The Story of Nestor
Nestor was the son of Neleus and the king of Pylos, in the southwest of the Peloponnese. When Heracles attacked Pylos, he killed Neleus and eleven of his twelve sons. Only Nestor, the youngest, survived because he was away at the time, and he grew up to rule the city.
As a young man Nestor won fame as a warrior. He led a daring cattle raid against the neighboring Eleans and fought bravely in the battle that followed. He liked to remind others that he had also fought beside the Lapiths against the centaurs, alongside heroes of an earlier and, as he insisted, greater age.
By the time of the Trojan War, Nestor had outlived two generations of men and was ruling over a third. He still sailed to Troy with a large fleet, and the Greek leaders valued him for his wisdom, though his advice often came wrapped in long stories of his youth. He tried to make peace between Agamemnon and Achilles, and he later lost his beloved son Antilochus, who died defending him in battle.
Nestor was one of the few Greek leaders to return home quickly and safely from Troy. In the Odyssey, young Telemachus finds him on the beach at Pylos holding a great sacrifice to Poseidon. Nestor welcomed him kindly, told him what he knew and sent his own son Pisistratus with him to Sparta to visit Menelaus.
In 1939, archaeologists uncovered a large Mycenaean palace near Pylos and named it the Palace of Nestor. Its clay tablets, written in an early form of Greek, show that a rich kingdom really did flourish there in the Bronze Age. Nestor's name is still used for a wise and experienced elder.
Famous Myths About Nestor
The Survivor of Pylos
When Heracles attacked Pylos, he killed King Neleus and eleven of his sons. Only Nestor, the youngest, survived because he was away at the time, and he grew up to rule the city.
Tales of Youth
At Troy, the aged Nestor often reminded the Greek leaders of his own youthful exploits, such as leading a cattle raid against the Eleans and fighting the battle that followed. His stories were meant to inspire younger heroes, though they could also run long.
Advising Telemachus
Nestor was one of the few Greek leaders to return home quickly and safely from Troy. When young Telemachus came to Pylos searching for news of Odysseus, Nestor welcomed him warmly and sent him on to Menelaus in Sparta.
Nestor's Family Tree
Parents of Nestor
Partners of Nestor
Children of Nestor
Frequently Asked Questions About Nestor
Who was Nestor in Greek mythology?
Nestor was the elderly king of Pylos and the wisest counselor of the Greeks in the Trojan War.
Who was Nestor's father?
Nestor was the son of King Neleus of Pylos. He was the only one of Neleus's twelve sons to survive when Heracles attacked Pylos.
Why was Nestor so respected?
Nestor had lived through three generations of men and had fought alongside earlier heroes, so the younger kings valued his advice, even though he loved telling long stories about his youth.
What is Nestor's Cup?
In the Iliad, Nestor owns a large gold cup decorated with doves. A gold cup found at Mycenae and an early inscribed clay cup found in Italy have both been nicknamed Nestor's Cup.
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