Peleus
King of Phthia, Argonaut, and father of Achilles who wrestled the shape-shifting sea goddess Thetis to win her as his bride.
The Legend of Peleus
He had to hold a shape-shifting goddess while she turned into fire, water, a lion, and a serpent — and he did not let go. Peleus was told by Chiron to seize Thetis and hold her through every transformation until she yielded. Their wedding on Mount Pelion was attended by every Olympian, and it was there that Eris threw the golden apple that ultimately caused the Trojan War. Zeus and Poseidon had both desired Thetis but abandoned her after Prometheus revealed her son would surpass his father. Peleus outlived his own glory — Achilles died at Troy, and old Peleus was eventually driven from his kingdom by Acastus.
Parents
Aeacus, Endeis
Children
Achilles
Symbols
Fun Fact
The wedding of Peleus and Thetis is the event that set the entire Trojan War in motion.
Explore Further
Peleus
🗡 heroMortal who married a goddess
The king of Phthia who wrestled and won the sea-nymph Thetis, fathering Achilles — the greatest warrior of the Trojan War.
Cepheus
🗡 heroNone recorded
King of Aethiopia who nearly sacrificed his daughter Andromeda to a sea monster
Theseus
🗡 heroFounder-hero of Athens
Theseus was the great hero of Athens who slew the Minotaur, united Attica, and established Athenian democracy — Athens' answer to Heracles.
Periclymenos
🗡 heroShape-shifting, combat
Grandson of Poseidon who could change shape at will and sailed with the Argonauts
Alcimede
🗡 heroMotherhood, nobility
Noble Thessalian woman and mother of Jason, leader of the Argonauts
Cassiopeia
🗡 heroQueen whose vanity endangered her daughter
Cassiopeia was the queen who boasted her beauty exceeded the sea nymphs — provoking Poseidon to demand her daughter Andromeda as sacrifice.
Theseus
🗡 heroheroism
Athenian prince who entered the Cretan Labyrinth, killed the Minotaur with Ariadne's help, then abandoned her on Naxos.
Bellerophon
🗡 heroThe hero who tamed Pegasus
The Corinthian hero who tamed the winged horse Pegasus and slew the Chimera, but fell from heaven when he tried to reach Olympus.
Jason
🗡 heroLeader of the Argonauts
The hero who assembled the Argonauts and sailed to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece, aided by Medea's sorcery.
Andromeda
🗡 herorescue
Ethiopian princess chained to a rock as sacrifice to a sea monster, rescued by Perseus, and placed among the stars.
Paris
🗡 heroPrince who caused the Trojan War
Paris was the Trojan prince whose judgement of three goddesses and abduction of Helen ignited the Trojan War — the most consequential act of desire in Western mythology.
Idas
🗡 herostrength
Strongest of the Argonauts, who kidnapped his bride from Apollo and later died fighting the Dioscuri.