Peleus
Peleus, the mighty king of Phthia, a warrior blessed by the gods, was the father of the legendary Achilles.
Parents: Aeacus and Endeis
Siblings: Telamon
Consort: Thetis
Children: Achilles
Adventures
Peleus’ life was a tapestry woven with threads of heroism, love, and tragedy. Alongside his brother Telamon, he counted the mighty Heracles as a friend, joining him on daring expeditions against fearsome Amazons, the treacherous King Laomedon of Troy, and even the quest for the Golden Fleece alongside Jason and the Argonauts.
However, darkness also shadowed Peleus’ path. He and Telamon were forced to flee their homeland of Aegina after killing their half-brother Phocus in a fit of rage. Seeking refuge in Phthia, Peleus found purification and a new beginning with King Eurytion, marrying his daughter Antigone and fathering a daughter, Polydora. Yet, fate seemed to hold a cruel hand. While on the hunt for the Calydonian Boar, a legendary beast terrorizing the land, Peleus accidentally struck down Eurytion, his father-in-law. This unintentional act of violence would forever stain his past.
Marriage to Thetis
After the death of his first wife, Antigone, Peleus embarked on a new chapter. Fate, however, had a grander plan. He was destined to marry Thetis, a beautiful Nereid, a sea nymph coveted by both Zeus and Poseidon for her otherworldly beauty. Winning her hand was no easy feat. With the help of the shapeshifting god Proteus, Peleus learned how to overpower Thetis’ ability to transform at will, finally claiming her as his bride.
Their wedding was a grand affair, a gathering of the Olympian gods themselves. Poseidon, perhaps still harboring a flicker of desire for Thetis, bestowed upon Peleus a magnificent gift – two immortal horses, Balius and Xanthus, creatures of unrivaled speed and power. However, a shadow lurked beneath the revelry. Eris, the goddess of discord, slighted at not being invited, crashed the celebration, tossing a golden apple inscribed “To the Fairest” amongst the goddesses. This seemingly innocent act ignited a fierce rivalry between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, a quarrel that would ultimately lead to the Judgement of Paris and the devastating Trojan War.
Thetis, though bound to Peleus by marriage, remained conflicted. A prophecy foretold her son would be greater than his father, a prospect that filled her with both pride and fear. Their union produced seven sons, each marked by a tragic fate – six died in infancy. Only Achilles, their final child, survived. He would inherit not just his father’s strength but also the burden of a prophecy that would shape the course of history.
