# Phaeton's Sisters Transformed Into Trees explained — Metamorphoses

> Chapter companion for Metamorphoses by Ovid.

## What happens

The Latian nymphs erect a tomb for Phaeton, who was struck by Jupiter's thunderbolt. His mother Clymene searches for his body and finds the tomb by the Po River. His sisters mourn endlessly until they are transformed into poplar trees, their tears becoming amber. The bark seals their faces, and they bid their mother farewell.

## Themes in this chapter

### Transformation and Metamorphosis

Phaeton's sisters are transformed into poplar trees as they mourn, their tears turning to amber.

### Mortality and Immortality

Phaeton's mortal death contrasts with the immortal transformation of his sisters into trees, preserving their grief eternally.

## Character check-ins

### Phaeton

Dead youth struck by Jupiter's thunderbolt; his tomb is erected by the Latian nymphs.

### Apollo

Hides his face in grief after Phaeton's death; the sun is absent for a day.

### Clytie

Clymene, mother of Phaeton, frantically searches for his body and mourns at his tomb.

## Key lines

> Here he who drove the sun's bright chariot lies; His father's fiery steeds he could not guide, But in the glorious enterprise he died.

The epitaph on Phaeton's tomb states that he died attempting to drive his father's sun chariot, unable to control the horses.

_Epitaph summarizing Phaeton's fate._

> The new-made trees in tears of amber run, Which, harden'd into value by the sun, Distil for ever on the stream below.

The transformed sisters weep tears of amber that harden in the sun and fall into the river, becoming precious gems.

_Description of the sisters' transformation and the origin of amber._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/phaeton-s-sisters-transformed-into-trees
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters