Pelops

A red-figure krater depicting the scene of Pelops, Hippodameia and Oinomaos

Pelops was king of Pisa in the Peloponnese, a region of Greece that was named after him in Greek mythology.

Mythology

According to the myth, Pelops' own father Tantalos, the king of Sypilos in Lydia, wished to test the Olympian gods and had Pelops cut into pieces and cooked into a stew. With the exception of the goddess Demeter, who mourned over Hades' recent kidnapping of her daughter Persephone, the remaining gods saw through the ruse and were appalled. Zeus punished Tantalos by sending him to Tartaros, and then reassembled Pelops, with Hephaistos providing an ivory prosthetic to replace the shoulder that a distracted Demeter had eaten.

Some time later, Pelops fell in love with Hippodameia, the daughter of king Oinomaos. However, as Oinomaos had been forewarned that he would die at the hands of his son-in-law, he disapproved of Pelops' feelings and challenged him to a chariot race, intending to kill him like he had all who had preceded him. Pelops won the race with a chariot and winged horses provided by the god Poseidon.

Legacy

The story of the race between Pelops and Oinomaos eventually became the origin myth of the Olympic Games in the Sanctuary of Olympia, Elis. Due to this, a a shrine, which was allegedly also his tomb, was dedicated to Pelops within the sanctuary, and a black ram was sacrificed in his honor annually.

Pelops was also honored after the events of the second day of the Olympic Games, with funeral rites performed for him.

Pelops' story was remembered even in 18th century Paris, France. In 1789, Arno Dorian chased François de la Serre's carriage, hoping to catch up and deliver a missed letter, and while running compared the driver's speed to that of Pelops.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Unity (first mentioned)
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (mentioned only)
• Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece