Neleus

Family: Greek · Role: prince of the Pylians · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 1.9

🌐 Also appears in: The Iliad (as Neleus) · The Odyssey (as Neleus) · The Metamorphoses of Ovid (as Neleus)

Neleus, prince of the Pylians, was born to Tyro, who secretly exposed her twin sons, after Poseidon lay with her in the likeness of Enipeus. He later married Chloris and had Pero, Taurus, Asterius, Pylaon, Deimachus, Eurybius, Epilaus, Phrasius, Eurymenes, Evagoras, Alastor, Nestor and Periclymenus; Pelias was his sibling. He was also linked to Bias through the promise that Pero would be given to whoever brought the kine of Phylacus, and rejected Heracles’ request for purification because of his friendship with Eurytus.

After the capture of Elis, Heracles marched against Pylus and took the city. He killed Periclymenus, Neleus, and his other sons, while sparing Nestor, who was still a youth being raised among the Gerenians. Nestor is also identified as “son of Neleus and Chloris.”

Relationship record

Life events

Hercules captured Pylus, killed Periclymenus and Neleus with his sons, but spared Nestor.(Apollodorus, Library 2.7 · 📍 Pylus)
- With: Heracles Periclymenus Nestor
- “After the capture of Elis he marched against Pylus, and having taken the city he slew Periclymenus, the most valiant of the sons of Neleus, who used to change his shape in battle. And he slew Neleus and his sons, except Nestor; for he was a youth and was being brought up among the Gerenians.”

Apollodorus, Library 1.9

parent: Tyro “she secretly gave birth to twin sons, whom she exposed.”
parent: Poseidon “But Poseidon in the likeness of Enipeus lay with her”
married with Chloris “and married Chloris, daughter of Amphion”
child: Pero “by whom he had a daughter, Pero, and sons, to wit, Taurus, Asterius, Pylaon, Deimachus, Eurybius, Epilaus, Phrasius, Eurymenes, Evagoras, Alastor, Nestor and Periclymenus”
child: Nestor “by whom he had a daughter, Pero, and sons, to wit, Taurus, Asterius, Pylaon, Deimachus, Eurybius, Epilaus, Phrasius, Eurymenes, Evagoras, Alastor, Nestor and Periclymenus”
child: Periclymenus “by whom he had a daughter, Pero, and sons, to wit, Taurus, Asterius, Pylaon, Deimachus, Eurybius, Epilaus, Phrasius, Eurymenes, Evagoras, Alastor, Nestor and Periclymenus”
siblings with Pelias “the one with the livid ( pelion ) mark he called Pelias, and the other Neleus.”
with Bias (interaction) “Neleus said that he would give her to him who should bring him the kine of Phylacus.”

Apollodorus, Library 2.6

friends with Eurytus “Neleus rejected his request on the score of his friendship with Eurytus”
with Heracles (Hercules sought purification from Neleus, who rejected the request.) “Wishing to be purified of the murder he repaired to Neleus, who was prince of the Pylians. And when Neleus rejected his request”

Apollodorus, Epitome 3

parent: Nestor “Nestor, son of Neleus and Chloris”

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Extracted from the original text of Greek Mythology. Made with Rho MD.