Aiolos, son of Hellen, born of Zeus, had three sons and one daughter named Melanippe. After committing a murder, Aiolos was sent into exile for a year. During this time Melanippe became the mother of twins by Poseidon, god of the sea.
Anticipating her father's return from exile, Melanippe gave her babies to Trophos (which is the Greek word for nurse) and instructed her to leave the babies to die in a cow-stall. This was just as the babies' father, Poseidon, had instructed. But when Ailos returned, some herdsmen had found the infants being guarded by a bull and suckled by one of the cows. The Boter (the Greek word for herdsman) brought the babies to Aiolos because he believed the children to be cow-born monsters.
Aiolos ordered Melanippe's children to be burned and commanded her to dress them in funeral clothing. Melanippe put the funeral clothes on the babies and then,in protest, gave a speech asking that they be saved.
