PYLUS (town in Elis)
Town in Triphylia in ancient Elis
- Kind of place
- Town
- Region
- Elis
- People of myth here
- Amythaon, Neleus, Nestor, Periclymenus
- Where
- 37.50° N, 21.70° E
Pylus is described as a well-built city belonging to Neleus. Strabo 8.3.1 The Eleans built a sanctuary for Hades at Pylus because they believed he favored them. Pausanias 6.25.2 The island Prote lies close to Pylus. Strabo 8.4.2
Described in the sources
Pylus is identified as the native country of Nestor, son of Neleus, who ruled as king over the city. Strabo 8.3.1 +4 Neleus held the title of king over Pylus, which the poet describes as a well-built and lofty city belonging to him. Diodorus 4.68 +4 Pylus is a town in Triphylia within Elis, eighty stades from Elis on the mountain road to Olympia. Pausanias 6.22.5 +3 The river Alpheius flows through the district of Pylus. Pausanias 6.22.6 +1 Pylus is situated more than thirty stadia away from the sea. Strabo 8.3.14 +1 The sea-shore near the town is described as sandy and narrow. Strabo 8.3.14 +1 The epithet Emathoeis is likely derived from the river Amathus. Strabo 8.3.1 +1 The island Sphacteria, also called Sphagia, is located near Pylus. Pausanias 6.22.6 +1 Pylus is situated on the right bank of the river Pamisus, towards the western end of the cities along the river. Strabo 8.3.1 +1 Pylus was part of the territory ruled by Nestor, whose dominions included places near Pylus extending beyond the Neda river. Strabo 8.3.22 +1
Stories and history
Heracles attacked and destroyed the town of Pylus, killing its young men and best men, with the exception of Nestor. Apollodorus 1.9.9 +4 Hades was an ally of the Pylians and fought on their side during the conflict. Apollodorus 2.7.3 +2 Nestor returned to Pylus with captured livestock and other spoils taken from Elis. Iliad 11 ¶49 +1 The Eleans refounded the city after its destruction. Pausanias 6.22.5 The city was destined to eventually become uninhabited. Pausanias 6.22.5 A Megarian named Pylon, son of Cleson, founded the city. Pausanias 6.22.5 Advocates for this place claim its local river is sandy. Strabo 8.3.7 Heracles took Pylus and then gave the land in trust to Nestor. Pausanias 2.18.7 Pylus Emathoeis was united with Lepreum to please the Lepreatae. Strabo 8.3.30 part 3 The Pylos cohort had not yet agreed to accept Thiodamas's command. Statius, Thebaid 8.343-369 ¶1
Myths set at Pylus
In the age of the gods
Before the heroes. In Godsunder these are history: everyone in the world knows them.
- The Theft of the Cattle. hook: "A newborn god escapes his swaddling bands to steal cattle from Apollo's herd." goal: "Hermes aims to transport the stolen cattle to a safe location while evading detection." outcome: "Hermes successfully moves the cattle to Pylus and reverses their tracks to confuse trackers."} Apollodorus 3.10.2 +5 Hermes
In the age of heroes
- The Sack of Pylus. Heracles attacks the city of Pylus to punish its inhabitants. He kills eleven of Neleus's sons, leaving only Nestor alive, and mortally wounds Periclymenus. Apollodorus 1.9.9 +5 Heracles
- The Slaughter of Neleus's Sons. Heracles attacks Pylus and slaughters the young men, specifically targeting Neleus's sons. Only Nestor survives by hiding with the Gerenians. Apollodorus 1.9.9 +4 Neleus
- The Battle of Pylus. Hades joins the Pylians to fight against Heracles during an expedition against Pylus. Hades is wounded by an arrow from the son of Zeus during the battle. Apollodorus 1.9.15 +3 Hades
- The Raid on Eleia. hook: The Epeii insult the Pylians because of Neleus's old age. goal: Nestor gathers his people to raid Eleia to avenge the insult against his father. outcome: Nestor captures massive amounts of livestock and returns to Pylus with the booty. Strabo 8.3.28 +2 Nestor