Greek Name:
Transliteration:
Translation: |
PhlionideV
Pêlionides
Of Mount Pelion |
THE PELIONIDES were the Nymphs of Mount Pelion in Thessalia. They were the nurses of the infant Kentauroi (Centaurs) born of the cloud-nymphe Nephele, as well as the shepherd-god Aristaios.
"Kheiron my teacher was, this shall I prove. From Khariklo, I say, and Philyra’s cave I come, where the chaste daughters of the Kentauros [the Nymphai Peliades?] nursed my young days." - Pindar, Odes Pythian 4 ant5-ep5
"From the mountain heights the Nymphai Peliades (of Pelion) admired Athene’s work [the ship Argo] and the gallant Argonauts themselves, tugging at the oars." - Apollonius Rhodiuis, Argonautica 1.549
"[Hera to Thetis:] ‘Your son Akhilleus, who is now with Kheiron the Kentauros and is fed by Neiades [of Mt Pelion] though he should be at your breast." - Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4.812
"Singing of Peleus' Bridal of Delight [the wedding of Peleus & Thetis], which all the blest Immortals brought to pass by Pelion's crests; sang of the ambrosial feast when the swift Horai brought in immortal hands meats not of earth, and heaped in golden maunds; sang how the silver tables were set forth in haste by Themis blithely laughing; sang how breathed Hephaistos purest flame of fire; sang how the Nymphai [daughters of either Kheiron or Zeus and Themis] in golden chalices mingled ambrosia." - Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 4.128
"The Kentauroi, according to some writers [after Nephele gave birth to them], were reared by the Nymphai on Mount Pelion, and when they attained to manhood they consorted with mares and brought into being the Hippokentauros." - Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4.69.4
"Kyrene, who was reared in the neighbourhood of Mt Pelion ... Apollon begat by Kyrene in that land a son Aristaios and gave him while yet a babe into the hands of the Nymphai to nurture, and the latter bestowed upon him three different names, calling him, that is, Nomios, Aristaios, and Argeus. He learned from the Nymphai how to curdle milk [make cheese], to make bee-hives, and to cultivate olive-trees, and was the first to instruct men in these matters." - Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4.81.1
Sources:
- Pindar, Odes - Greek Lyric C5th BC
- Apollonius Rhodius, The Argonautica - Greek Epic C3rd BC
- Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy - Greek Epic C4th AD
- Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History - Greek History C1st BC
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