Neleus


Neleus was a mythological king of Pylos. In some accounts, he was also counted as an Argonaut instead of his son, Nestor.

Family

He was the son of Poseidon and Tyro, or according to Pausanias he was the son of Cretheus who was son of Aeolus. Neleus had a brother called Pelias. With Chloris, Neleus was the father of Pero, Periclymenus, Alastor, Chomius, Asterius, Deimachus, Epilaus, Eurybius, Eurymenes, Evagoras, Phrasius, Pylaon, Taurus and Nestor. Some say that Chloris was mother only of three of Neleus' sons, whereas the rest were his children by different women, but other accounts explicitly disagree with the statement.

Mythology

Tyro was married to Cretheus, though she loved Enipeus, a river god. She pursued Enipeus, who refused her advances. One day, Poseidon, filled with lust for Tyro, disguised himself as Enipeus. From their union were born Pelias and Neleus, twin boys. Tyro exposed her sons on a mountain, but they were found and raised by a maid.
When they reached adulthood, Pelias and Neleus found their mother Tyro and then killed her stepmother, Sidero, for having mistreated her. Sidero tried to hide in a temple to Hera but Pelias killed her anyway, earning himself Hera's undying hatred. Neleus and Pelias then fought for the crown, and Neleus was banished to Messenia. There he was welcomed by his cousin Aphareus who gave him the maritime part of the land where he settled and established his palace. Neleus eventually became King of Pylos.
Heracles later asked Neleus to cleanse him of a blood-debt, but was refused. In retaliation, he killed Neleus and his sons, except for Nestor.