In Greek mythology, the men on board Odysseus' ship, against his orders, hunted and killed the sacred cattle of the sun god Helios when they were stranded on the island of Thrinacia. This act further infuriated Helios as well as the other gods because the cattle were considered sacred and off-limits to mortals.
Additionally, the men were warned by the prophet Tiresias and Circe not to harm the cattle, as it would bring divine punishment upon them. Despite these warnings, the men disobeyed and killed the cattle, which angered the gods even more.
As a result of their actions, Zeus sent a thunderbolt to destroy their ship and kill all of Odysseus' men except for him. Odysseus himself was spared because he had not participated in the killing of the cattle and had tried to prevent it, although he had not been able to stop his men from doing so. This event is known as "the Wrath of the Gods" and serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of disobeying divine commands.