Nephele

The goddess Nephele was created by Zeus to convict Ixion of trying to seduce his wife Hera. Nephele was then formed from the clouds into the form of Hera, and when the drunken Ixion made love to her, the first Centaur, the father of the centaurs, was born. Zeus also obtained proof of Ixion's guilt and punished him severely for it.

Nephele subsequently became the wife of Athamanthus, king of Orchomenus, and they had two children together (Frix and Hellé). However, Athamas eventually fell in love with Ínó, to whom he also became engaged, and banished Nephele. Ínó then decided to sacrifice Frixa and Hellé, and managed to manipulate the king himself into doing so. Just before the ceremony, however, the children were saved by Nephele. She sent a golden ram to help them, which they mounted on its back and disappeared into the distance.

Unfortunately, Hellé couldn't stay afloat, fell and drowned. This place was named Helléspontos, the present-day Dardanelles, in her honour. Frixos successfully made it to Colchis, where he was rescued by King Aeetes. In return, Frixos gave him a golden fleece, which he then guarded. In time, the Argonauts set out for this fleece.