Pelion
Pelion is a prominent mountain located in eastern Thessaly, Greece, rising to an elevation of 5,300 feet and overlooking the Gulf of Pagasae. This culturally rich area is not only known for its natural beauty but also for its deep mythological roots. According to legend, Pelion was associated with the giants Otus and Ephialtes, who attempted to reach Mount Olympus by stacking Pelion upon Mount Ossa. The mountain is also linked to several notable figures in Greek mythology, including Apollo and the huntress Cyrene, as well as Peleus and Thetis, who were famously married there. Pelion was home to the centaur Chiron, a wise figure who educated many of Greece's legendary heroes. Furthermore, the town of Iolcus, situated at the base of Pelion, is reputed to be the place where the ship Argo was constructed using timber from the mountain's dense forests. The summit of Pelion featured an altar dedicated to Zeus Actaeus, which served as a site for festivals. Overall, Pelion stands as a significant landmark both geographically and culturally, intertwining natural splendor with a tapestry of ancient Greek mythology.
Subject Terms
Pelion
A mountain 5,300 feet high in eastern Thessaly (northeastern Greece), overlooking the Gulf of Pagasae (Volos) at the beginning of the Magnesian peninsula
Palaeolithic elephant tusks, and a bone brooch with a head, have been found on its crags. The mountain possessed rich mythological associations. The giants Otus and Ephialtes were said to have piled it on Mount Ossa, a more northerly Thessalian mountain, in an effort to scale Olympus and reach the heavens. It was on Pelion that Apollo surprised the huntress Cyrene, while she was wrestling with a lion; and the legendary Peleus married Thetis on the mountain, which was named after him.
It was also the home of the centaurs, notably Chiron, who educated many heroes in a cave on its upper slopes. Jason came from Iolcus, which lay in the shelter of Pelion, and the ship Argo, of his Argonauts, was reputed to have been built of timber from its trees. On its summit stood an altar of Zeus Actaeus, beside which festivals were held.