Neleus
- a son of Neptune and the nymph Tyro, a king of Pylos, the father of twelve sons who were all, except Nestor, killed by Hercules, Ov. M. 2, 689; cf. id. ib. 12, 552; Hyg. Fab. 10.—Hence,
- A Nēlēĭus, a, um, adj., Nelean: Neleia Nestoris arva, Ov. H. 1, 63: Pyliae Neleia mella senectae, i. e. the eloquence of Nestor, Sil. 15, 459.—Esp. as subst.: Nēlēĭus, i, m., the Neleian, i. e. Nestor: haec postquam dulci Neleius edidit ore, Ov. M. 12, 577.—
- B Nēlēus, a, um, adj., Nelean: Nelea Pylos, Ov. M. 6, 418; 12, 558.—
- C Nēlīdes, ae, m., a male descendant of Nestor, a Nelide, Ov. M. 12, 553; Val. Fl. 1, 338.
NELEUS[EUBOEAVol. 1. 872a.]
(Νηλεύς). (1) The son of Poseidon and Tyro, daughter of Salmoneus, and brother of Pelias. The brothers were exposed after birth by their mother, who afterwards married Cretheus of Iolcus; they were found by a herdsman and brought up by him until they grew up and were acknowledged by their mother. After Cretheus's death they quarrelled about the possession of Iolcus; and Neleus, together with Melampus and Bias , the sons of his half-brother Amythaon, retired into exile in Messenia, where Aphareus, Tyro's cousin, allowed them to occupy Pylus. By Chloris, daughter of Amphion, the king of the Minyan Orchomenus (it is only a later myth that identifies him with Amphion of Thebes), he became father of twelve sons, of whom Periclymenus and Nestor (q.v.) were the most celebrated, and one daughter, the beautiful Pero, bride of Bias. (See Melampus.) On his refusing to purify Heracles from the murder of Iphitus, Heracles invaded his country and slew all his sons, except Nestor , who chanced to be absent from home at the time. Nestor became the champion and avenger of the aged Neleus when the Epeans and their king Augeas, emboldened by his misfortune, ventured on acts of injustice towards him. According to one account, it was Neleus who renewed the Olympian Games, and died at Corinth, where, it was said, he was buried at the isthmus; according to others, he was slain along with his sons by Heracles.
(2) The younger son of Codrus, who disputed the right of his elder brother Medon to the throne. The Delphic oracle declared against him, and he migrated to Ionia, where he founded the city of Miletus (Herod.ix. 97).
(3) A disciple of Aristotle and Theophrastus. See Aristoteles, p. 129.
- his grave at Didymi: Paus. 7.2.6
- twin brother of Pelias: Apollod. 1.9.8
- son of Cretheus or of Poseidon, flees from Iolcus and settles at Pylos in Messenia: Paus. 4.2.5
- exposed by his mother: Apollod. 1.9.8
- quarrels with his brother, is banished and goes to Messene: Apollod. 1.9.9
- founds Pylos: Apollod. 1.9.9
- king of Pylos, marries Chloris, daughter of Amphion: Paus. 9.36.8, Paus. 10.29.6
- drives out Leleges from Pylos: Paus. 4.36.1
- with Peleus holds Olympic games: Paus. 5.8.2
- requires his daughter's suitors to procure cows of Iphiclus: Paus. 4.36.3, Paus. 10.31.10
- father of Nestor, etc: Apollod. 1.9.9, Apollod. 2.4.11
- refuses to purify Herakles: Apollod. 2.6.1
- slain with his sons by Herakles: Apollod. E.6.11
- buried on Isthmus of Corinth, but grave unknown: Paus. 2.2.2
- his descendants driven from Messenia by Dorians: Paus. 4.3.3, go to Athens: Paus. 2.18.9