What good deed did the ram with the golden fleece do?

Answer 1

The Greek king, Athamus had gotten tired of his wife Nephele and married another, Princess Ino. Nephele was afraid for her children, Phrixus and Helle, but mostly for Phrixus because Ino wanted to kill him so that her own son could inherit the kingdom. Ino created an elaborate plot where the corn would not grow and 'convinced' the oracle to tell the King that the corn would not grow again unless Phrixus was sacrificed.

The citizens forced the King to allow the boy's death, since they were all threatened with starvation. When Phrixus was taken to the altar, the golden ram had taken him and Helle to Colchis. Nephele had prayed, and Hermes had answered the prayer. However, while they were crossing the strait that separated Asia and Europe, Helle fell off the ram and drowned. The sea was named for her: the Hellespont.