QUEEN CHLORIS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Queen Chloris in Greek Mythology
Chloris is famously the name of the goddess of flowers in Greek mythology, the name Chloris was also given to a mortal woman who was commonly called a princess of Thebes and a Queen of Pylos.
Chloris daughter of Amphion
Most commonly, Chloris is named as a daughter of King Amphion of Thebes, and his wife, Niobe; thus, Chloris would be one of the Niobids. Chloris though, was said not have been her original name, having originally been called Meliboea.
The name Chloris was taken for paleness of her skin, said to have been caused by her witnessing the killing of her siblings, by Apollo and Artemis. Chloris was said by some to have survived the massacre of the Niobids by praying to Leto.
Those who say that no-one survived the massacre of the Niobids, claim that Chloris was not the daughter of King Amphion of Thebes, but was instead a daughter of Amphion, son of King Iasus of Minyan Orchomenus.
The name Chloris was taken for paleness of her skin, said to have been caused by her witnessing the killing of her siblings, by Apollo and Artemis. Chloris was said by some to have survived the massacre of the Niobids by praying to Leto.
Those who say that no-one survived the massacre of the Niobids, claim that Chloris was not the daughter of King Amphion of Thebes, but was instead a daughter of Amphion, son of King Iasus of Minyan Orchomenus.
Chloris and NeleusChloris would marry Neleus, the son of Tyro and Poseidon; Neleus being the brother of Pelias.
Neleus had departed from Iolcus, where his brother now ruled, and in Messenia, was given land by his cousin King Aphareus, whereupon Neleus built a new kingdom, called Pylos. Chloris would thus become Queen of Pylos. |
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Chloris as a Mother
Chloris was said to have become a mother of a large number of children; potentially 13 sons and one daughter. The sons of Chloris and Neleus were named as Alastor, Asterius, Chomius, Deimachus, Epilaus, Eurybis, Eurymenes, Evagoras, Nestor, Phrasius, Pylaon and Taurus. A further son of Chloris was named as Periclymenus, though Periclymenus was potentially a son of Poseidon, rather than Neleus.
The daughter of Chloris was said to have been Pero, who would become wife of King Bias of Argos.
The daughter of Chloris was said to have been Pero, who would become wife of King Bias of Argos.
The death of Chloris' Sons
Having lost all of her siblings violently, Chloris would then lose her sons, bar Nestor. Heracles came to Pylos, and sought absolution, from Neleus; Heracles having killed Iphitus. When Neleus refused to absolve Heracles, the demi-god reacted violently, going to war with Neleus and his sons, killing them. Nestor would survive for he was said not to be in Pylos at the time.
It is not noted in surviving sources though, how, or when, Chloris herself died.
It is not noted in surviving sources though, how, or when, Chloris herself died.
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Colin Quartermain - Chloris - 5th January 2020