In Greek mythology, Bias (Ancient Greek: Βίας) was a brother of Melampus. He received one third of the Kingdom of Argos. He was married to Pero, daughter of Neleus, who was thus his own cousin. Together, they had two children; Anaxibia, wife of Pelias, and Talaus, who succeeded his father as king of a partitioned Argos. The Biaid-ruled section of Argos was reunited with the death of Bias' great-great-grandson, King Cyanippus, who bequeathed his share to the Aegyptiad branch (who had already recovered the inheritance of Melampus in the previous generation).
Mythology[]
Bias married his cousin Pero who was the daughter of Neleus. It was said that Neleus would not allow his daughter to marry anyone unless the suitor brought him the oxen of Iphiclus. These Melampus achieved with courage and using his supernatural abilities of speaking with animals, upon winning the challenge he arranged the marriage of Pero and Bias. The couple had one child together, Talaus.
Bias acquired his share of Argos due to his brother's influence with King Anaxagoras or Proetus. In one version, Melampus cured Anaxagoras' son Alector of an illness placed upon the boy by a hamadryad, who had been injured by Anaxagoras' knife when it was tossed aside during a sacrifice (because Alector was frightened of the blade). Melampus demanded two thirds of Argos, one for himself and one for Bias.
In another version, Dionysus had driven the Argive women mad. Melampus came to Proetus with a proposition; he could cure the women in exchange for a third of Argos. The king refused but, as the women became madder and more dangerous, he relented. However, Melampus increased his price to two thirds. Melampus held up his side of the agreement by curing the women at a sanctuary of Artemis, and Anaxagoras gave up two thirds of Argos for Melampus and Bias.
When Pero died, Bias remarried Iphianassa, daughter of Proetus, after Melampus had cured her, her sisters and the Argive women from madness.
Family[]
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Preceded by: Anaxagoras (King of united Argos) |
King of Argos (Biaid branch) Mythic |
Succeeded by Talaus |