The Story of Pelops
Pelops was the son of Tantalus, a wealthy king in Asia Minor and a favorite of the gods. Tantalus wanted to test whether the gods really knew everything, so he killed his son, cooked him and served him to them at a feast. All the gods realized the horror except Demeter, who was distracted by grief for Persephone and ate part of the shoulder.
The gods brought Pelops back to life and gave him a shoulder of ivory, while Tantalus was sent to eternal punishment in the underworld. The poet Pindar refused to believe that the gods could eat human flesh and told instead that Poseidon fell in love with the beautiful boy and carried him off to Olympus. Either way, Pelops returned to earth as a young man and came to Pisa in the region of Elis.
King Oenomaus of Pisa challenged every suitor of his daughter Hippodamia to a chariot race and killed those who lost. Pelops prayed to Poseidon, who gave him a golden chariot and winged horses. He also bribed the king's charioteer Myrtilus to replace the bronze linchpins of the royal chariot with wax, and during the race the wheels flew off, and Oenomaus was killed.
Instead of rewarding Myrtilus, Pelops threw him into the sea. As he fell, Myrtilus cursed Pelops and all his descendants. The curse haunted the family through his sons Atreus and Thyestes and their children, including Agamemnon and Menelaus.
Pelops became a powerful king, and the whole southern peninsula of Greece, the Peloponnese, was named after him, meaning the island of Pelops. At Olympia he had a sacred tomb called the Pelopion, where a black ram was sacrificed to him, and his chariot race was carved on the front of the great Temple of Zeus. Some ancient writers even said that the Olympic Games began with funeral games held in his honor.
Famous Myths About Pelops
The Ivory Shoulder
Pelops's father Tantalus cut him up and served him to the gods to test whether they could tell. All refused the meal except Demeter, distracted by grief, who ate part of his shoulder, so the gods brought Pelops back to life and gave him a shoulder of ivory.
The Chariot Race
King Oenomaus challenged every suitor of his daughter Hippodamia to a chariot race and killed those who lost. Pelops bribed the king's charioteer Myrtilus to replace the linchpins of his chariot with wax, and Oenomaus crashed and died.
The Curse of Myrtilus
Instead of rewarding Myrtilus, Pelops threw him into the sea. As he fell, Myrtilus cursed Pelops and his descendants, a curse that haunted the family through Atreus, Agamemnon, and Orestes.
Pelops's Family Tree
Parents of Pelops
Partners of Pelops
Children of Pelops
Frequently Asked Questions About Pelops
Who was Pelops in Greek mythology?
Pelops was a king of Pisa in Elis, and the Peloponnese, meaning island of Pelops, is named after him.
Why did Pelops have an ivory shoulder?
His father Tantalus cut him up and served him to the gods to test them. Only Demeter, distracted by grief, ate a piece of his shoulder, and when the gods brought Pelops back to life they replaced it with ivory.
How did Pelops win his wife Hippodamia?
Pelops beat her father, King Oenomaus, in a chariot race after bribing the king's charioteer Myrtilus to sabotage his chariot. Oenomaus was killed in the crash.
What is Pelops's link to the Olympic Games?
Some ancient traditions said the games at Olympia were first held in honor of Pelops and his famous chariot race, and he was worshiped at a shrine within the sanctuary.
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