Pelias

King of Iolcus. Pelias (Πελιάς) was the son of Tyro and Poseidon. Pelias was the twin brother of Neleus.

Pelias incurred Hera's enmity when he murdered Sidero before her altar or statue. Hera sought her revenge through Pelias' nephew, the hero Jason, son of Aeson. An oracle warned Pelias that an Aeolid (Jason) wearing a single sandal would one day cause his death.

Pelias was known for his violent rage and lust for power. When his mother's husband Cretheus died, Pelias seized the throne from his half-brother Aeson, and had him imprisoned. His other half-brothers were driven out of Iolcus, along with his twin-brother, Neleus. Neleus fled to Messenia, while Pheres founded a city in Thessaly. Amythaon and his family went to Elis.

Pelias had a son named Acastus and many daughters by either Anaxibia or Phylomache. One of his daughters, Alcestis, married Admetus, son of his half brother, Pheres. See Heracles about the story of Admetus and Alcestis.

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When Jason grew to manhood, he arrived in Iolcus wearing only one sandal, and demanded that he had more right to the throne than his uncle, the usurper. Pelias tricked Jason, saying that he would give up the throne if Jason would fetch the Golden Fleece in Colchis, hoping that Jason would not survive that quest. Jason agreed.

Jason had Argus build the ship called Argo. Jason organised the crew and gathered heroes all over Greece to join in. The heroes who sailed on the Argo became known as the Argonauts. Even Pelias' son Acastus joined the Argonauts.

Jason returned to Iolcus with his new wife, Medea, the Colchian sorceress. Jason's father Aeson was either still in prison or murdered by Pelias. Jason asked Medea to help him kill Pelias.

Medea tricked Pelias' daughters by killing an old ram, cutting up the body and throwing the pieces in a boiling cauldron. With her sorcery, Medea not only restored the ram back to life, but she also made ram young again. In the hope of restoring his youth, Pelias' daughters foolishly killed Pelias and tossed his body into the cauldron. Instead restoring Pelias' life and youth, Medea left Pelias' daughters after they killed their father. They realised to their horror that they had been duped into murdering their father. Acastus was outraged by this deed, and drove Jason and Medea out of Iolcus.

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At his funeral, Acastus held the great games at Iolcus in honour of Pelias. Many heroes, including a number of Argonauts, took part in the funeral games.

The four-horse chariot race was the most interesting of the game's events. Glaucus, son of Sisyphus and king of Corinth, took part in the race. His horses were not only known for their speed, but for the fact that the king fed human flesh to his horses. Glaucus did this whenever he won a race, throwing the losers where his mares could feed on their flesh. Iolaus, the nephew and companion of Heracles, won the chariot race, defeating Glaucus. Justice was done, and his own mares killed and devoured him.

Another interesting event in the games was the wrestling match. According to Apollodorus, Atalanta, the huntress, won the wrestling match when she defeated Peleus. However, Hyginus said that Peleus won the event (Fabulae 273), and there was no mention of Atalanta.