Peleus - Peleus

Hero of Greek mythology. Son of Aeacus, king of Aegina, and brother of Telamon. Peleus and Telamon were exiled from their homeland after killing their half-brother Phocus, who excelled in all sports, out of jealousy. Peleus fled to Phthia, where he was atoned for by King Eurytion, who gave him his daughter and a third of the kingdom. However, while participating in a boar hunt with his father-in-law at Calydon, he accidentally killed his father-in-law with a thrown spear. He then fled to Iolcus, where he was atoned for by King Acastus. At the palace, Queen Astydameia fell in love with him, but was rejected, and she became angry and slandered her husband, saying that Peleus had made advances on her. King Acastus took Peleus out hunting and left him deep in the mountains to be eaten by wild animals, but he was saved by the centaur Chiron. Later, he captured Thetis, the daughter of the sea god Nereus, who was trying to escape by transforming into fire, water, and all kinds of beasts, and married her, becoming the father of the hero Achilles. However, when Peleus saw Thetis holding the infant Achilles over the fire to burn off the mortal parts he inherited from his father and make him immortal, he cried out, and she returned to the palace of the sea. Peleus also participated in the adventure of the Argo and the Trojan expedition of Hercules.

[Tetsuro Nakatsuka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ギリシア神話の英雄。アイギナ島の王アイアコスの子で、テラモンの兄弟。ペレウスとテラモンは、異母兄弟フォコスがあらゆる競技に優れているのをねたんで彼を殺したため、祖国を追われる。ペレウスはフティア地方に逃れ、そこの王エウリティオンに罪を浄(きよ)められて、娘と国の3分の1を与えられる。しかし義父とともにカリドンの猪(いのしし)狩りに参加したおり、投げた槍(やり)で誤って義父を殺してしまう。そのため彼はさらにイオルコスへと逃れ、アカストス王によって罪を浄められる。その宮廷で、王妃アスティダメイアが彼に恋するが、退けられて逆(さか)恨みした彼女は、ペレウスに言い寄られたと夫に讒言(ざんげん)する。アカストス王はペレウスを狩りに連れ出し、彼を深い山中に置き去りにして野獣の餌食(えじき)にしようとするが、ケンタウロスのケイロンに救われる。のちに彼は、海神ネレウスの娘テティスが火や水やあらゆる獣(けもの)に変身して逃れようとするのを捕らえて結婚し、英雄アキレウスの父親となる。しかし、父親から受け継いだ死すべき部分を焼き滅ぼして不死身にするため、テティスが幼児アキレウスを火にかざしているのを見たペレウスが叫び声をあげたので、彼女は海の宮へ帰ってしまう。ペレウスはまた、アルゴ船の冒険やヘラクレスのトロヤ遠征にも参加した。

［中務哲郎］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例