Nestor in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Nestor

61 passages from 7 ancient authors that tell of Nestor, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Nestor was the son of Neleus and Chloris in Greek mythology, and king of the city of Pylos. He was married to Eurydice (different to the wife of Orphe... For the story in one place, read our article on Nestor.

Hesiod (1)

Hesiod, Fragments 1.1–13Deucalion, Hellen and their descendantsThe Catalogue of Women opens with the descendants of Deucalion and Hellen, saying that Deucalion was the son of Prometheus and Pronoea, that Hellen fathered Dorus, Xuthus and Aeolus, and that Thyia bore Magnes and Macedon to Zeus. The fragments then turn to the Aloiadae, Eurynome, Endymion, the sons of Actor and Molione, Periclymenus, and the sons of Neleus whom Heracles killed. Most are short quotations from later writers who cite Hesiod for a name or a descent.

Homer (34)

Homer, Odyssey 3.404–497The sacrifice to Athena; departure for SpartaAt dawn Nestor sacrifices a heifer with gilded horns to Athena, and his youngest daughter Polycaste bathes Telemachus. Nestor gives him a chariot and horses and sends his son Peisistratus with him. They drive all day, spend the night at Pherae with Diocles, and reach the wheat plain of Lacedaemon on the next day.
Homer, Iliad 8.78–171Diomedes rescues Nestor; Zeus' thunderboltOnly Nestor stays when the Achaeans take fright, since an arrow of Paris has struck one of his horses. Hector bears down on him, and Diomedes rescues Nestor and takes him into his own car, while Odysseus runs past. Diomedes kills Hector's charioteer, but Zeus' thunderbolt falls before his horses, and he turns back on Nestor's advice while Hector taunts him as a woman.
Homer, Iliad 10.131–253The council by the ditch; Diomedes and Odysseus volunteerNestor wakes Odysseus and Diomedes, and the chiefs gather at the ditch beyond the camp, where the sentries are keeping watch. Nestor asks who will spy on the Trojans and bring back news, and Diomedes offers to go if he has a companion. Many volunteer, but Diomedes chooses Odysseus, since Athena loves him.
Homer, Iliad 11.596–654Achilles sends Patroclus to NestorNestor drives Machaon back to the ships, and Achilles, watching from the stern of his vessel, sends Patroclus to find out whom Nestor has brought. At Nestor's hut Hecamede mixes a drink for Machaon and Nestor from wine, cheese and barley meal. Patroclus, who is in haste, refuses to sit down, saying that Achilles is a fierce man.
Homer, Odyssey 3.1–101Telemachus lands at PylosTelemachus and Athena reach Pylos at sunrise and find Nestor and his people sacrificing black bulls to Poseidon on the shore. Nestor's son Peisistratus welcomes them, gives them a place at the feast and hands Athena the golden cup. When they have eaten, Nestor asks who they are, and Telemachus asks him for news of his father.
Homer, Iliad 10.1–130A sleepless night; Agamemnon wakes NestorWhile the other chieftains sleep, Agamemnon lies awake, troubled by the Trojan fires and the sound of their pipes, and he groans and tears his hair as he prays to Zeus. He rises and puts on a lion's skin, and Menelaus, who is also sleepless, comes to him; they agree to rouse the chiefs. Agamemnon goes to Nestor, who agrees to go round and wake the others.
Homer, Iliad 14.1–81Nestor meets the wounded kingsNestor hears the cry of battle from Machaon's hut and goes out to see, and finds the Achaean wall broken and the Trojans among the ships. He meets the wounded kings, Diomedes, Odysseus and Agamemnon, who are coming up from the ships leaning on their spears. Agamemnon, afraid, proposes that they drag the ships down to the sea and flee in the night.
Homer, Odyssey 3.201–328Nestor tells of Agamemnon's deathTelemachus wishes that the gods would give him such vengeance, and Nestor tells how Aegisthus seduced Clytemnestra while Agamemnon was away and killed the king on his return. Orestes came home in the eighth year and killed Aegisthus. Nestor tells of Menelaus' stormy journey home, and urges Telemachus to go to Menelaus in Sparta, offering his sons as guides.
Homer, Iliad 2.1–101Zeus sends a deceptive dream to AgamemnonWhile the other gods sleep, Zeus plans to honour Achilles and sends a deceitful dream to Agamemnon in the likeness of Nestor, telling him that the gods now favour him and that he can take Troy. Agamemnon wakes with the voice in his ears, dresses and bids the heralds summon the Achaeans. He first holds a council of the elders beside Nestor's ship and tells them of the dream.
Homer, Iliad 11.489–595Ajax holds the line; Machaon is woundedAjax defends the Achaeans like a river in spate, while Hector fights on the left and is unaware of him. Paris wounds the healer Machaon in the shoulder, and Idomeneus asks Nestor to take him to the ships. Zeus puts fear into Ajax, and he withdraws slowly like a stubborn donkey beaten from a cornfield.
Homer, Iliad 23.534–650Funeral games: the chariot race prizesAchilles, pitying Eumelus, proposes to give him the second prize, and Antilochus protests that this is unfair. Menelaus accuses Antilochus of cheating and challenges him to swear an oath, and Antilochus gives way and yields the mare. Menelaus is satisfied, and gives it back to him, and Achilles gives Nestor, who did not compete, a prize of his own.
Homer, Odyssey 3.329–403Athena departs; the night at PylosAs evening falls Athena pours a libation and departs in the shape of an osprey, and Nestor knows that his guest was a god. Nestor vows a heifer to her and takes Telemachus to the palace, where Telemachus sleeps in the porch beside Peisistratus.

