Myrtilus

E52778

Myrtilus is a figure in Greek mythology, the charioteer of King Oenomaus whose betrayal and subsequent curse play a key role in the tragic saga of Pelops and the House of Atreus.

Aliases (1)

Statements (46)
Predicate Object
instanceOf figure in Greek mythology
mythological charioteer
action replaced bronze linchpins of Oenomaus’ chariot with wax
afterlifeStatus heroized in some local cults
associatedPlace Elis
Olympia
associatedTheme betrayal
curse
divine retribution
oath-breaking
associatedWith House of Atreus
Oenomaus
Pelops
betrays Oenomaus
causeOfDeath thrown from a chariot into the sea by Pelops
charioteerOf Oenomaus
collaboratesWith Pelops
cultPlace near Olympia
curseTarget House of Atreus
Pelops
father Hermes
gender male
involvedInEvent chariot race of Pelops and Oenomaus
killer Pelops
lastWordsOrAct curses Pelops as he dies
medium appears in ancient Greek literary sources
mentionedBy Pausanias
Pindar
later mythographers
mother Clymene
motivation promise of reward from Pelops
mythicFunction originator of the curse on the House of Atreus
mythologicalTradition Greek mythology
narrativeConsequence indirectly linked to the fate of Agamemnon and Orestes
sets in motion tragedies of Atreus and Thyestes
narrativeCycle Pelops and Hippodamia myth cycle
occupation charioteer
promisedReward a night with Hippodamia
half of Oenomaus’ kingdom
relatedDeity Hermes
relatedHero Hippodamia
Oenomaus
Pelops
roleInMyth betrays Oenomaus by sabotaging his chariot
enables Pelops to win Hippodamia
serves Oenomaus

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Olympias ("Myrtale")
alsoKnownAs
Hermes
children

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