The Story of Peleus
Peleus was a son of Aeacus, king of Aegina, and a brother of Telamon. Out of jealousy, the two brothers killed their half brother Phocus, and Aeacus banished them both. Peleus found refuge in Phthia, and after many wanderings he became king of the Myrmidons there.
Peleus took part in many of the great adventures of his time. He sailed with the Argonauts and joined the hunt for the Calydonian Boar. At the funeral games for King Pelias, he wrestled the huntress Atalanta and was beaten by her.
Zeus learned that the son of the sea nymph Thetis would be greater than his father, so he decided she must marry a mortal, and he chose Peleus. Thetis did not want a mortal husband, and when Peleus seized her on the shore, she changed into fire, water, a lion and a serpent, but he held on until she agreed to marry him. All the gods attended the wedding except Eris, the goddess of strife, who threw a golden apple among the guests and started the quarrel that led to the Trojan War.
Peleus and Thetis had a son, Achilles. In one telling, Thetis tried to make the baby immortal by holding him in fire at night, and when Peleus saw this and cried out in alarm, she left him and returned to the sea. Peleus gave the boy to the centaur Chiron to raise, and he later sent Achilles to Troy with the armor and the immortal horses the gods had given him at his wedding.
Peleus outlived his famous son and grew old in sorrow. In Euripides' play Andromache, Thetis appears to him at the end and promises to make him immortal so that he can live with her forever in the halls of the sea. He is remembered above all as the mortal who won a goddess as his bride and fathered the greatest of the Greek heroes.
Famous Myths About Peleus
Exile
Peleus and his brother Telamon killed their half-brother Phocus out of jealousy and were banished by their father. Peleus found refuge in Phthia, where he was purified and later became king.
Winning Thetis
Zeus learned that the son of the sea nymph Thetis would be greater than his father, so he arranged for her to marry a mortal. Peleus seized Thetis on the shore and held on as she changed into fire, water, a lion, and a serpent, until she agreed to be his bride.
The Wedding Feast
All the gods attended the marriage of Peleus and Thetis except Eris, the goddess of strife, who was not invited. She threw a golden apple marked for the fairest among the guests, starting the quarrel that led to the Trojan War.
Peleus's Family Tree
Parents of Peleus
Partners of Peleus
Children of Peleus
Frequently Asked Questions About Peleus
Who was Peleus in Greek mythology?
Peleus was the king of Phthia, an Argonaut and a hunter of the Calydonian Boar. He is best known as the father of Achilles.
Who was Peleus's wife?
Peleus married the sea nymph Thetis. All the gods came to their wedding, where Eris threw the golden apple that led to the Trojan War.
How did Peleus win Thetis?
Thetis did not want to marry a mortal, so Peleus had to seize her and hold on as she changed into fire, water, a lion and a serpent. When she could not escape, she agreed to marry him.
Explore More Heroes of Greek Mythology