22 more passages of Homer that name Nestor

Pindar (1)

Pindar, Pythian Odes 6.1–50Pythian 6: for Xenocrates — Thrasybulus and AntilochusPindar likens his ode to a treasure-house at Delphi for Xenocrates of Acragas, victor in the chariot race, and praises his son Thrasybulus for keeping the old precept of honouring his father. He recalls Cheiron's teaching to Achilles to honour Zeus and parents, and how Antilochus died to save his father Nestor from Memnon.

Diodorus Siculus (1)

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.67.1–4.70.4Aeolus and Boeotus, Salmoneus and Neleus, the Lapiths and CentaursAfter the Epigoni return home, Teiresias dies at Tilphossaeum and the Cadmeans leave it, and the historian gives the story of Arne, Aeolus and Boeotus. He then follows Salmoneus, Tyro and their descendants as far as Nestor, and turns to the Lapiths and Centaurs: the sons of Peneius, Ixion's crime against Eïoneus, and the origin of the Centaurs.

Ovid (6)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.534–628Periclymenus and the death of AchillesNestor ends his tale, and Tlepolemus, a son of Heracles (Hercules), reproaches him for passing over his father, and Nestor says that Heracles killed all his brothers except Periclymenus, whom Poseidon (Neptune) had given the power to change his shape, and who escaped by turning into an eagle until Heracles shot him. Poseidon, angry at the death of Cycnus, asks Apollo to destroy Achilles, and Apollo directs Paris' arrow, which kills him. His ashes lie in a small urn, and the contest for his armour begins.
Ovid, Metamorphoses 13.1–120The contest for the arms of Achilles: Ajax speaksThe Greek chiefs gather to judge between Ajax and Odysseus (Ulysses), who both claim the armour of Achilles. Ajax speaks first, boasting of his strength and lineage, and of how he defended the ships against Hector's fire while Odysseus stayed behind. He accuses Odysseus of feigning madness to avoid the war, of abandoning Nestor in battle, and of getting Palamedes killed.
Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.146–209CaeneusA truce follows the first battle at Troy, and at a feast in the Greek camp Achilles' invulnerability is praised, and Nestor tells of a similar man, Caeneus. Nestor tells how Caeneus was once the girl Caenis, loved by Poseidon (Neptune), who granted her wish to become a man who could not be wounded. Caeneus, rejoicing, lived for years as a man in northern Thessaly.
Ovid, Metamorphoses 8.264–444The Calydonian boar huntArtemis (Diana), angered at being forgotten at the harvest rites, sends a huge boar to ravage the fields of Calydon, and Meleager gathers heroes from all Greece to hunt it. The hunters include Theseus, Jason, Castor and Pollux, and the huntress Atalanta, whose beauty and skill the others admire. Atalanta first wounds the boar, and Meleager kills it, and awards the head and hide to her. Meleager's uncles, jealous of Atalanta, snatch the prize from her, and Meleager kills them in a rage.
Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.210–326The Lapiths and the Centaurs: the wedding feastNestor describes the wedding of Pirithous, king of the Lapiths, and Hippodame, to which the centaurs are invited as guests. The centaur Eurytus, drunk, seizes the bride, and the rest follow his example, and a general brawl begins. Theseus strikes Eurytus down with a bowl, and the centaurs seize tables and weapons, and the Lapiths fight them, with many dead on both sides.
Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.327–458The Lapiths and the Centaurs: the battleNestor goes on describing the fighting, in which the centaurs and Lapiths kill one another with uprooted trees, antlers, torches and altar-fires. Among the dead are the centaur Cyllarus and his mate Hylonome, a pair of lovers who die together.

