Argive hero, founder of Argos
Pelasgus
Pelasgus is a figure of Greek myth linked to the Argive lineage, a descendant of Phoroneus and regarded as the founder of Argos, in the Peloponnese. He matters because tradition connects him with the introduction of agriculture and with the hospitality he showed to Demeter.
The myth
According to Hellanicus, Pelasgus, Iasus and Agenor were the three sons of Phoroneus, who divided their father's kingdom when he died. Other authors make him a brother of Apis. The sources disagree about his mother: a scholium names her Sois, and a heavily corrupted passage in Hyginus presents him as a son of Triopas and an Oreasid woman, together with Inachus, who is probably Iasus.
Pelasgus founded Argos and taught his people to work the land. Tradition says he welcomed Demeter into his home when she wandered the world, and a woman named Chrysanthis, who knew of Core's abduction, told the goddess what had happened. Hyginus gives him a daughter, Larisa, who lent her name to the city. Another version identifies Pelasgus with another name for Gelanor.
Worship and religion
Pausanias places a sanctuary of Demeter in the agora of Argos and, not far from it, the tomb of Pelasgus.
Ancient sources: Hellanicus, Hyginus, Pausanias and a scholium, in varied and partly corrupted versions.