Cretheus

Tyro wandered beside the River Enipeus, grieving and speaking to its waters. She was the daughter of Salmoneus and Alcidice, and had been raised by Cretheus, Salmoneus’s brother. Poseidon took the appearance of Enipeus and lay with her. She conceived twins and gave birth to them in secret. Unable to face Sidero’s anger, she exposed the infants on a mountain. Some say that the twins were instead set afloat on the Enipeus in a wooden ark.

A passing horse-trainer found the children. His mare struck one of them in the face, leaving a dark bruise. The horse-trainer took both infants home and raised them. He called the bruised child Pelias and the other Neleus. Another account says that the horse-herd’s wife gave Pelias to the mare to suckle, while Neleus was fostered by a bitch and took on a savage nature. When the twins grew up, they discovered their mother’s identity and learned that Sidero had treated her cruelly.

Pelias and Neleus went against Sidero. She fled to the sanctuary of Hera, but Pelias killed her at the altar. Pelias then settled in Thessaly and lived at Iolcus, where he was a great breeder of sheep. Neleus lived in Pylos. Both brothers served Zeus with all their might.

Cretheus founded Iolcus and married Tyro. She bore him three sons, Aeson, Amythaon, and Pheres. Aeson was the father of Jason. Amythaon lived in Pylos and became the father of Bias and Melampous. Pelias, as Tyro’s son by Poseidon, was Aeson’s half-brother. After Cretheus, Pelias held the position at Iolcus, although his right to succeed was disputed.