Pausanias (7)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 4.3.1–10Messenia: Nestor, the sons of Aesculapius and the Dorian conquest under CresphontesAfter the death of Lynceus and Idas, Nestor rules all Messenia, and Pausanias gives the Messenian claims that the sons of Aesculapius were Messenian. He tells how the Dorians drove out the descendants of Neleus, how Cresphontes won Messenia through the trick of the lots, and how he was murdered. Aepytus is restored, and the line of Glaucus, Isthmius, Dotadas and Sybotas follows.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 4.36.1–7Pylos, Sphacteria and CyparissiaePausanias describes Pylos on Cape Coryphasium, with its Athena, the house and tomb of Nestor, the cave of the cows of Neleus and the story of Melampus and Iphiclus’ cattle. He then notes the island of Sphacteria, famous for the Spartan disaster, and Cyparissiae, with its spring of Dionysus, sanctuaries of Apollo, Athena and Aesculapius, and the Neda, which divides Messenia from Elis.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.18.1–9Argos: the road from Mycenae, the tomb of Thyestes and the kings of ArgosOn the road to Argos are a shrine of Perseus, the tomb of Thyestes with its ram, the sanctuary of Mysian Demeter, the river Inachus and an altar of the Sun. Pausanias explains the division of the Argive kingdom among the lines of Anaxagoras, Bias and Melampus, then the rule of Orestes and Tisamenus and the return of the Heraclids, who drove out Tisamenus and the descendants of Nestor.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.25.1–11Delphi: the Cnidian Lesche and Polygnotus' painting of Troy after its capture (1)Pausanias describes the building dedicated by the Cnidians at Delphi, called the Lesche or Club-room, with its paintings by Polygnotus. On the right wall the painting shows Troy after its capture and the Greeks setting sail, with Menelaus' crew and the pilot Phrontis, then Helen and her handmaids, Helenus, the wounded Meges and Lycomedes, Aethra and Demophon, and the captive Trojan women, Andromache, Medisicaste and Polyxena, with Nestor.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.26.1–11Thalamae, Pephnus, Leuctra, Cardamyle and Gerenia: the Machaon shrinePausanias describes the dream oracle of Ino near Thalamae, the islet of Pephnus where the Dioscuri were said to be born, and Leuctra, with its shrines of Aesculapius, Cassandra and Love and the Ithomatian Zeus found in a burnt wood. He then describes Cardamyle and Gerenia, with the tomb and sanctuary of Machaon, Mount Calathium and Alagonia, and explains why Eurypylus’ name is not spoken at Pergamus.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 4.31.1–12Messenia: Thuria, the springs of the Pamisus and Messene’s walls, temples and paintingsPausanias passes from Pharae to Thuria, Calamae and Limnae and the springs of the Pamisus, then to Messene under Mount Ithome, whose walls he judges stronger than any he knows. He describes its market-place with the Arsinoe water-basin, Damophon’s Mother of the Gods and Laphria, the temples of Ilithyia, Demeter and the Curetes’ hall, the sanctuary of Aesculapius with its many images, and the temple of Messene with paintings of the kings.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.26.1–9Delphi: Polygnotus' painting of Troy after its capture (2): captive women, Epeus, Ajax and NeoptolemusPausanias continues the Polygnotus painting of Troy with the captive women Clymene, Creusa, Aristomache and Xenodice, and Epeus razing the wall with the Wooden Horse. He describes Ajax son of Oileus swearing an oath beside Cassandra and the image of Athena, the sons of Atreus, and Neoptolemus slaying Elasus and Astynous. He explains the bronze corselets of old, then Laodice, Medusa and a woman with a child.

