Lelex

Here is shown Eurotas, grandson of Lelex, with his daughter Sparta

In Greek mythology, Lelex /ˈliːlɪks/ (Greek: Λέλεξ, gen. Λέλεγος) was a King of Laconia and a demigod.

Family and mythology

Lelex was married to the Naiad nymph Cleocharia. He had several sons, including Myles, Polycaon, Pterelaus and Cleson.^[1]

The parentage of Lelex is variously stated. He was likely a son of Poseidon by Libya; or his father is said to be the sun-god Helios; or he was said to be autochthonous.

His grandson (fathered by Myles) was Eurotas. Eurotas had a daughter named Sparta,^[2] who would later marry Lacedaemon.^[3] Lacedaemon named the city of Sparta after his wife; however, the city's name would also be his own, as it was called either Lacedaemon or Sparta interchangeably.

Sources indicate that Perseus is a descendant of Lelex. Lelex’s great-granddaughter Sparta gave birth to a daughter named Eurydice (no relation to Orpheus’ Eurydice), who had married Acrisius, the king of Argos. Eurydice became the mother of Danaë, thus making her Perseus’ grandmother.^[4]

Lelex appears to have been conceived by ancient mythographers as the eponymous founder of the Leleges, a semi-mythical people who lived on both sides of the Aegean Sea.

Notes