Tyro

Tyro repeatedly went down to the flowing waters of the river Enipeus, whom she loved as the most beautiful of rivers. She had been born to Salmoneus and Alcidice and was raised by Salmoneus’s brother, Cretheus. At the river, she told the water of her sorrows. Poseidon then took on the appearance of Enipeus and approached her in that form. After the encounter, Tyro discovered that she had been deceived. Poseidon told her to return home and keep silent. He said that she would bear twin sons, whose father was greater than a river-god.

Tyro kept the matter secret until the twins were born. Unable to face the anger of her stepmother, Sidero, she exposed the children. In one account, she left them abandoned on the ground. A mare belonging to passing horse-trainers struck one of the babies on the face with its hoof, leaving a black and blue mark. The horse-trainer recovered both children and raised them. He called the marked child Pelias and the other Neleus.

When Pelias and Neleus grew up, they discovered who their mother was and learned that Sidero had treated her cruelly. They went after their stepmother to avenge Tyro. Sidero fled to the sanctuary of Hera and took refuge at the temple. Pelias followed her there and killed her on the very altars of Hera. Tyro’s sons were thus known through their mother’s connection with Enipeus, and through their descent from Poseidon.

Pelias killed Sidero at the altar of Hera after she took refuge there. He and his twin brother Neleus had learned how badly she had treated their mother, Tyro.

Tyro was the daughter of Salmoneus and Alcidice. Alcidice died giving birth to her. Cretheus, Salmoneus’s brother, raised her. Tyro fell in love with the River Enipeus and often went to its waters to speak of her sorrows. Poseidon took the river’s appearance and approached her. Tyro later gave birth in secret to twin sons. She exposed them because she feared Sidero’s anger.

Some accounts say that passing horse-trainers found the abandoned children. A mare struck one child in the face, leaving a dark bruise. The horse-trainer took both boys home and raised them. He named the bruised child Pelias and the other Neleus. Another account says that the twins were placed in a wooden ark and carried down the Enipeus. When they grew up, they learned their mother’s identity and how Sidero had treated her.

Cretheus founded Iolcos and married Tyro. She bore him three sons. They were Aeson, Amythaon, and Pheres. Aeson became the father of Jason. Amythaon lived in Pylos. Pheres became the father of Eidomene. Pelias, Tyro’s son by Poseidon, was therefore Aeson’s half-brother. Pelias lived in Iolcus, while Neleus lived in Pylos.

The accounts differ over how the twins were discovered. Both name them Pelias and Neleus and distinguish them from Tyro’s three sons by Cretheus.