QUEEN TYRO IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Princess Tyro
Tyro was mortal princess and queen from Greek mythology, and is important for her role of mother of kings, and grandmother and great-grandmother of many Greek heroes.
Tyro was the only daughter of Salmoneus, a king of the Peloponesse, and Alcidice, a princess of Arcadia. Importantly, Alcidice would die when Tyro was young, and Salmoneus would remarry a woman called Sidero, who would become Tyro’s stepmother.
Tyro was the only daughter of Salmoneus, a king of the Peloponesse, and Alcidice, a princess of Arcadia. Importantly, Alcidice would die when Tyro was young, and Salmoneus would remarry a woman called Sidero, who would become Tyro’s stepmother.
Queen Tyro
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Salmoneus would marry his daughter off to his brother Cretheus, the king of Iolcus, and by him Tyro would become mother to three sons, Aeson, Amythaon and Pheres.
Tyro though was in love with the Potamoi Enipeus, and would sit by the banks of the river trying to seduce the river-god. One day, Poseidon spied the beautiful Tyro, and wishing to have his way with her, disguised himself as Enipeus; from this union, Tyro would give birth to two more sons, Pelias |
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and Neleus. These two sons were left abandoned on a hillside, but were found by a herdsman, and grew into adulthood with him.
An additional tale also has Tyro giving birth to two unnamed sons by Sisyphus, the uncle of Tyro. Sisyphus hated his brother Salmoneus, and an oracle had proclaimed that sons born to Tyro by Sisyphus would kill their grandfather. Tyro though learned of the prophecy and killed the sons as newborns so that they would not be able to kill Salmoneus.
An additional tale also has Tyro giving birth to two unnamed sons by Sisyphus, the uncle of Tyro. Sisyphus hated his brother Salmoneus, and an oracle had proclaimed that sons born to Tyro by Sisyphus would kill their grandfather. Tyro though learned of the prophecy and killed the sons as newborns so that they would not be able to kill Salmoneus.
Tyro Mother of Pelias
The most important son of Tyro was probably Pelias, for when of age, he and his brother Neleus located their mother, and killed Tyro’s stepmother Sidero, for having been cruel to her. Sidero was killed in the temple of Hera by Pelias, an act would lead the goddess to plot against Pelias.
Pelias would then seize the throne of Iolcus, Cretheus having died, and banished Neleus to Messenia, whilst Pelias’ stepbrothers, Amythaon and Pheres also fled. Aeson as the rightful heir to Iolcus though was imprisoned by Pelias.
Pelias would then seize the throne of Iolcus, Cretheus having died, and banished Neleus to Messenia, whilst Pelias’ stepbrothers, Amythaon and Pheres also fled. Aeson as the rightful heir to Iolcus though was imprisoned by Pelias.
DESCENDANTS of Tyro
The family line of Tyro is important for she was grandmother to the likes of Jason (by Aeson), Admetus (by Pheres), Melampus (by Amythaon), Acastus and Alcestis (by Pelias), and Nestor (by Neleus). Thus a number of the heroes who took part in the quest for the Golden Fleece, and the Calydonian Hunt, were her grandsons, and many heroes during the Trojan War, including Antilochus and Thrasymedes, were her great-grandsons.
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