Quintus Smyrnaeus (11)

Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 2.183–276Memnon kills AntilochusAt dawn the Trojans arm and the Argives, trusting in Achilles, arm to meet them. Achilles kills Thalius, Mentes and many others, while Memnon kills Pheron and then Antilochus, the son of Nestor, before his father's eyes.
Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 2.277–387Memnon and NestorThrasymedes and Phereus charge Memnon to avenge Antilochus; Phereus kills Polymnius and Thrasymedes kills Laomedon, but the spears cannot hurt Memnon. Nestor himself rushes forward, but Memnon, respecting his age, tells him to withdraw. Nestor answers sadly, retreats, and appeals to Achilles to save his son's body and arms.
Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 12.214–345The Argives enter the Wooden HorseOdysseus asks for volunteers and Sinon offers himself, and Nestor urges the chiefs on. Neoptolemus is the first to enter the Horse, and the poet names the others who follow. The rest of the army burns their tents and sails off to Tenedos.
Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 5.121–236Aias and Odysseus claim the armsThetis offers the arms to the best of the Argives, and Aias and Odysseus rise to claim them. Nestor speaks privately to Idomeneus and Agamemnon, warning that this contest will cost the army dear. The three refuse to judge between the heroes.
Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 3.514–581Achilles' body is washedAt nightfall Nestor tells Agamemnon what to do for the body. Water is heated, and Achilles is washed and dressed, and Athena pours ambrosia on him so that he looks as if asleep. The captive women, and above all Briseis, lament him.
Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 4.118–214Funeral games: the foot-raceNestor rises to sing of the deeds of Achilles, and Thetis rewards him with the horses Telephus once gave her son. Ten heifers are set out as prizes for the foot-race. Teucer and Aias son of Oileus run for them, and Teucer, tripped by a tamarisk root and lamed, loses to Aias.
Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 4.215–322Funeral games: wrestlingDiomedes and the great Aias wrestle, and Diomedes at last throws his huge rival. They stop, embrace and receive prizes from Thetis. Idomeneus offers himself for the boxing and Thetis sets out the prize, but at first no one will fight him until Nestor shames the Argives.
Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 7.1–97Podaleirius mourns MachaonThe Argives go out again to meet Eurypylus while others bury Nireus and Machaon under a single mound. Podaleirius lies in the dust at his brother's tomb and would kill himself. Nestor finds him and consoles him, speaking of his own lost son, and leads him back to the ships.
Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 9.75–209The battle before the wallsThe Trojans see the Argive host and are afraid, but arm and go out against the chariots. Deiphobus kills Nestor's charioteer. Neoptolemus cuts down the Trojans like a woodman felling trees, while elsewhere Agamemnon and Diomedes fight on.
Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 5.568–663The burial of AiasThe army wails for Aias, and Odysseus and Nestor speak to the grieving Argives. The kings lift the huge body and carry it to the pyre, and his bones are gathered and buried.
Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 14.329–418The fleet sails from TroyNestor tells the Argives that the time to go home has come, and they prepare the ships. Hecuba is turned into a hound and then into stone, and the ships are loaded with spoil and captives. The fleet passes Tenedos, Lesbos and Ida's last headland, while the surviving Trojans burn their dead.