Melampus

Melampus, the son of Amythaon lived with his brother Bias near the town of Pylos. The two brothers were very close despite being very different. Bias was a soldier, who dreamed of riches and fame. Melampus however was devoted to helping people, with no desire for money. He spent his days roaming the forests, watching the animals and learning about which plants he could use to treat people's ailments. Apollo blessed his work, and even gave him the gift of divination and prophecy, so he could better help people.

When he was young, Melampus came across the servants of his house killing a family of snakes that were living in the garden. Melampus persuaded the servants to stop, but the parents of the family were already dead. Melampus built them a funeral pyre, and took care of the young snakes. Some time later, while he was sleeping in the garden, he felt a gentle touch to both his ears, he awoke and saw two of the young serpents crawling away and heard a voice saying "We have given our protector the greatest of gifts." It soon became apparent that Melampus could understand the words of all the animals, and he used this to better understand nature, and how he could use it to help people.

It happened that Bias fell in love with Pero, the daughter of King Neleus of Pylos. The King had however proclaimed that no one would marry his daughter without first bringing him the herd of bulls of Phylacus. Bias knew he could not get the well guarded bulls by himself so asked his brother for help. Melampus found out that Phylacus would not allow the bulls to be removed unless the person in question endured imprisonment for one year. So he told Bias that he may be away for many months, and travelled to the Phylacus' kingdom, Pylake.

When he approached the cattle, he was spotted by the guard dog and immediately thrown in prison. Shortly before the end of his year, he overheard two woodworm saying that they had almost finished eating through a support beam, and that the ceiling should fall by morning. Melampus shouted for Phylacus to remove him from the cell, and although the King found his explanation very strange, he moved him to another cell.

When the ceiling fell as Melampus predicted, Phylacus was amazed and immediately released him. In exchange for also helping the kings only son overcome a disability, Melampus was given the heard of bulls. He drove the cows back to Pylos, and Bias married Pero.

Melampus soon heard of trouble in Argos. The three daughters of King Proetus had offended the gods by being arrogant, and ignoring their religious duties. They had been driven mad, and fled into the forest where they lived as animals. Melampus approached the king offering to help cure them in exchange for a third of his kingdom. The king however felt the price was too high, and refused his help.

Soon however the madness spread to all the women of Argos, and the people begged the king to ask Melampus to help them. When however Melampus returned to the city he double his price to two thirds of the king's land. The King could not refuse, so Melampus took one third for himself and gave one thirds to his brother. With the aid of some of the men of Argos, he drove the women as cattle to a sacred well. After each woman entered the water their sanity returned. King Proetus in gratitude gave Melampus his eldest daughter as a wife, another daughter was given to Bias, for Pero had died, but the third daughter did not survive the ordeal.

Melampus continued to travel around the country, helping the sick and distressed. Everywhere he went he set up shrines worshipping the gods, especially the new god Dionysus.