Having grown to manhood, Pelops wanted to marry Hippodamia. Her father, King Oenomaus, fearful of a prophecy that claimed he would be killed by his son-in-law, had killed eighteen suitors of Hippodamia after defeating them in a chariot race and affixed their heads to the wooden columns of his palace.

Jun 13, 2023 · Pelops was killed, chopped up, and placed in a stew by his father Tantalus. Demeter ate Pelops' shoulder, unaware that she was eating human flesh. Why was Pelops a hero?

Pelops, however, had to return to mortal life because his father had abused the favour of heaven by feeding mere mortals with nectar and ambrosia, of which only gods partook. Later, according to Pindar, Pelops strove for the hand of Hippodamia, daughter of King Oenomaus of Pisa in Elis .

Myrtilus tried to rape Hippodamia, and Pelops killed him; before dying though, Myrtilus cursed Pelops and his descendants; a curse that was the doom of the whole dynasty.

Oenomaus was killed as a result and Pelops seized control of the kingdom. When Myrtilus demanded his reward, he treacherously cast him off a cliff into the sea. The dying man called down a curse upon his house which would plague Pelops and his descendants for many generations to come.

In most versions of the myth, Pelops was not killed by anyone; he died of natural causes. His death is not a significant part of his mythological narrative.

Myrtilus survived but Oenomaus was dragged to his death by his horses. Pelops then killed Myrtilus because he had attempted to rape Hippodamia. As Myrtilus died, he cursed Pelops for his betrayal.

One of the legendary heroes connected with Olympia is Pelops, whose name lives on in the peninsula in the South of Greece: the Peloponnesus. As a little boy, Pelops was killed and cooked by his father Tantalos.

Oinomaos fell from the chariot, was entangled in the reins, and died. Pelops now became king of Elis and soon afterwards caught Myrtilos trying to seduce Hippodameia and killed him by throwing him over a cliff.

Now Pelops himself found himself in a great position, for he could now wed Hippodameia, and with Oenomaus dead, he would have a kingdom to rule over. Pelops though soon realised that if he immediately gave Myrtilus half the kingdom, it would be obvious that King Oenomaus had not died by accident.