ELIS (city)
Ancient city-state, capital city of the district of Elis
- Kind of place
- City
- People of myth here
- Augeas, Oxylus, Phyleus, Salmoneus, Tisamenus
- Where
- 37.89° N, 21.38° E
It was called Coele or Hollow Elis due to its location in a hollow. Strabo 8.3.2 Augeas was the king of Elis. Apollodorus 2.5.5 Elis holds the result of the hero's labours. Ovid Met. 9.101-272 (5)
Described in the sources
The Epeans are stated to rule over the territory of Elis. Iliad 2 ¶46 +3 Araxus is a promontory on the northern coast of Eleia that marks the beginning of the Eleian coastline. Strabo 10.2.19 +3 The rivers Alpheus and Peneus flowed near this location. Aeneid 3.692 +2 The Neda river forms the coastal boundary between Messenia and Elis. Pausanias 4.20.2 +2 Cyllene is the port and naval arsenal of the city-state of Elis, located one hundred and twenty stades away. Pausanias 6.26.4 +2 Tisamenus, a member of the Iamidae family, was a native of this city-state and was persuaded to leave it to become a state-diviner in Sparta. Pausanias 3.11.6 +2 The river Larisus forms the boundary between Achaia and Elis, separating the Eleian district from Dyme, and is located one hundred and fifty-seven stades from the city. Pausanias 6.26.10 +2 Pylus is a location within the region of Elis. Pausanias 5.3.1 +1 Elis borders the land of Dyme on the side facing Achaia. Pausanias 7.6.1 +1 The Epeii originated from Elis before moving to Aetolia. Strabo 10.2.14 +1
Gods and worship
The second-place finisher leads an ox during the festival. Athenaeus 13.20 The people of Elis are noted as the only known group to worship Hades. Pausanias 6.25.2 The winner of the beauty contest carries vessels belonging to a goddess. Athenaeus 13.20 The people of Elis invoked the god Myiagros to stop swarms of flies causing disease. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 10.40 ¶1
Stories and history
Heracles captured Elis and killed King Augeas, with some accounts noting he rode the horse Areion. Apollodorus 2.7.2 +4 Heracles restored Phyleus, son of Augeas, to the kingdom of Elis after the sack. Apollodorus 2.7.2 +2 Pisa, Macistus, Scillus, and Dyspontium waged war against Elis on their own initiative. Pausanias 5.6.4 +1 Oxylus, the son of Haemon, founded the city ten generations after the Aetolians arrived, a fact recorded on an inscription on his statue. Strabo 10.3.2 +1 Elis sent colonists to the city of Eretria. Strabo 10.1.10 The Arcadians invaded the territory of Elis. Pausanias 6.20.4 Augeas held the victors associated with Elis. Pausanias 5.8.3 The Eleans destroyed Pisa and all its allies. Pausanias 6.22.4 Hercules founded an altar of Pelops in the city. Apollodorus 2.7.2 The Eleans attribute the lack of mules to a curse. Herodotus 4.30.1
Myths set at Elis
- The Cleansing of the Augean Stables. Heracles is commanded to clean the stables of Augeas in a single day, a task he completes by diverting rivers rather than using manual labor. When Augeas refuses the promised reward, Heracles attacks Elis but fails to achieve notable success and allows Augeas to avoid punishment. Apollodorus 2.5.5 +5 Heracles
- The Exile of Phyleus. Augeas, king of Elis, exiled his son Phyleus because Phyleus criticized his treatment of Heracles. Phyleus was forced to leave his home due to this conflict. Apollodorus 2.5.5 +5
- The Founding of Elis. Oxylus crossed from Aetolia to lead the returning Heracleidae and Aetolians into the hostile territory of Elis. He established a colony, shared the land with the local Epeans, and extended their power to include Olympia and parts of Pisatis. Pausanias 5.3.6 +5 Oxylus
- The War Against Elis. Heracles gathers an army to attack Augeas and conquer Elis, but is forced to retreat when the Molionides attack his forces. He later kills the Molionides at a festival and restores Phyleus to the throne of Elis. Apollodorus 2.7.2 +5 Heracles
- The War against Augeas. Augeas defrauded Heracles of his reward, prompting a military confrontation. Heracles marched on Elis, defeated Augeas's allies, and destroyed the city, restoring the kingdom to Phyleus. Apollodorus 2.5.5 +5
- The Quarrel with Augeas and Exile to Dulichium. Phyleus was exiled from Elis after criticizing his father Augeas for refusing to pay Heracles. He settled in Dulichium following this quarrel. Apollodorus 2.5.5 +4 Phyleus
- The Restoration of Phyleus by Heracles. hook: Phyleus is in exile after losing his position to enemies. goal: Heracles conquers Elis and restores Phyleus to power. outcome: Phyleus organizes Elis and returns to Dulichium. Apollodorus 2.7.2 +3 Phyleus
- The Impious Imitation of Zeus. Salmoneus, an overbearing king, arrogantly imitated Zeus's powers and demanded worship as a god. Zeus struck him down with a divine bolt for his impiety. Aeneid 6.576 +2 Salmoneus
- The Journey to Buprasium. Phyleus travels from Elis to Buprasium to compete in games honoring King Amarynceus. He is subsequently selected by Damis to serve as a colleague in the Messenian military leadership. Iliad 23 ¶47 +2 Phyleus
- The Taming of Arion by Heracles. Heracles rode the horse into battle and later gave it to Adrastus. The horse was tamed on the sea-shore without a lash. Pausanias 8.25.10 +2 Arion
- The Affair with the Shepherd. hook: The God of Delphi is found dwelling in the fields of Elis and Messenia, wearing a shepherd's skin and playing a seven-reed pipe. goal: The facts do not specify a goal set out by the hero. outcome: The God of Delphi is soothing himself with his pipe while concerned with love, having been absent when Jupiter's orders were issued. Ovid Met. 2.676-707 Zeus
- The Journey to Elis. hook: Odysseus returns to Ithaca to perform sacrifices commanded by Teiresias. goal: He travels to Elis to check on his livestock. outcome: Polyxenus hosts Odysseus during his stay in Elis. The Telegony fr. 1 Odysseus