< Abas, son of Melampus >
1 Origin
Abas (or Manto, Mantius) was born in Pylus, north of Eleia, in 1301 BC.
Abas' father was Melampus, son of Amythaon. [Home.Od.15.220, Diod.4.68.5, Apo.1.9.13]
Abas' mother was Iphianeira (or Iphianassa), daughter of Megapenthes. [Diod.4.68.5]
2 Family
Abas married Cyrene. [Hyginus.14]
Abas and Cyrene had a son, Idmon. [Hyginus.14]
Abas had a son, Polypheides. [Apollo.1.77, Home.Od.15.220]
Abas had a son, Coeranus (or Cleitus). [Home.Od.15.220, Hyginus.128, Paus.1.43.5]
Abas had a daughter, Lysimache. [Apo.1.9.13]
3 Others
3.1 Migration to southern Eleia
In 1292 BC, Abas was accompanied by his father to migrate to Lepreatic Pylus in southern Eleia. [Estimated from Herod.9.34 and Strabo.8.6.10]
3.2 Migration to Argos
In 1290 BC, Abas was accompanied by his father to migrate to Argos. [Apo.2.2.2, Diod.4.68.4, Paus.2.18.4, Herod.9.34]
3.3 Internal conflict in Argos
The lyric poet Pindar, who lived in the 5th century BC, reports that there was internal conflict in Argos during the time of Adrastus, the son of Talaus. [Estimated from Pind.Ne.9.10]
During the time of Adrastus, the descendants of Abas left Argos, and the descendants of Abas' brother Mantius remained in Argos.
3.3.1 Expulsion of Mantius
In 1264 BC, Oecles, son of Mantius, married Hypermnestra, daughter of Thestius, who lived in Pleuron, Aetolia. [Diod.4.68.5, Hyginus.70, Paus.6.17.6]
It is believed that Abas probably expelled Mantius from Argos.
After being driven out of Argos, Mantius moved to live with Oeneus, who lived in Calydon, Aetolia.
Oeneus' mother, Aeolia, was Mantius' aunt, and Oeneus was Mantius' cousin. [Apo.1.7.7]
3.3.2 Mantius' return
In 1247 BC, it is believed that the Mantius family returned to Argos from Aetolia.
Talaus' son Adrastus defected to Polybus, ruler of Sicyon. [Apo.3.6.2, Paus.2.6.6]
Polypheides, son of Abas, emigrated to Hyperesia in Achaia. [Home.Od.15.250]
Coeranus, son of Abas, emigrated to Corinth. [Estimated from CiceDiv.1.89 and Home.Il.13.660]
3.4 Migration to Thessaly
Strabo records that Abas, who emigrated from Argos, gave the name Pelasgian Argos to the plain of Thessaly. [Strabo.9.5.5]
This Abas is presumed to be the son of Melampus, based on the following:
1) Melampus, son of Amythaon, emigrated from Thessaly to Peloponnesus with Neleus. [Diod.4.68.3]
2) Melampus was born in Pylos. [Apo.1.9.11]
So Melampus was born in Pylos in Thessaly. [Strabo.9.5.14]
It is believed that Abas was driven out of Argos by Mantius and migrated to his father's birthplace.
