< Melampus, son of Amythaon >
1 Origin
Melampus was born in Phyllus, Thessaly, in 1319 BC. [Apo.1.9.11]
Melampus' father was Amythaon, son of Hippocoon. [Apo.1.9.11, Herod.2.49, Paus.2.18.4]
Melampus' mother was Aglaia. [Diod.4.68.3]
2 Family
Melampus married Iphianeira (or Iphianassa), daughter of Megapenthes. [FGrH.333.114, Diod.4.68.5]
Melampus and Iphianeira had a son Abas (or Manto, Mantius). [Home.Od.15.220, Diod.4.68.5, Apo.1.9.13]
Melampus and Iphianeira had a son Mantius (or Antiphates). [Paus.6.17.6, Diod.4.68.5, Home.Od.15.220]
Melampus and Iphianeira had a son Bias. [Diod.4.68.5]
Melampus and Iphianeira had a son Thiodamas. [Statius.8.271]
Melampus and Iphianeira had a daughter, Pronoe. [Diod.4.68.5]
3 Others
3.1 Genealogy of the prophets
Melampus was a prophet. [Apo.2.2.2, Paus.9.31.5]
It is said that Melampus's prophetic powers were given to him by a snake, that he invented them himself, or that he received them from Apollo. [Apo.1.9.11, Herod.2.49, Paus.9.10.6]
However, it is presumed that Melampus's prophetic powers were given to him by the seer Tenerus, based on the following:
The only prophet before Melampus who appeared in ancient Greek sources was Tenerus, who was at the oracle of Mount Ptous in Boeotia. [Paus.9.26.1, Strabo.9.2.34]
Tenerus' father was Epopeus, son of Aloeus. [See Epopeus]
Epopeus lived in Arne in Thessaly until 1370 BC. [See Epopeus]
Near Arne was Phyllus, where Melampus' father Hippocoon lived. [See Hippocoon]
Hippocoon's son Amythaon married Epopeus' daughter Aglaia, and Melampus was born. [Diod.4.68.3]
Melampus is thought to have been taught the art of divination by his uncle Tenerus.
3.2 Emigration to Eleia
In 1303 BC, Melampus migrated to Eleia accompanied by his father Amythaon.
Melampus lived in Pylus, which was built a short distance up the Ladon River, a tributary of the Peneius River, from Elis. [Diod.4.68.3, Paus.4.36.1, Paus.6.22.5]
3.3 Emigration to southern Eleia
In 1292 BC, Melampus and Bias migrated to Lepreatic Pylus in southern Eleia. [Estimated from Home.Od.15.220 and Strabo.8.6.10]
Melampus and Bias are presumed to be the founders of Lepreatic Pylus for the following reasons:
1) Melampus and Bias lived in Pisatis-Triphylia before migrating to Argos. [Strabo.8.6.10]
2) Melampus and Bias migrated from Pylus to Argos. [Herod.9.34]
The sons of Neleus lived in Pylus in Pisatis-Triphylia. [Home.Il.7.132, Strabo.8.3.21]
When Melampus and Bias migrated to Argos, Neleus' sons had not yet been born.
3.4 Emigration to Argos
In 1290 BC, Melampus and Bias migrated to Argos at the invitation of Anaxagoras, son of Argeus. [Apo.2.2.2, Diod.4.68.4, Paus.2.18.4, Herod.9.34]
Melampus and Bias had married Anaxagoras' aunts, Iphianeira and Lysippe. [Apo.2.2.2, FGrH.333.114, Diod.4.68.5]
Anaxagoras, feeling threatened by the Mycenae, which were gaining power through their in-laws with Pelops, made Melampus and Bias cohabitants. [Apo.2.4.5, Diod.4.9.1, Plut.These.8]
3.5 Invitation of Dionysus
In 1250 BC, Melampus invited Dionysus from Naxos to spread the Dionysian cult in Greece. [Herod.2.49, Paus.2.23.8, Paus.3.13.7]
Dionysus was Oenarus, a priest of Dionysus of Naxos, and his wife was Ariadne, daughter of Minos. [Plut.These.20]
Ariadne died during the journey and was buried in Argos. [Paus.2.23.8]
3.6 Emigration to Megara
In 1247 BC, Melampus and his grandson Coeranus emigrated to Megara. [Estimated from Paus.1.43.5 and Paus.1.44.5]
The reason for Melampus' migration was the internal conflict in Argos caused by the return of Melampus' son Mantius from Aetolia. [Estimated from Pind.Ne.9.10]
3.7 Death of Melampus
Melampus is thought to have died in Megara.
The sanctuary of Melampus was in Aegosthena, in the north of Megara, near Boeotia. [Paus.1.44.5]
Adrastus, son of Talaus, son of Melampus' brother Bias, and Aegialeus, son of Adrastus, were also buried in Pagae, near Aegosthena. [Paus.1.43.1, Paus.1.44.3]