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Pelops

Mythology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Mythical king of Pisa who won his bride Hippodamia by defeating her father Oenomaus in a chariot race through sabotage. The Peloponnese peninsula bears his name.

Detailed Definition
Pelops, son of Tantalus, was restored to life after being served to the gods. He won his bride by sabotaging his rival’s chariot. His story involves divine favor, trickery, and the founding of a dynasty. Poets reference him to explore legacy, resurrection, and the ethics of ambition.
Example
Example in poetry:
Pelops, restored to life by the gods, wins Hippodamia in a chariot race in Pindar’s Olympian Odes; In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, his shoulder is ivory from Tantalus’s feast; Euripides’ Orestes references Pelops’s cursed lineage; Virgil alludes to Pelops in Aeneid as a founder of dynasties; Renaissance tragedy uses Pelops to explore fate and ambition; Modern verse examines Pelops as a figure of resurrection and legacy.
Additional Notes
Pelops, son of Tantalus, was restored to life after being served to gods, then won Hippodamia in a chariot race (fixing the contest)—his myth involves resurrection, cheating fate, and founding the Peloponnese—useful in poetry about legacy, games, or the ethics of victory.
Also Known As
Chariot-Racer King Founder of Olympic Games Pelops of Pisa
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