Athamas took Ino, daughter of Cadmus, as his second wife after Nephele departed. They had two sons, Learchus and Melicertes, but Hera later drove Athamas mad, destroying the family.
King Athamas of Orchomenus married the cloud nymph Nephele, and they had two children: Phrixus and Helle. Nephele later departed, and Athamas took Ino as his second wife.
At Hermes's behest, Athamas and Ino sheltered the infant Dionysus, disguising him as a girl to hide him from Hera's wrath. Their protection of Zeus's son brought Hera's terrible vengeance upon the household.
Hera drove Athamas mad as punishment for his role in sheltering the infant Dionysus, Zeus's illegitimate son. In his frenzy Athamas killed his son Learchus, and Ino fled into the sea with Melicertes.
Driven mad by Hera, Athamas mistook his son Learchus for a deer and shot him with an arrow, or dashed him against a rock. The killing was divine punishment for Athamas and Ino's role in nursing the infant Dionysus.
Nephele sent the golden ram Chrysomallus to rescue Phrixus and Helle from the altar where Athamas, deceived by Ino's plot, was about to sacrifice them.
The quest for the Golden Fleece originated in Athamas's household. His children Phrixus and Helle fled on the golden ram, and Phrixus hung its fleece in Colchis, where it became the object of the Argonauts' voyage.
Hermes delivered the infant Dionysus to Athamas and Ino at Zeus's command, entrusting the child to their care to conceal him from Hera's jealousy.
Ino schemed to destroy Athamas's children by Nephele, secretly parching the seed grain and corrupting the Delphic oracle to demand their sacrifice. Her plot was foiled when Nephele sent the golden ram to rescue Phrixus and Helle.
The Voyage of the Argo traces its origins to Athamas's household. The flight of his children on the golden ram placed the fleece in Colchis, and the quest to retrieve it became the defining adventure of Jason and the Argonauts.
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