Hellespont

The Hellespont is the old name of the Détroit of Dardanelles which connects the Aegean Sea to the North-East with the Propontide (Marmara Sea) and separates the Europe from the minor Asia.

This name is related to the legend of Phrixos and Hellé. Their father, Athamas, were about to sacrifice Phrixos on the Laphystion mount, when it was prevented by it by Héraclès, which was in the surroundings.

Phrixios would have perished in spite of this intervention if a winged gold ram had not precipitated a Olympe to save it. Phrixos climbs on its back, and at the request of his/her sister who fears to be the next designated victim, the place behind him.

The ram rises in the airs and moves towards the Colchide to the east. But Hellé is reached of giddiness, and ends up releasing taken and falling into the strait which was named in its honor.

Phrixos reached Colchide and sacrificed the ram to Zeus. The Golden Fleece of the ram became famous, and its research was the object, a generation later, forwarding of the Argonautes.

The Greeks colonized the shores of the strait as of VIIe front century J-C. In 481 av. J-C, Xerxès connected banks of the strait by a bridge of boats to invade Greece.

The strait took the name of Dardanelles after the conclusion of the peace treaty of Dardania (Troy, 85 av. J-C) between the Romains and the king of the Bridge Mithridate VI.

External bonds

Solomon Reinach, the marriage with the sea, Worships, myths and religions , T. II, ED. Ernest Leroux, Paris, 1906, pp. 206-219.
Scourging of Hellespont on it.wikipedia

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