phaeton

Phaeton, sometimes spelled phaëton, is a term used in mythology, transportation history, astronomy, and modern branding. It derives from the Greek name Phaiethon, from a root meaning shining or bright.

In Greek myth, Phaethon was the son of Helios, the sun god, and the oceanid Clymene. He sought to prove his divine parentage and asked to drive the sun chariot across the sky for a day. Helios granted the request, but Phaethon could not control the horses; the chariot veered, scorching the earth, and Zeus struck him down with a thunderbolt to prevent catastrophe. His sisters, the Heliades, mourned his death. The tale is a cautionary explanation for the sun’s path and the limits of mortal hubris.

As a carriage, a phaeton is a light, four-wheeled, open vehicle used in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is typically drawn by horses and designed for speed and visibility, with a high seat for the driver and seating for passengers. Varieties existed for two or four horses and for different social settings, from leisure riding to racing.

In modern usage, Phaeton is employed as a model name by automakers, most notably the Volkswagen Phaeton, a large luxury sedan produced from 2002 to 2016. The term also appears in astronomy: 3200 Phaethon is a near-Earth asteroid named after the mythic figure, and it is associated with the Geminid meteor shower.