PTERELAUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Pterelaus in Greek Mythology

Pterelaus was a King of Taphos in Greek mythology, but the tale of Pterelaus is one of loss and treachery. 

​Pterelaus the Perseid

​Pterelaus was the son of Taphius, the man who gave his name to the Taphian people. The family line of Pterelaus is an integral part of the story, and going back five generations, we come to the hero Perseus.

Perseus’ son Mestor, had with Lysidice, a daughter called Hippothoe; Hippothoe was a lover of Poseidon, and from this relationship Taphius was born. Thus, Pterelaus was the great-great-grandson of Perseus. 

Pterelaus was also favoured by his grandfather, and Poseidon implanted a golden hair upon the head of Taphius’ son, and from that moment on Pterelaus was immortal. 

​Pterelaus King of Taphos

In time, Pterelaus would succeed Taphius as King of Taphos ruling the main island as well as many of the surrounding islands. His people, as well as being known as Taphians were also named Teleboans. 

Pterelaus would father seven children by an unnamed woman, or women. The six named sons of Pterelaus were Antiochus, Chersidamas, Chromius, Everes, Mestor and Tyrannus, whilst the daughter of Pterelaus was Comaetho. 

​The Sons of Pterelaus

When of age, the sons of Pterelaus would sail from Taphos and make their way to Mycenae; Mycenae at this time was ruled by Electryon, a son of Perseus. 

The sons of Pterelaus demanded a share of Mycenae for their father, claiming it as his birthright, being a descendant of Perseus himself. Electryon refused to negotiate with the sons of Pterelaus, who, in retribution, started to plunder than land, and stole away a large number of head of cattle. 

Electryon sent his nine sons after the sons of Pterelaus, and eventually the two sides met in battle. It was said that all of Electryon’s sons, or all but one, were killed in the battle, whilst all the sons of Pterelaus were killed, save for Everes.  

Amphitryon would recover Electryon’s cattle, for Amphitryon sought to marry Electryon’s daughter, Alcmene, but as Electryon set out to avenge his sons, he was accidentally killed by his prospective son-in-law.. 

​The Daughter of Pterelaus

Pterelaus had lost most of his sons, remained King of Taphos, but his demise was soon to follow. Amphitryon, now an exile in Thebes, sought to marry Alcmene, but Alcmene would not marry him until her brothers had been avenged. 

Amphitryon gathered together a force of Athenians, under Cephalus, Argives, under Heleus, and Thebans, under Creon. This army conquered all of the lesser islands ruled by Pterelaus, but whilst Pterelaus was immortal. Taphos itself could not fall. 

Treachery was afoot though, and Pterelaus’ daughter Comaetho had fallen in love with Amphitryon, and to enamour herself with him, Comaetho betrayed her father, Comaetho would thus pull out the golden thread of hair from Pterelaus’ head, making the King of Taphos mortal. 

Taphos would thus fall to Amphitryon’s army, and Pterelaus was killed. 

Such treachery though was rarely rewarded in Greek mythology, and Comaetho did not end up as wife of Amphitryon, for instead she was put to death; a similar end that had befallen Scylla, when she had betrayed Nisus. 

Pterelaus’ kingdom was divided between Heleus and Cephalus, and the peoples of Pterelaus were no longer known as Teleboans, and instead became known as Cephallenians. 

Contents

Colin Quartermain - Pterelaus - 12th August 2021