Submitted Name Revision History

Means "dark face", derived from Greek πελός (pelos) meaning "dark-coloured, dusky" and ὄψ (ops) meaning "face, eye". In Greek mythology Pelops was king of Pisa in the Peloponnesus, "island of Pelops". His father, Tantalus, was the founder of the House of Atreus through Pelops's son of that name. He was venerated at Olympia, where his cult developed into the founding myth of the Olympic Games, the most important expression of unity, not only for the Peloponnesus but for all Hellenes. At the sanctuary at Olympia, chthonic night-time libations were offered each time to "dark-faced" Pelops in his sacrificial pit before they were offered in the following daylight to Zeus.

In history, Pelops was also the name of a real King of Sparta of the Eurypontid dynasty. He was son of Lykourgos. He was born sometime around 210 BC, but his father soon died that year. Since he was an infant, a regent reigned, first Machanidas and then Nabis. In 199 BC however, Pelops was assassinated by Nabis, who assumed the throne. He was the last of the Eurypontid Dynasty.