steer the wagon and when he was getting too close
to Earth Zeus killed him with a thunderbolt. Otherwise the sun would have
burnt everything. Phaeton was buried by the river Eridanus (today's Po).
His mourning sisters turned into amber and popple trees.
