Nestor

Also known as: Nestor knight of Gerene / Nestor of Gerene / knight of Gerene / son of Neleus · Family: Achaeans · Role: king of Pylos · First appears: BOOK I

🌐 Also appears in: Greek Mythology — A Family Orrery (as Nestor) · The Odyssey (as Nestor) · Greek Tragedy — The Same Myth, Three Voices (as Nestor)

In Book I, Nestor recalls his friendships with Pirithous, Dryas, Caeneus, Exadius, Polyphemus, and Theseus, and urges Agamemnon not to take the girl and Achilles not to continue his quarrel with the king. In Book IV, he says he would gladly have the strength he had when he fought Ereuthalion, and marshals the Pylians alongside Pelagon, Alastor, Chromius, Haemon, and Bias. He is the father of Antilochus and the son of Neleus.

In Book VIII, Nestor tells Diomed to mount his chariot, then calls on him to help defend him from Hector’s attack; Sthenelus and Eurymedon tend his horses. In Book IX, he commends Diomed’s counsel, and Thrasymedes serves among the sentinels under his command. In Book X, he joins Agamemnon in rousing the Achaean leaders and sentinels, and asks Ulysses to help consider whether they should fight or flee. Though he loves and respects Menelaus, he also blames him.

In Book XI, after Paris wounds Machaon, Nestor carries him from the fighting in his chariot at Idomeneus’s request. He is friends with Patroclus, whom he counsels, and Hecamede is his servant. In Book XXIII, he gives Achilles an heirloom in memory of Patroclus’s funeral.