Myth of Phaeton on a sarcophagus front

myminifactory

This ancient sarcophagus depicts a dramatic scene from Greek mythology. At its center is Phaeton, son of Helios, the mighty sun god, who lost control of his father's chariot and plummeted to earth after four frightened horses bolted in terror of fierce winds. Above Phaeton's head, a bucina - a spiral shell symbolizing the power of the wind - soars upwards, capturing the chaos that ensued. To Helios' right stands Diana, goddess of the hunt, holding a scepter and radiating calm authority, while Juno and Jupiter, powerful divinities with their own scepters, join her in dignified pose below. At the bottom of the relief, four women weep for Phaeton's tragic fate - his sisters, the Heliades, mourning the loss of their brother, and Eridanus, a river goddess personifying the waters where Phaeton met his untimely end.