In
Greek mythology, Pelasgus (
Ancient Greek: Πελασγός, Pelasgós means "ancient"[1]) was the
eponymous ancestor of the
Pelasgians, the mythical inhabitants of
Greece who established the worship of the
DodonaeanZeus,
Hephaestus, the
Cabeiri, and other divinities. In the different parts of the country once occupied by Pelasgians, there existed different traditions as to the origin and connection of Pelasgus. Some
ancient Greeks even used to believe that he was the first man.
Pelasgus, brother to
Apis both sons of
Phoroneus, is said to have founded the city of Argos in Peloponnesus, to have taught the people agriculture, and to have received
Demeter, on her wanderings, at Argos, where his tomb was shown in later times.[2]
Pelasgus, son of
Triopas and
Sois, and a brother of
Iasus,
Agenor, and
Xanthus.[3] According to Greek legends, he founded the sanctuary of
Demeter in Argos and for this reason she was worshipped at this temple under the name Pelasgian Demeter.[4]
Pelasgus, an Argive prince as son of
Poseidon and
Larissa, daughter of the Pelasgus, son of Triopas. Together with his brothers
Phthius and
Achaeus, they left Achaean Argos with a
Pelasgian contingent for
Thessaly. They then established a colony on the said country naming it after themselves:
Pelasgiotis,
Phthiotis and
Achaea.[17] Pelasgus was also the founder of the Thessalian Argos.[18][19] He was also said to be the father of
Phrastor by the nymph
Menippe.[20] Pelasgus is also said to have been the ancestor of the
Tyrrhenians through the following lineage: Pelasgus - Phrastor -
Amyntor -
Teutamides - Nanas. In the latter's reign, the Pelasgians were believed to have left Greece and to have settled in a new land that later came to be named Tyrrhenia.[21]
Pelasgus, father of
Chlorus and grandfather of
Haemon[22] or the father of Haemon and grandfather of
Thessalus instead.[23] He may be the same man with the above Pelasgus.
Homeric Pelasgus
In the Iliad,
Homer characterizes Pelasgus as brave, and lists the Pelasgians as allies of the Trojans, fighting against the tribes of
Greeks in the
Trojan War.[24]
Pelasgus, father of
Hippothous, one of the Trojan leaders who fought alongside the
Dardanians and other allies defending the walls of the city of
Troy.[25] In some accounts Hippothous' father was called
Lethus, son of the above Teutamides.[26]
Pseudo-Clement. 1867. Recognitions from
Ante-Nicene Library, volume 8, translated by Rev. Thomas Smith. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark.
Online text at theio.com .
Stephanus of Byzantium. 1849. Stephani Byzantii Ethnicorum quae supersunt, edited by August Meineike (1790-1870). A few entries from this important ancient handbook of place names have been translated by Brady Kiesling, available at
Online text at the Topos Text Project .
This article includes a list of Greek mythological figures with the same or similar names. If an
internal link for a specific Greek mythology article referred you to this page, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended Greek mythology article, if one exists.
In
Greek mythology, Pelasgus (
Ancient Greek: Πελασγός, Pelasgós means "ancient"[1]) was the
eponymous ancestor of the
Pelasgians, the mythical inhabitants of
Greece who established the worship of the
DodonaeanZeus,
Hephaestus, the
Cabeiri, and other divinities. In the different parts of the country once occupied by Pelasgians, there existed different traditions as to the origin and connection of Pelasgus. Some
ancient Greeks even used to believe that he was the first man.
Pelasgus, brother to
Apis both sons of
Phoroneus, is said to have founded the city of Argos in Peloponnesus, to have taught the people agriculture, and to have received
Demeter, on her wanderings, at Argos, where his tomb was shown in later times.[2]
Pelasgus, son of
Triopas and
Sois, and a brother of
Iasus,
Agenor, and
Xanthus.[3] According to Greek legends, he founded the sanctuary of
Demeter in Argos and for this reason she was worshipped at this temple under the name Pelasgian Demeter.[4]
Pelasgus, an Argive prince as son of
Poseidon and
Larissa, daughter of the Pelasgus, son of Triopas. Together with his brothers
Phthius and
Achaeus, they left Achaean Argos with a
Pelasgian contingent for
Thessaly. They then established a colony on the said country naming it after themselves:
Pelasgiotis,
Phthiotis and
Achaea.[17] Pelasgus was also the founder of the Thessalian Argos.[18][19] He was also said to be the father of
Phrastor by the nymph
Menippe.[20] Pelasgus is also said to have been the ancestor of the
Tyrrhenians through the following lineage: Pelasgus - Phrastor -
Amyntor -
Teutamides - Nanas. In the latter's reign, the Pelasgians were believed to have left Greece and to have settled in a new land that later came to be named Tyrrhenia.[21]
Pelasgus, father of
Chlorus and grandfather of
Haemon[22] or the father of Haemon and grandfather of
Thessalus instead.[23] He may be the same man with the above Pelasgus.
Homeric Pelasgus
In the Iliad,
Homer characterizes Pelasgus as brave, and lists the Pelasgians as allies of the Trojans, fighting against the tribes of
Greeks in the
Trojan War.[24]
Pelasgus, father of
Hippothous, one of the Trojan leaders who fought alongside the
Dardanians and other allies defending the walls of the city of
Troy.[25] In some accounts Hippothous' father was called
Lethus, son of the above Teutamides.[26]
Pseudo-Clement. 1867. Recognitions from
Ante-Nicene Library, volume 8, translated by Rev. Thomas Smith. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark.
Online text at theio.com .
Stephanus of Byzantium. 1849. Stephani Byzantii Ethnicorum quae supersunt, edited by August Meineike (1790-1870). A few entries from this important ancient handbook of place names have been translated by Brady Kiesling, available at
Online text at the Topos Text Project .
This article includes a list of Greek mythological figures with the same or similar names. If an
internal link for a specific Greek mythology article referred you to this page, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended Greek mythology article, if one exists.