PYLAS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

​Pylas was a King of Megara in Greek mythology. Pylas was a son of Cleson who was hospitable to Pandion. 

​Pylas Son of Cleson

​Pylas was the son of Cleson born to an unnamed woman, this made Pylas grandson of Lelex, and nephew of Bias and Pterelaus. Some say that this Lelex is the same as the man who ruled in Laconia. 

Pylas is likely to have had two sisters, Cleso and Tauropolis.

Pylas would become King of Megara, and go on to father two children, a daughter called Pylia, and a son called Sciron. 

​Pylas and Pandion

​Pylas proved to be a hospitable host, for he welcomed King Pandion II of Athens, when Pandion had been exiled by the sons of Metion. 

So enamoured was Pylas with Pandion, that he had his daughter, Pylia, marry the Athenian king. 

Pylas at the time though, was in dispute with his uncle Bias, about who should be King of Megara. Pylas ultimately settled the argument by killing his uncle. 

​Pylas Departs

​The killing of Bias, would have naturally resulted in Pylas being exiled, and the king seeking absolution for his crime. Pylas seems to have circumvented this though, by choosing the manner of his own departure, passing the kingdom to his son-in-law Pandion. 

Later, this succession would cause its own issues, for Pandion was succeeded by his own son Nisus, when Sciron believed that he, as son of Pylas, was the rightful king. This dispute was settled by King Aeacus, who ruled in Nisus’ favour, when it came to the throne, but Aeacus put Sciron in charge of the Megarian army. 

​Pylas the Founding King

​It was said that having departed from Megara, Pylas travelled to Messenia, whereby he built a new city, calling it Pylos after himself. This city though, is more commonly said to have been built by Nestor. To reconcile the myths, later sources tell of Nestor forcing Pylas from the newly built city, so Pylas travelled to Elis, where a new city of Pylos was built.  

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Colin Quartermain - Pylas - 4th September 2021