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Phaethon was the son of Clymene. When he found out he was the son of Helios the sun-god, he went to him and asked him if this was true. In reply, Helios confirmed it and promised Phaethon anything he wanted to prove so. Phaethon requested to drive the sun-chariot for one day and refused to choose anything else, all though Helios tried in vain to warn him that he chose unwisely. The horses drawing the chariot, feeling that the hands driving them were weak and not their master's, burst out of control and began to burn up the world. In order to save the earth, Zeus slew Phaethon with a lightning bolt. He fell into the river Eridanus where the river nymphs found him and buried him.

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