In Greek mythology, Helios, the sun god, was forced to keep his promise to Phaethon because he had previously sworn by the river Styx to grant Phaethon a wish. Phaethon asked to drive his father's chariot with the sun across the sky, and Helios, regretful of his promise but bound by his oath, had to fulfill the request.
Helios tried to convince his son not to drive the chariot by warning him of the dangers and the difficulties of controlling the chariot, the unstable nature of the horses, and the risk of colliding with the celestial bodies. He argued that only he, as a god, could handle the task.
However, Phaethon was not swayed by his father's arguments and insisted on driving the chariot, leading to disastrous consequences. This was a tragic event in the mythology, as Phaethon lost control of the chariot, driving too close to the earth, which resulted in catastrophic events, such as scorching the earth and creating deserts. Ultimately, Zeus had to intervene by destroying Phaethon with a thunderbolt to prevent further chaos.
In summary, Helios was forced to keep his promise due to his oath, and he tried to dissuade Phaethon from taking on the dangerous task. However, he was unsuccessful in persuading his son, leading to tragic consequences.
